Michael Head’s play will be running at the Waterloo East Theatre between October 30 and November 25

Former Leyton Orient forward Peter Kitchen is delighted ‘The Greater Game’ will be returning once again next month.

The O’s legend, who helped produce the play alongside Stephen Jenkins, reflected on the news it will be running at the Waterloo East Theatre this year between October 30 and November 25.

During the final months of 2017, it was run at the Southwark Playhouse and received positive reviews.

Speaking about its return, Kitchen said: “It is very rare you get a chance to tell a true story where the families of the fallen are directly involved and even more so when it is such a touching yet funny true story.

“The last show got a standing ovation every night and word of mouth lead to over four thousand people seeing the first production, which we are all very proud of.

“To get the chance to tell this amazing true story one more time and do justice to the men and woman who sacrificed so much 100 years ago is a real honour.”

Michael Head’s ‘The Greater Game’ is based on Jenkins book titled ‘They Took The Lead’ which tells the story of 41 men from Clapton Orient who signed up to fight in World War One.

It focuses on lifelong friends Richard McFadden and William Jonas, who travelled from Newcastle to London to play football for the O’s before swapping England for France to fight for King and country – a fight neither one would survive.

More than a story of football or war, The Greater Game is a story of love, friendship, sacrifice, triumph and loss.

This year’s cast sees Eastenders’ Michael Greco play war hero and football manager Billy Holmes with Harry Potter’s James Phelps playing McFadden.

Other cast members include award winning actors Paul Marlon (Communion, Dangerous Mind Of A Hooligan, Essex Boys Retribution) and Scott Kyle (Outlander, Kilo Two Bravo, The Angels Share) as well as Victoria Gibson and Helena Doughty.

All of these line up under the stewardship of multi-award winning director Adam Morley, who will present The Greater Game as part of Football Remembers.

Head, who wrote the show, added: “To get the chance to tell this story and to touch so many and bring an audience to tears and fill the theatre with laughter was a real pleasure and this time everything is set to be even stronger than our first run.”

Tickets can be booked via https://www.waterlooeast.co.uk/the-greater-game