O's skipper Stephen Dawson was one of Russell Slade's nine permanent signings of the summer of 2010, rejecting the advances of several other clubs to join Orient from League 2 outfit Bury.

Dawson had just been voted into the PFA League 2 Team of the Season for his performances in the 2009/10 season and quickly replicated that at the higher level, taking Orient's Player of the Year award in his first season with the club.

The Dublin-born midfielder began his professional career at Leicester City, but failed to make a first team appearance at the Walkers Stadium and moved to Mansfield Town in the summer of 2005.

He played 114 League games for the Stags but moved on after their relegation to the Conference, signing for fellow League 2 side Bury,

Dawson was a key member of the Shakers team that reached the League 2 play-offs in 2008/09 and missed just one game in 2009/10 as Bury ended an agonising three points short of the top seven.

Stephen Dawson
Squad No: 8
Position: Midfielder (C)
Place and Date of Birth: Dublin (Ireland), December 4 1985
Orient Debut: Away v Yeovil Town (L 1-2, August 7 2010)