Brown: Pleasure to be part of Leyton Orient’s superb season

Brown put the champions ahead at Valley Parade, only to see Brad Halliday hit back moments later for the play-off chasing Bantams.

And, after ending the campaign on a positive note, the 21-year-old is hoping to hit the net a few more times next season.

“Great pass from TJ [Tom James],” Brown told the club website. 

“I’ve run into the box expecting him to cross in the air to the back stick and I’m there for the seconds.

“But he’s picked me out and just touch finish, instinct, been watching Moncs in training and nice to finally get on the scoresheet 46 games in. 

“Hopefully next season score a few more. I want to add goals and assists to my game and you get nothing for coming close.

“I’ve come close on five, six, seven occasions this season, but buzzing to finally get on the scoresheet and you go into summer on a positive note and come back ready next season to fight for the place in the team.”

A club record 22,576 crowd was in attendance at Bradford and saw the hosts clinch a play-off semi-final against Carlisle.

O’s finished six points clear of runners-up Stevenage, meanwhile, and Brown said it was an enjoyable occasion.

“We wrapped the league up a few weeks ago, but you’re still playing for pride,” he added.

“We’ve got 2000 fans travelling with us to support us and if you can’t get up for an occasion like that you’re struggling.

“Really enjoyed it and nice to finish off the season on a positive note.

“My first full season in first-team football, at the start of the season you can’t dream of it to be as good as it has.

“We wrapped the season up with three to four games left and I was speaking to a few of the older lads – Prats, Tommo – and it’s not often you go through a career and you actually win the league with three to four games left. 

“You normally do it on the last day and you’re scrapping for it. But since the pre-season tour, you could tell the connection with the boys and now everyone knows about it in the dressing room.

“What a season it has been. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of and hopefully we can keep the squad we’ve got now and next season go for it again.”

Former Derby County youngster Brown gave thanks to head coach Richie Wellens for involving him as often as he did, as he added a further 39 appearances this term to the 11 made last season after joining on a free transfer in January 2022.

And he said he wants the chance to play at more big grounds in 2023-24, adding: “You come into first-team football as a youngster and learn your trade as you go on, still plenty of learning to do.

“The gaffer has been unbelievable with me since he first came in. He gave me an opportunity and I have to take that, but without him giving me the opportunity I’d never be able to do that.

“He’s continued to play me throughout the season, he’s brought me off the bench, started me in big games as well, so massive thanks to him and the coaching staff and hopefully I can keep improving and go to the very top.

“I was watching the [Derby] game [against Sheffield Wednesday] and you want your old club, who I came through to first-team football at, to do well but I also want to go back and play them next season,

“I’m going to come back in pre-season fighting fit to try and earn my place so I can go to the big grounds like that next season and prove that I deserve to be playing in the team.”