Could Leyton Orient achieve a shock promotion?

Leyton Orient faces Birmingham City on Tuesday in a huge game for the O’s. Currently in 6th place, Leyton have gone above and beyond this season, and if they can pull off a result away at the dominant leaders, they could be on their way to writing themselves into Orient history books.

Since 1881

Leyton Orient are one of the EFL’s historic London teams. Hailing from the East the O’s face tough competition for fans from West Ham and even the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. The O’s have spent every season bar two in the top four tiers of the English pyramid since they were elected to the Football League in 1905, and are the second oldest club in the capital.

Spending many years bouncing between the second and fourth tiers, Orient fans found themselves in an unknown situation when the club was relegated to the National League or fifth tier in 2017. However, since they regained their EFL status in 2019, the O’s have gone from strength to strength. Especially in the last couple of seasons where they have seen themselves become League Two Champions, following that success with an 11th-placed League One finish. This season they have reached heights they have not reached since the 2013/14 campaign when they were just a penalty shootout away from the Championship.

RELEGATED

Leyton Orient's 112-year stay in the Football League is over.

It's a sad, sad demise for the O'shttps://t.co/BZqqwb8wnv pic.twitter.com/qMG0gSwSRQ

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 22, 2017

A youthful team

Richie Wellens has led Orient through their entire League One journey so far, their manager has handpicked a squad fit for the league and maybe even promotion. Charlie Kelman has been their leader up top, the QPR loanee who spent some of his youth career at FC Dallas has made 44 appearances in all competitions scoring 15 goals including a strike in each of his last three league games. Ethan Galbraith has also been an extremely useful player this season playing in central midfield, advanced midfield and right back positions.

A poacher's finish 🎯

It's now 1️⃣5️⃣ goals and counting for Charlie Kelman this season ⚽️#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/GYhf5aU9bL

— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) February 23, 2025

Other key players include former West Ham graduate Sonny Perkins and Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley. The common trend among these four players? They’re all 23 years old or younger and four of Orient’s most vital players. Wellens trusted the youth and has been repaid handsomely. Young talent is combined with EFL experience through the likes of Dominic Ball and captain Darren Pratley.

Dan Happe and Omar Beckles are a pair of centre-backs who embody the club. Both were born in East London, with Beckles from Leytonstone, Happe graduated from Orient’s academy and both have made over 150 appearances for the club. The pair were a key partnership in Orient’s promotion season two years ago and have acclimatised to the step-up comfortably. In fact, many of the O’s squad also appeared in their most recent League Two season, showing that you don’t necessarily need to be bankrolled to find success in lower tiers.

Wellens ball

The key to their success has been a solid defence, Orient have the joint most clean sheets in the league with 15, almost half their games. They’ve also conceded one of the lowest goal tallies, letting in 30 in 32 league matches. This leaves them with a total of 0.94 goals against per 90, with only Birmingham, Huddersfield and Wrexham bettering that figure, three of the league’s powerhouses. To be successful though you must be great in all areas of the pitch, which Orient are, boasting the best goals-per-shot ratio in the league (0.14).

@leytonorientfc have scored the joint 4th highest (with @StockportCounty) and conceded the joint 3rd fewest (with @htafc) number of goals per match in @SkyBetLeagueOne this season. More visualisations: https://t.co/EWwFIwci9v #LOFC pic.twitter.com/ubTqBUgQh0

— Philip Whitchelo (@PhilipWhitchelo) February 17, 2025

As the manager who relegated Oldham Athletic out of the football league, Wellens has had some work to do to prove himself as a coach. Often opting for a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation that can shift into a 4-3-3, Orient do not find it hard to play through their midfield, moving the ball through the thirds. Wellens’ side also is energetic off the ball, they have a good ability to know when and where to press, as well as who covers the space that they leave.

Leyton Orient and Richie Wellens have had nothing but plaudits this season, putting Orient back on the map was a necessity after they dropped from the third to fifth tier in a matter of seasons less than a decade ago. The O’s are battling amongst former Premier League clubs like Charlton, Huddersfield, Reading and Bolton for glory, and whether they end the season in the top six is undetermined with 14 games to go. Nevertheless based on their players, tactics and season so far, don’t be surprised at all if they are in the playoffs come May.