Independent family brewer Shepherd Neame has teamed up with Leyton Orient FC to create a commemorative limited-edition British lager for the club’s pre-season friendly against Hearts of Midlothian.
Leyton Orient will travel to Edinburgh for the match, which is part of Hearts’ 150th anniversary celebrations. The game has additional significance as it will also commemorate both clubs’ contribution in the First World War.
Leyton Orient, known as Clapton Orient at the time, and Heart of Midlothian formed a close bond during the early period of the Great War when a number of players from each team responded to Lord Kitchener’s call for volunteers to form a New Army.
These professional footballers inspired their loyal supporters to do the same, providing a huge boost to recruitment. Players from Hearts and Orient led the way as the first professional footballers to volunteer en-masse for what would known as ‘Pals’ Battalions’, with Hearts joining the 16th Royal Scots - 'McCrae's Battalion', and the Os enlisting into the 17th Middlesex - 'The Footballers' Battalion'.
To mark the occasion, Shepherd Neame, which was announced as the official provider of beer, cider, wines, spirits and soft drinks at Leyton Orient’s Gaughan Group Stadium in East London at the start of this month, has marked the occasion by creating a limited-edition British lager.
The bottle design – voted for by the fans – pays homage to the kit that Clapton Orient wore at the time of the War, as well as those players who took up arms, with the front label featuring an image of the squad, and the neck showcasing the names of the players who volunteered.
Shepherd Neame’s Brands Marketing Manager Rose Davis said:
“We were delighted to work with Leyton Orient on the creation of this commemorative lager. Just 240 bottles have been produced, and we hope supporters from Leyton Orient and Hearts alike will enjoy this very special British beer.”
Ravi Patel, Leyton Orient’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:
“Our history is very important to us at Leyton Orient and we have been so pleased with the interest that Shepherd Neame have shown in it."
"I know from speaking to their team that Shepherd Neame have close ties to the war effort as well and it is fantastic that our respective organisations can commemorate an incredible act of bravery from the club’s players during the First World War with a special beer. I’d like to thank all of our supporters who took the time to vote on their favourite design and look forward to seeing the finished product.”
