“Stand up for the Champions!” echoes around the south east corner of Valley Parade – a chant not even the most optimistic Leyton Orient fans would have envisaged singing back in August.
It’s the final day of the season and the O’s are in town, 1,902 of them to be exact, all in fine spirits and ready to party after witnessing Richie Wellens’ side claim the League Two title a fortnight ago at home to Crewe Alexandra.
Despite the gloomy weather, it’s a sell-out as hosts Bradford City look for the point needed to secure their Play-Off spot against an Orient side with the shackles off.
The match is also the closest to the 38th anniversary of the Valley Parade Fire, a disaster which took the lives of 56 fans on the final game of Bradford’s 1985 Division Three championship winning season.
Ahead of kick-off there is a poignant tribute as both team’s captains lay wreaths behind their respective goals and an impeccably observed minute’s silence is held before all four stands rise for a minute’s applause in the 56th minute.
Bradford City – a club and a stadium befit of a higher division – also add another touch of class to proceedings by giving Leyton Orient players a Guard of Honour as they enter the pitch.
The match itself was a pretty even affair, Jordan Brown’s 41st minute opener cancelled out two minutes later by Bradford defender Brad Halliday.
It didn’t matter though because Orient were enjoying themselves, both on and off the pitch and rightly so after being the standout side in the division over the last 10 months.
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“E-I-E-I-E-I-O, Up the Football League we go…” – the full repertoire of songs were delivered, occasionally in turn from the two different stands in which the O’s fans were housed.
Paul Smyth was his usual effervescent self on the wings, to a chorus of “Smyth, Smyth will tear you apart again…” while ever-reliable goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux didn’t disappoint when called upon.
Idris El Mizouni also received a standing ovation from the Orient faithful on his 74th minute substitution with many hoping it won’t be the last time they see their Player of the Year in an O’s shirt again as his loan from Ipswich Town comes to an end.
On a day full of celebration, it’s hard to ignore the work that manager Wellens has done, taking an underperforming side at the wrong end of League Two and transforming them into one that dominated the division just months later.
The achievement is quite frankly outstanding and bodes well for next season’s League One challenge, although the squad will still need strengthening in most areas in order to compete.
But thoughts of the future can wait for now as Monday’s game was about signing off in style, which, with the help of their West Yorkshire friends, Leyton Orient did perfectly – despite the draw.
If the EFL wanted to showcase a League Two fixture, this had all the attributes – a big ground, full stadium and a great atmosphere where both sets of fans enjoyed themselves in a respectful manner befitting their illustrious clubs.
It would be difficult to find a better fourth tier fixture anywhere else, even having just about the right amount of suspense for the home side’s (successful) Play-Off quest.
Nevertheless, with promotion guaranteed, Orient will be hoping to see the back of League Two for a very long time while Bradford’s dream of joining them is also still very much alive.