Leyton Orient Football Club

Founded in 1881 as Glyn Cricket and Football Club, the club adopted various names before becoming Leyton Orient in 1966. The O's joined the Football League in 1905 and have spent the vast majority of their history in the lower divisions, with a single season in the Second Division (1962-63) representing their highest league finish.

Brisbane Road, the club's home since 1937, is located in east London's Leyton neighbourhood and has a capacity of around 9,300. Despite never reaching the top flight, Orient have built a loyal and passionate following. The club has always prided itself on its community role, serving as a focal point for local football in an area increasingly influenced by the proximity of West Ham United and the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti's takeover in 2014 brought promise of investment but delivered chaos. Becchetti cycled through managers, made erratic decisions, and left the club financially crippled. Orient were relegated from League Two in 2016-17, dropping out of the Football League for the first time since 1905, and faced a winding-up petition from HMRC.

The Becchetti era is regarded as one of the most destructive ownership periods in English football history. The community rallied around the club, and the Leyton Orient Fans' Trust played a vital role in keeping the club alive. Nigel Travis, an American-British businessman and former CEO of Dunkin' Donuts, emerged as the saviour, leading a consortium that acquired the club and restored stability.