It is fair to say that no Orient manager was as famous at the time of joining the club as Johnny Carey. The amiable Dubliner had played for Manchester United for 17 years from 1936 – captain for the last seven – during which United won the Football League (1952) and FA Cup (1948). Footballer of the Year in 1949, he also represented both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and for 12 years, including his time at Brisbane Road, was the Republic’s manager.
Always a shrewd tactician, his first managerial job was with Blackburn, who he took into the First Division in 1958 after signing Tommy Johnston from the O’s. That earned him the Everton job but despite taking them to a highest post-war position of fifth three years later, he was famously sacked in a London taxi after the Football League AGM.
It was therefore quite a coup when it was announced in the first week of June that he was to take charge of Orient, who had just finished 19th in Division Two, three points from relegation.
Sadly it meant the end for Johnston, who moved on to Gillingham rather than play for the reserves. Dave Dunmore took his number nine shirt and hit 18 goals before the new year as the team adapted to the push-and-run style that coach Eddie Baily had learnt at Tottenham.
Nine successive wins was only one short of the club record with a team almost unchanged for the whole first half of the season. Going into February the O’s were only a point behind leaders Liverpool and five clear of third place. Ironically it was after two epic FA Cup games with First Division runners-up Burnley (1-1, 0-1) that they faltered.
Carey brought in Bill Robertson in goal, former England winger Norman Deeley and the younger Gordon Bolland but went into the final game knowing his team had to do better at home to Bury than Sunderland did at Swansea.
The programme for the Bury game featured a pipe-smoking manager on the cover and said that whatever happened, ‘It has been a wonderful first season for Johnny Carey.’ On a highly charged afternoon Bury were beaten 2-0, but just as importantly, Swansea came from behind to draw with Sunderland and ensure Leyton Orient would play in the top division for the first time.
Typically, Carey said he would give the same players a chance and at the end of September his faith appeared justified with the O’s sitting 12th in the table, They had beaten West Ham, Manchester United and Everton in an astonishing fortnight and won away at Fulham.
From there, however, it was all downhill. The Fulham victory was the last in the League until Easter Monday at Bolton, when relegation already seemed inevitable.
Experienced pair Malcolm Musgrove and Bobby Mason had been signed but Carey’s advice to the directors about further strengthening was ‘gentlemen, don’t waste your money’.
The lack of recruitment before or during the season could be used as a criticism, and also hindered any hope of another promotion campaign the following year. But ‘Gentleman’ John Carey, who moved on to Nottingham Forest, retains a significant place in Leyton Orient history.
