Lando Joins the Bays 50 Club
Please join us in congratulating Orlando Thorpe for playing his 50th game for the East Coast Bays First team in Saturday's final Northern League fixture of the 2025 season against Auckland City, at Kiwitea Street. Even though the result didn't go our way, Lando was outstanding and was player of the match.
Orlando Thorpe was born on the 1st of June 2006 at North Shore Hospital, in Auckland. Orlando was educated at Long Bay Primary School, Northcross Intermediate School & Long Bay College.
Over the years Orlando has only ever played for one club – The Mighty East Coast Bays for the past 15 years. Orlando’s EC Bays 1st team debut was against Rapa Nui on the 13th of May 2023 in the Chatham Cup in a 13-1 rout. He scored his first goal for the EC Bays 1st team on 22nd July 2023 at Onetangi Park against Waiheke Utd in a 3-2 win.
Orlando’s favourite football teams are of course East Coast Bays as well as Manchester City and Coventry City (because of where his Dad is from).
Orlando’s favourite Bays memory would be of winning the Under 17 Nationals in 2023 which was a huge achievement for both himself and the club. Orlando loves the culture we have at ECB not just in the changing room but with all the supporters and locals that support the team week in week out. That makes the club so special. He also enjoys being able to be a part of the coaching team her at Bays and helping to develop future Bays players.
Orlando is a full-time coach at the moment taking two different teams and also performing one on one coaching. He is also hoping to become a personal trainer in the near future. His most common nickname would be Lando. Off the field he loves spending time with his mates on the beach or camping. And lately he has been getting on the gold course but admits it’s nothing special just yet. His favourite meal would either be butter chicken or a steak, but he also loves avocado as a small meal. Orlando likes all sorts of music but lately he has been listening to a lot of Oasis.
Congratulations mate on the milestone of your 50th game for Bays at the tender young age of nineteen and all the very best for the next 50 or so games.
Ian Overton, ECB Reporter
Photo credit: Simon Harmer Photography
