Experienced midfielder knows all about the highs and lows of life in non-league’s top flight and is prepared for what is to come

East London Advertiser: Alex Lawless celebrates scoring for Luton Town at Kenilworth Road (pic: John Buckle/PA Images).Alex Lawless celebrates scoring for Luton Town at Kenilworth Road (pic: John Buckle/PA Images). (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Leyton Orient midfielder Alex Lawless will aim to use his past experience in the National League to help out his new team-mates this season.

The experienced midfielder last played in the top flight of non-league football in 2014, but has spent the majority of his career in the division.

Lawless spent three seasons with Forest Green Rovers in the Conference Premier before several years at both York City and Luton Town.

After winning the league with the Hatters in the 2013/14 campaign, the 32-year-old would love to do something similar at the E10 club.

“I would like to think I can draw on my experience in the National League,” said Lawless. “I have had the disappointments with play-offs, but also won it.

“All of those things will hopefully be good for me and allow me to help the team and that is the main thing.

“It is a team game and that is how we will be successful, so I’ll do everything I can to help that with my experience and attributes.”

As mentioned, Lawless helped Luton win the National League in 2014, but it hasn’t all been plain-sailing for the midfielder.

He was part of the Hatters team which lost back-to-back play-off finals in 2012 and 2011 and also in the York side which suffered Wembley heartache in 2010.

But it has made Lawless the determined and driven individual he is now and he will offer so much to Orient’s young guns.

Something certain members of the O’s squad won’t have handled before is the prospect of playing live games on the TV.

Orient are a big draw in the National League and the BT Sport cameras will be at Sutton United this Saturday to broadcast their season opener and they will also show two further O’s fixtures live in September and October.

Lawless added: “As a young lad the TV games are a bit bigger, where as now I am an older player it doesn’t make much of a difference to me.

“Hopefully I can show some calmness and maybe it will help the younger lads and help them through it.

“Although having said that, most of my family are not from these parts, so it will be nice for them to watch me.”

The O’s will face many new challenges this season and fortunately for them Lawless will be well-versed for what is to come.