Squad No: 23
Position: Defender (C)
Place and Date of Birth: Forest Gate, November 10 1982
Height and Weight: 6.3 / 15.06
Full Orient debut: Home v. Millwall (W2-0, August 8 2006)

Martin Ling ended his long search for a new centre-back when he signed Clayton Fortune in August 2006.

The O's boss had been on the lookout for a defender since Gaby Zakuani left for Fulham earlier that summer - and Clayton was seen to fit the bill.

His height is an obvious asset at the back, but he is also very quick and comfortable on the ball.

Unfortunately, he could not find his best form over the first few months of the season and he lost his place to Brian Saah, before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Port Vale

Fortune, a local lad from Forest Gate, began his career at Tottenham Hotspur. However, he failed to break through at White Hart Lane and opted for a move to Bristol City in August 2000.

He started 29 league games and made a further 24 appearances as sub, before looking to continue his development with a loan move to Port Vale in the 2005/06 season.

A number of impressive performances there had Championship clubs QPR and Derby County sniffing around for his services, but he chose to sign a two-year contract with the O's.