It was a familiar and reassuring sight to see Dave Mooney back in a Leyton Orient shirt and back among the goals on Saturday.

The seasoned striker got the all-important equaliser as Orient dispatched Harlow Town 6-1, turning in a first half strike from close range.

Hordes of O’s fans made the journey to witness Orient’s first game of the post Francesco Becchetti era, and chants of Mooney’s name were never far from their lips.

For the man, himself re-joining the Brisbane Road outfit represents an emotional return to a club he was at pains to leave in 2015.

“I am delighted to be back and it took its time. I never wanted to leave in the first place and it took a bit of time to get done over the summer,” he said.

“I was putting people off and I thought I was going to leave myself short, but thankfully the takeover happened and everything came off.

“I was delighted to score. I said to the kids this morning ‘hopefully I can score the first one of pre-season’ and it happened. Hopefully I can also score the first one of the season in a few weeks.”

Mooney’s role at the club extends beyond matters on the pitch in many ways and he knows better than most the O’s history.

Orient’s size is a point he has stressed to new arrivals and believes the same fans who were in attendance on Saturday will have a defining role in returning Orient to Football League status.

“It is a massive club and that is the first thing I have said to everyone who has walked in the building that doesn’t know that,” he said.

“We are in London, generate a lot of support and have a lot of fans. We need to start well, because I think if we do that we will hold the crowd and they will stay behind us.

“The good thing about Leyton Orient fans as well is that they are knowledgably. They are not foolish and are not going to expect mad things, but within the dressing room we will expect them.”

That dressing room has a decidedly youthful feel to it and a number of the youngsters who impressed during the turmoil of last term will be important this.

At 32, and with 266 career league appearances to his name, Mooney’s experience could be vital to new O’s boss Steve Davis and he is enjoying taking the role of leader.

“It has been a great two weeks and I have loved every minute of it to be honest with you. The good thing with the young lads is you are not sure how they will react when you say something, these boys have been brilliant,” he said.

“They have listened and taken it all on board. They are going to have great careers and hopefully we can hold on to them for as long as possible.”

Davis’ appointment has been universally accepted as a positive one and he appears committed to the long-haul at E10.

Mooney has been impressed with what he has seen so far and believes the club are moving in the right direction.

He said: “He (Davis) has been really good at getting his points across, really clear and easy to understand.

“I think everyone has bought into it and fingers crossed we can take that into the first game. We know it is going to be a tough start for us in the league.”