London Leyton Orient Football Club

Leyton Orient, founded in 1881, hold the distinction of being the oldest football club in London. The O's have played at Brisbane Road in Leyton, east London, since 1937, and their story is one of community connection in a city dominated by far wealthier and more famous clubs. Orient have never played in the top flight, but their place in the heart of east London football is secure — a working-class club that has survived everything the game has thrown at it.

The club's lowest point came under the ownership of Francesco Becchetti from 2014 to 2017, whose chaotic tenure ended with relegation to the National League and a winding-up petition from HMRC. The O's dropped out of the Football League for the first time since 1905, but the community rallied. Under Nigel Travis's chairmanship, stability was restored, and Richie Wellens's appointment as manager in 2022 transformed the club's fortunes. Wellens led Orient to the League Two title in 2022-23 with 91 points, securing a return to League One in style.

Since returning to the third tier, Orient have been competitive. An 11th-place finish in 2023-24 was followed by a superb 2024-25 campaign that saw the O's finish sixth and reach the League One play-off final, where they lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic at Wembley. In April 2025, US media executive David Gandler completed a 100% takeover, bringing ambitious plans including a potential new stadium in Waltham Forest. However, the 2025-26 season has been difficult, with Orient struggling near the relegation zone and Wellens's position under scrutiny.