Saturday’s friendly match between Leyton Orient and Southend United may be more friendlier than normal

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh looks on from the touchline against Wrexham (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh looks on from the touchline against Wrexham (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

There will be a number of reunions on Saturday when Leyton Orient host local rivals Southend United in a pre-season friendly.

Both sides have players who have represented the opposition and it stretches to the coaching staff at the two clubs too.

David Mooney spent a two-year spell with Southend between 2015 and 2017 and will most likely take on his old club this weekend.

He moved to Roots Hall following a lengthy period with Orient before returning to E10 last summer.

Meanwhile, the Blues squad should include Newham-born former Orient ace Jason Demetriou, who started his career in the O’s academy.

The versatile wide-man made over a 150 league appearances for the east Londoners during 2006 and 2010 before he moved to AEK Larnaca in order to try and progress as a Cypriot international.

After a five-year stay in Cyprus, the one-time Orient academy graduate signed for Walsall in 2015 to link up with ex-O’s coach Dean Smith, who was Saddlers boss at the time.

He then joined Southend two years ago and will most likely go up against his old club tomorrow afternoon.

Michael Turner is also part of Chris Powell’s squad and he enjoyed a brief loan spell at O’s towards the end of the 2002/03 campaign.

Away from the pitch, Orient recently confirmed former Blues academy goalkeeper coach Reece Ottley moved to E10 after a lengthy period at Roots Hall.

Sticking with goalkeepers, Lee Harrison is goalkeeper coach at Southend and has been since he left Brisbane Road in April 2016.

The 46-year-old joined the O’s coaching staff ahead of the 2015/16 campaign and impressed initialy under the management of Ian Hendon and then Kevin Nolan.

Like many others during the tenure of former owner Francesco Becchetti, Harrison saw his time at Orient cut short.

It didn’t take him long to find another job though, and the ex-O’s goalkeeper has been Southend goalkeeper coach for two years now and tomorrow will be his first return to E10 in a working capacity since departing over 24 months ago.

Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh also spent time at Roots Hall during his playing career and so did director of football Martin Ling and development coach Danny Webb.

It means Saturday’s friendly encounter at the Breyer Group Stadium may be a tad friendlier than previous clashes between the two local clubs.