THE NEW football season is not far away and Leyton Orient are about to play a series of pre-season friendly matches.

Geraint Williams’ team will be in the Essex town of Billericay on Tuesday playing the town team of the same name.

The O’s will play eight friendlies ahead of the first game of the new season against Bristol Rovers, on August 8.

This tour is a far-cry from recent years, when the players went to sun-kissed Ibiza and cultural Belgium.

This time, Kildare County in Ireland is the sole overseas match. But skipper Stephen Purches is not complaining.

He said: “It gets the lads together away in a new environment. You get to know each other as your spending more time together. You get to know the personalities. I wouldn’t say it gee's you up, but you do want to make sure you are 100 per cent ready for the new season.

“You might not perform how you want to in a couple of the games, but it’s all about a build up and getting the ball rolling. That’s what we're aiming to do and I’m sure the lads will want to kick off with a good performance.”

There are not many new players who need to settle in. So far, boss Williams has signed just two new players.

Purches has spoken of his belief that borrowed players will be important in Orient’s success next season.

Scott McGleish and Jimmy Smith made a difference while on loan last time, and should not need long to settle in now they have signed contracts.

But new permanent signings, defender Ben Chorley and striker Adrian Patulea come highly rated.

Their departures were rued by fans at their former clubs.

They come to a squad with its own international, local lad Jason Demetriou.

The midfielder has been in action during the summer, trying unsuccessfully to get Cyprus qualified for the World Cup in 2010.

One match he was part of degenerated into a riot, so Bristol Rovers away should not hold much fear now .

He told the Guardian: “Against Montenegro, the referee was very poor and he gave a really bad decision, and they scored soon afterwards.

“I have never seen so much stuff being thrown onto a pitch. It got even worse when he sent off our manager. Chairs started to be thrown, I’ve never seen such things.

“Over there (Cyprus), the fans don't hold back if they think they're right. A couple of our boys were trying to stop them throwing stuff, but I wasn’t to be seen. I stayed in the dugout. It was quite amusing.”

It was still valuable though, he said.

“The Cyprus experience on a personal level was fantastic as I get to play against some of the best players in the world."