Leyton Orient F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Leyton Orient Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Os | |||
| Founded | 1881 | |||
| Ground | Brisbane Road | |||
| Capacity | 9,271 | |||
| Chairman | Nigel Travis | |||
| Head coach | Richie Wellens | |||
| League | League Two | |||
| 2018–19 | National League, 1st of 24 (promoted) | |||
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Leyton Orient Football Club is a professional association football team. They are based in Leyton, which is in Greater London, England. The team, often called "the Os" by their fans, plays in EFL League One. This is the third level of the English football league system.
The club started in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club. They began playing football as Orient in 1888. They joined the London League in 1896. In 1898, they changed their name to Clapton Orient. They joined the Football League in 1905.
After World War II, the club became Leyton Orient. They won the Third Division South title in 1955–56. They were promoted to the Second Division in 1961–62. However, they only stayed in the top First Division for one season.
The club changed its name back to Orient F.C. in 1966. They won the Third Division in 1969–70. In the 1970s, they played in the second tier. They also reached the 1977–78 FA Cup semi-finals.
In 1987, the club became Leyton Orient again. They were promoted from the Fourth Division in 1988–89. They also won promotion from League Two in 2005–06. Later, the club faced tough times and left the Football League in 2017. This was the first time in 112 years.
Nigel Travis took over the club in 2017. Under manager Justin Edinburgh, they returned to the Football League in 2018–19. They won the National League championship. Under manager Richie Wellens, they became champions of League Two in the 2022–23 season.
Leyton Orient is the second oldest professional football club in London. Their home colors are all red. They have played at Brisbane Road since 1937.
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Club History
How the Club Started (1881–1914)
Leyton Orient began in 1881. It was formed by members of the Glyn Cricket Club. Many players were students from a nearby college. The team changed its name several times. First, it was Eagle Cricket Club in 1886. Then, it became Orient Football Club in 1888.
The name Orient came from a player, Jack R Dearing. He worked for the Orient Steam Navigation Company. In 1898, the club changed its name to Clapton Orient. This was to show the area of London where they played.
The Os are one of the oldest league clubs in London. They joined the Football League in 1905. Back then, players could earn about £2 4s a week.
The name Leyton Orient was adopted after the Second World War. The club had moved to Leyton in 1937. In 1966, the name changed back to just Orient. This happened after some financial problems. The club returned to Leyton Orient in 1987.
World War Years (1914–1955)
The 1914–15 season was the last before First World War stopped league football. A total of 41 members of Clapton Orient joined the army. This was the most from any football team in the country. They were the first to join up as a group.
During the Battle of the Somme, three players died. They were Richard McFadden, George Scott, and William Jonas. Many other players were injured. Some could not play football again after the war. Before the war, player Richard McFadden was a hero. He saved two boys from drowning in the River Lea. He also rescued a girl from a house fire.
On April 30, 1921, something special happened. The Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII, visited the O's stadium. This was the first time a royal had attended a Football League match. The visit showed thanks for Clapton Orient's bravery during the war.
Later 20th Century (1955–2001)
Leyton Orient won the Division Three South championship in 1955–56. They spent many years in the Second Division. In the 1961–62 season, Orient reached the top league in English football. This was the First Division. It was the only time in their history. They were promoted after finishing second in Division Two. They were relegated after just one season. But they did beat local rivals West Ham United at home.
They won the Division Three championship again in 1969–70. They stayed in Division Two throughout the 1970s. In 1972, Orient made a famous comeback. They were 2–0 down but beat Chelsea 3–2 in the FA Cup. In 1978, Orient reached the semi-final of the FA Cup. This is their best FA Cup run ever.
In the 1980s, Leyton Orient had a tough time. They were relegated twice. But they ended the decade well. They were promoted in the 1988–89 season. This was through the play-offs.
In 1995, Barry Hearn became chairman. The club had financial problems. A TV show called Orient: Club for a Fiver was made about this time. Under manager Tommy Taylor, Orient reached the play-off finals in 1999 and 2001. They lost both times. In the 2001 final, Orient's Chris Tate scored a goal in just 27 seconds.
Promotion to League One (2001–2010)
After the 2001 play-off final loss, it took Orient a few years to recover. In October 2003, former player Martin Ling became manager. The team slowly improved. In the 2005–06 season, Leyton Orient won promotion to League One. They finished third, which meant automatic promotion. This was their first automatic promotion in 36 years.
This promotion was decided in the last game of the season. Orient were playing Oxford United. The score was 2–2. Then, news came that a rival team had conceded a late goal. This meant Orient would be promoted! Just 14 seconds later, Lee Steele scored for Orient. This confirmed their promotion.
The 2007–08 season was better. Orient finished 14th. They started well, staying in the top seven until Christmas. In 2009, Geraint Williams became manager. He had a great start, winning seven of his first nine matches. Orient secured their League One status and finished 14th.
Continued Success (2010–2014)
In April 2010, Russell Slade became manager. He helped Orient avoid relegation. His contract was extended for two years. In the 2010–11 season, Orient had a great FA Cup run. They beat Championship teams Norwich City and Swansea City. This led to a big game against Premier League team Arsenal at Brisbane Road. The game ended 1–1. In the replay at the Emirates Stadium, Orient lost 5–0.
Around the Arsenal games, Leyton Orient went 14 games unbeaten. This was a club record. They just missed out on the play-offs by one point.
The 2013–14 season was also successful. Orient finished third in the league. They reached the play-off final at Wembley. But they lost to Rotherham United in a penalty shoot-out.
Tough Times and Return to Success (2014–Present)
The 2014–15 season was difficult. The club was taken over by Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti. Many managers came and went quickly. Orient was relegated from League One.
The next season (2016–17) was even worse. Under five different managers, the club struggled. There were also problems off the pitch. On April 22, 2017, Orient was relegated to the National League. This ended their 112-year stay in the Football League. Fans protested against the owner. On June 22, the club was sold to Nigel Travis.
After a poor start, Justin Edinburgh became manager in November 2017. Under him, the club improved a lot. On April 27, 2019, Orient won promotion back to League Two. They were champions of the National League. The club also reached the FA Trophy final but lost.
Sadly, manager Justin Edinburgh died on June 8, 2019, at age 49. His assistant, Ross Embleton, took over. Later, Richie Wellens became manager. He helped the club finish 13th in League Two. The 2022–23 season was very strong. Orient were promoted back to League One on April 18, 2023. They won the League Two title four days later. In the 2023-24 season, Orient stayed in League One, finishing 11th.
Team Kit and Badge
Orient's badge shows two wyverns facing each other over a football. A wyvern is a mythical creature. It is believed to represent Orient's links to the City of London and the sea. The wyvern on the badge inspired the club's mascot, Theo. Theo's name comes from "the O's," the club's nickname. Theo first appeared in the 2000–01 season.
Past club badges have included the Leyton Borough coat of arms and a red dragon. The club's home colors are all red.
Sponsorship
The club's shirt sponsors have included various companies. These include Samsung, FIFA, and Rainham Steel. From 2018 to 2019, The Sun's Dream Team was the main sponsor.
From 2020 to 2023, former player Harry Kane sponsored Orient. He used the shirt space to thank key workers during the Coronavirus pandemic. He also supported Haven House Children's Hospice and Mind, a mental health charity. 10% from each shirt sale went to the charity shown on the front. In 2020, the British YouTube group Sidemen also sponsored the club. For the 2023/24 season, investment bankers Eastdil Secured became the main shirt sponsor.
Stadiums
Orient first played at Glyn Road from 1884 to 1896. Then, they moved to Whittle's Athletic Ground.
Millfields
Whittle's Athletic Ground was later known as Millfields. Clapton Orient played there until 1930. The stadium could hold over 35,000 people. It was also used for dog racing and boxing. Orient was only a tenant and faced high rents. So, they left Millfields Road after 30 years.
Lea Bridge Road
Clapton Orient moved to Lea Bridge Stadium in 1930. Orient's first match there was a 3–1 win over Newport County. The stadium was later closed for repairs. Orient had to play some home games at Wembley Stadium and Arsenal Stadium.
The stadium could hold 20,000 people. But the club directors were not happy with it. They decided to move to Brisbane Road for the 1937–38 season. Lea Bridge Road stadium was taken down in the 1970s.
Brisbane Road
Brisbane Road has changed a lot since Orient arrived. It used to be called Osborne Road. It had one small stand and covered standing areas. Over the years, it became a seated stadium.
In the mid-1990s, the club planned to rebuild the stadium. The first step was to remove the South Terrace. The new South Stand opened in 1999.
The next part of the rebuilding faced money problems. The club sold parts of the stadium land for flats. This helped pay for the new West Stand. The West Stand opened for the 2005–06 season. It has seating, offices, and player facilities.
More land was sold to build the North Stand. This stand, which became the Family Stand, was finished before the 2007–08 season. This made Brisbane Road a four-sided stadium again. Its capacity is 9,271 people. In 2013–14, the East Stand was updated. Black seats were added to spell out "The O's" in red seats.
In the 2008–09 season, the South Stand was renamed. It is now called the Tommy Johnston Stand. This honors Tommy Johnston, a top scorer for Orient.
Olympic Stadium Idea
In 2011, Leyton Orient wanted to use the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. They wanted to share it with West Ham United. But West Ham was not interested in sharing. In December 2012, West Ham was chosen as the stadium's main tenant. Orient's chairman, Barry Hearn, was unhappy. He felt that Orient's idea to share the stadium was ignored. Eventually, Orient stopped their legal challenge.
Supporters
Leyton Orient fans are mostly from East London.
The Supporters club is the official group for fans. There is also a smaller group called Leyton Orient Fans Trust. They work with the supporters club. Fans have organized protests against past owners. In April 2016, a protest involved fans going onto the pitch. This brought a lot of attention to the club's problems.
Famous fans include comedian Bob Mills and actor Daniel Mays. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his brother Julian Lloyd Webber are also fans. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote his famous album Variations because he lost a bet to his brother about an Orient match.
Rivalries
Orient's main rivals are Southend United. Their games are called the A13 derby. This rivalry grew because Southend was Orient's closest league rival for a while.
Other local rivals include West Ham United, Millwall, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge, Colchester United, and Barnet. Teams like Brighton & Hove Albion and Cambridge United are also seen as rivals.
Historically, they had rivalries with nearby clubs like Leyton, Leytonstone, and Walthamstow Avenue.
Players
Current Squad
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Out on Loan
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Club Management
- Source:
Boardroom Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Nigel Travis |
| Vice chairman | Kent Teague |
| Directors |
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| Chief executive | Mark Devlin |
Coaching Positions
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Director of football | Martin Ling |
| Head coach | Richie Wellens |
| Assistant head coach | Paul Terry |
| First team coach | Alan McCormack |
| Goalkeeping coach | Simon Royce |
| First team performance analyst | Charlie George |
| Physical performance coach | Jack Manuel |
| Head physiotherapist | Ketan Patel |
| Sports therapist | Melvin Hancock |
| Sports scientist | Jack Manuel |
| Academy manager | Mark Patterson |
| U18 Head Coach | Mark Timmington |
| Club doctors | Carl Waldmann |
| Kit manager | Adrian Martin |
| Chief scout | Steve Foster |
Club Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Semi-finals, 1977–78
- Best League Cup performance: Fifth round, 1962–63
- Best League Trophy performance: Southern Area finalists, 1994–95, 2012–13
- Biggest victory: 8–0 vs. Crystal Palace, Division 3 South 12 November 1955; 8–0 vs. Rochdale, Division 4 14 October 1987; 8–0 vs. Colchester United, Division 4 15 October 1988; 8–0 vs. Doncaster Rovers, Division 3 28 December 1997
- Most goals scored in a match: 9–2 vs. Aldershot, Division 3 South 10 February 1934; 9–2 vs. Chester City, League Cup 17 October 1962
- Biggest defeat: 0–8 vs. Aston Villa, FA Cup 4th round 30 January 1929
- Biggest league defeat: 1–7 vs. Torquay United, Division 3 South 16 April 1949; 1–7 vs. Notts County, Division 3 South 1 October 1949; 1–7 vs. Stoke City, Division 2 22 September 1956
- Highest attendance: 38,219 vs. Tottenham Hotspur Division 2 16 March 1929
- Most capped international player: 22 – Jobi McAnuff (Jamaica) (32 in total)
- Most league goals in a season: 35 – Tommy Johnston 1957–58, Division 2
- Most league goals in total: 121 – Tommy Johnston, 1956–58, 1959–61
- Highest transfer fee received: £1,000,000 – Gabriel Zakuani to Fulham July 2006; Moses Odubajo to Brentford June 2014
- Highest transfer fee paid: £200,000 – Liam Kelly from Oldham Athletic July 2016
- The fastest recorded goal in a play-off final: Chris Tate, May 2001 vs. Blackpool – 27 seconds
Honours
Source:
League
- Second Division (level 2)
- Runners-up: 1961–62
- Third Division South / Third Division (level 3)
- Champions: 1955–56, 1969–70
- Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
- Champions: 2022–23
- Promoted: 2005–06
- Play-off winners: 1989
- National League (level 5)
- Champions: 2018–19
Cup
- FA Trophy
- Runners-up: 2018–19
- Anglo-Scottish Cup
- Runners-up: 1976–77
- London Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1912, 1972, 1973, 1993
- Dubonnet Cup
- Winners: 1911
See also
In Spanish: Leyton Orient Football Club para niños
