With Swindon Town preparing to take on Richie Wellens' Leyton Orient in their next League Two match, we provide an insight into this evenings opposition so you're in the know...
History...
Founded in the year of 1881, Leyton Orient are the second oldest football club in London to play at a professional level.
They’ve played their home matches at Brisbane Road since 1937, having previously plied their trade at Millfields and Lea Bridge Road.
The O’s were originally setup at Glyn Cricket Club, and didn’t begin playing the beautiful game until 1888 when they joined the London League in 1896, after tasting success in the Clapton & District League.
The club later adopted the name Clapton Orient two years later and were elected into the Football League in 1905.
In 1929, they suffered relegation out of the Second Division, and finally settled on their current name just after World War II.
They claimed the Third Division South title during the 1955/56 campaign and secured promotion out of the second tier in 1961/62, although another relegation came from the First Division after just a single season, with another demotion in 1966.
Another change to their title ensued as they were then known as Orient FC, as they went on to win the Third Division in 1969/70.
This proved a fruitful era for the club, as they spent the majority of the seventies playing at the second level, scooping two London Challenge cups and reaching the 1977 Anglo-Scottish Cup Final and the FA Cup semis in the same year, before two more relegations in 1982 and 1985.
The year of 1987 arrived and with it a revert back to Leyton Orient again, and a promotion out of the Fourth Division via the play-offs in 1988/89, but demotion followed again in 1995.
Barry Hearn became chairman that year, purchasing the club for just £5 from Tony Wood with a rather famous documentary made about the event.
During the 2005/06 season, The O’s were promoted out of League Two with Martin Ling at the helm, before the club was sold to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, who oversaw two relegations in three years under eleven different managers.
This was a period that also saw the club drop out of the Football League for the first time in 112 years.
Another new owner was drafted in during 2017 in Nigel Travis, and the club went on to reach the 2019 FA Trophy Final under the late Justin Edinburgh, and win promotion back to the Football League as champions in 2018/19.
The Stadium…
Brisbane Road is The O’s home, and has been since 1937.
The ground holds 9,271 at full capacity and is currently referred to as The Breyer Group Stadium for sponsorship reasons, and was originally known as Osborne Road.
The highest attendance ever recorded at the venue was a staggering 34,345 for the visit of West Ham United in the 1964 FA Cup.
Previous meetings…
It’s pretty even between the two sides going by the last five meetings between the pair in all competitions, with two wins apiece and a solitary draw.
The two sides most recent match up saw The O’s claim a 2-1 win at The County Ground in League Two back in April, where Josh Davison’s goal proving a consolation after two Omar Beckles strikes.
Before that, back in December last year, Orient emerged 4-1 winners over Town – Harry McKirdy was our scorer that day.
Previous to that included a 3-1 win for Town at Brisbane Road in September 2019, courtesy of Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates goals either side of Joseph Widdowson putting through his own net.
You then have to go back four years for the next when the sides were in League One – a 2-2 draw in May 2015 and a 2-1 win for Town in October 2014.
The manager…
A man that needs no introduction here at The County Ground. Former Town boss Richie Wellens is currently the man in charge at Orient.
Wellens was appointed Swindon manager in November 2018. Despite losing his first game 4-0, he led Town to a comfortable 13th placed finish. The following season he put together a memorable team which claimed the league title.
After leaving for Salford City, Wellens won the delayed EFL Trophy Final but was later given his marching orders for a slow start. Last season an unsuccessful stint at Doncaster saw him removed after 199 days. He was appointed Leyton Orient manager in March this year.
Their season thus far…
Leyton Orient have made an impressive start to the new league campaign, and are currently the only club in the division with a one hundred per cent record with three wins from as many games so far.
These have included an opening day 2-0 win over Grimsby, courtesy of a George Moncur penalty and Tom James strike.
The latter was on target again in their next game, as they held firm once again to claim a 1-0 win away at Crawley, before beating Mansfield at home by the same score at the weekend.
Like Town, they did exit the Carabao Cup at the first stage, losing out to Forest Green Rovers in a 2-0 defeat.
Summer recruitment…
Richie Wellens has made some shrewd signings this summer to strengthen his squad.
Lincoln’s Theo Archibald was the first to arrive, before Hull City’s George Moncur, son of Town legend John, opted for a move to Brisbane Road.
Charlie Kelman and Idris El Mizouni have arrived on loan deals from QPR and Ipswich Town respectively, as well as Rob Hunt, who left The County Ground a few months ago.
Heading out the door was Hector Kyprianou who has made an impressive start to life at League One side, Peterborough, while Otis Khan as joined Grimsby.
Bromley snapped up Ethan Coleman on loan more recently.
