WEYMOUTH’S longest-serving post-war manager has been honoured by the club where he made his name as a player and is still remembered simply as “Mr Orient”.

Stan Charlton, now 80, was presented to the Brisbane Road crowd at half-time of Leyton Orient’s clash with Wycombe Wanderers, reuniting him with several former team-mates of the Londoners’ promotion-winning side of 1963.

O’s chairman Barry Hearn awarded Charlton, who still lives in Weymouth, a silver plaque for the ex-right-back’s birthday, on behalf of the Leyton Orient Supporters Club (LOSC).

David Dodd, chairman of LOSC, said: “Stan Charlton is one of Leyton Orient’s all-time great players.

“He is to many of us, who remember his tough but fair style of play and his magnificent leadership as team captain, simply Mr Orient.

“Even today, all these years later, Stan still commands the respect of his fellow team-mates with whom he meets up periodically.

“As a fan from that brief but golden era of the O’s history, it is always a privilege and pleasure to meet up with Stan who is a true gentleman and a real old style sportsman.”

The presentation was belatedly made for Charlton’s 80th birthday with ex-team-mates Dave Dunmore, Terry McDonald and Cyril Lea in attendance, as well as Charlton’s daughter and two sons.

Although best remembered by Weymouth fans for managing the Terras during one of its most successful periods – including to the Southern League Premier Division title in 1966 – the ex-England Amateur player is just as highly regarded at Orient.

Charlton had two spells there as a player – split by a three-year stay at Arsenal – and was the skipper of the only Leyton Orient team to win promotion to the top flight of English football, in the 1962/63 season.

He said: “There were a few of us there from the promotion side that went into the old First Division and I was skipper of the side so they presented me with a silver plaque saying congratulations on my birthday – it was very touching.”