17 June 2026
Arrangements for 2026/7
The Great Leyton Orient Women Off-Season Mystery
So here we are. A new coach and a new season on the way and, as yet, we don't know whether our title-winning squad will stay with us, split up between Acton and Leyton or form a breakaway republic somewhere in Essex.
MFIG assure us they’re still committed to Leyton Orient Women. Lovely. Heart-warming even!
So let’s examine the three possible scenarios:
Scenario 1: None of the players leave (AKA: The Disney ending)
In this universe, the squad stays intact, Jody Buckley walks in whistling, and the season preview writes itself: “Leyton Orient Women expected to win everything again because they are, in fact, still Leyton Orient Women.” Training continues as normal. The players already know each other’s runs, habits and preferred post-match snacks. The coach’s biggest challenge is remembering everyone’s names and pretending he's not intimidated by Grace Gillard’s impressive gravitas (we all are!).
Fans relax. The squad rolls on. The only drama is whether Jody prefers a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-3 but with slightly different vibes.
Scenario 2: Some players leave, some stay.
This is the “football happens” scenario. Where some players follow Jason and his crew to Actonians whilst some stay to continue the Orient story. Jody Buckley finds himself needing to recruit several players. This won't be easy unless last year's team members declare early what they intend to do for 2026/7.
In the "some will/some won't" scenario. the squad will be a patchwork quilt of returning heroes and new signings. Fans spend the summer constantly refreshing social media updates like they’re trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets... but that's true of every club at every level during the off-season.
Scenario 3: All the players leave - (AKA: The Apocalypse).
This is the scenario where the Jody walks into the training ground, opens the dressing room door and finds a tumbleweed rolling past a long discarded shin pad. The rebuild is total. Biblical. We’re talking “Noah’s Ark but with footballers”.
Jody must assemble an entire squad from scratch, like a footballing version of The Apprentice. However, there's a twist — this scenario can also be glorious. A blank slate. A fresh identity. A chance to build something new, bold, and properly ours. Also: we’ve done miracles before, in 2022/23 we went the entire season winning every league game bar one (which we drew) with a team of newbies.
So what now?
We wait.
We hope.
We speculate wildly because it’s fun and that's what people do.
Above all, we stay loyal — because whether the squad stays, changes, or reincarnates entirely, Leyton Orient Women is still Leyton Orient Women. We’ll support the badge, the shirt, the players who stay, the players who join, and Jody who seems brave enough to take this job knowing full well the fans are watching like hawks with spreadsheets.
Why would we lose players?
Remembering why many of the players came here: A proper football club, proper training but not requiring a life dedicated to it, plenty of support in terms of health, fitness, medical, insurance against injury, fully kitted out for playing and training, playing quality with very good team-mates, a reasonable home ground (Cheshunt), playing footie with your friends, a growing fanbase.
Now add one or two extra encouragements including: playing at Tier 6 (a little up from Tier 7) - Playing mostly in Essex so, for many, reasonable journey times - don't forget the quality of press and PR coverage from Caitlin Kelly, Leyton Orient Media and LOFCwomen.com
A big alternative may be an offer to go to West London club Actonians where playing at Tier 4 will be attractive to some, playing at mostly better venues, being coached by a crew you know, a clear step towards being a professional, you may even get paid. Clearly there are attractions for some although we assume Actonians already have a number of Tier 4 players.
Let's hope the process doesn't drag on for ages.
As shared recently in the club's main website, here's the latest news from the top people...
Leyton Orient can confirm that Jody Buckley is to take over from Jason Stephens as women's first-team manager.
Buckley’s coaching career has spanned close to two decades, working in both senior and youth development football, across the male and female games.
The O’s recently concluded a record-breaking league campaign, winning every match in the Greater London Women’s Football League Premier Division to secure promotion to the sixth tier. They also lifted two cups; the JGMT and Capital Women’s Cup (Intermediate). Although leaving his managerial post, Stephens will continue in his role as CEO of Leyton Orient FC Women, working in close proximity with Buckley to ensure the continued on-field success of the women’s team.
Leyton Orient CEO Mark Devlin said: “We have enjoyed working with the McCaffrey Football Investment Group across our men’s and women’s sides over the last few years and are looking forward to that continuing. We understand their wishes to expand in the women’s game but are pleased that they also remain committed to Leyton Orient.
“I’d like to welcome Jody to the club as the women’s team’s new manager. He is joining our women’s team at a great time and hopefully he can build on the incredible success that was achieved last season.”
Leyton Orient is also excited to continue its partnership with McCaffrey Football Investment Group (MFIG). MFIG have recently expanded its commitment to the growth of women’s football through a new investment in Actonians Women’s Football Club.
Gina McCaffrey at McCaffrey Football Investment Group said: "Since partnering, Leyton Orient and MFIG have demonstrated a clear commitment to supporting clubs on and off the pitch - helping provide players with greater access to health, wellness, player safety, insurance and the professional standards they deserve. This partnership will continue under the new management structure of Jody on the pitch, and Jason off the pitch.
"We are excited to see Jody, Jason, Leyton Orient and MFIG take this next step. This continued investment into the women’s game will create more opportunities, resources and pathways for players across the football pyramid.
"Leyton Orient FC Women remain an important part of MFIG’s vision for the future and we look forward to continuing our work together under the leadership of MFIG CEO Jason Stephens, as we build on the progress already made at the club."
The O’s recently concluded a record-breaking league campaign, winning every match in the Greater London Women’s Football League Premier Division to secure promotion to the sixth tier. They also lifted two cups; the JGMT and Capital Women’s Cup (Intermediate). Although leaving his managerial post, Stephens will continue in his role as CEO of Leyton Orient FC Women, working in close proximity with Buckley to ensure the continued on-field success of the women’s team.
Leyton Orient CEO Mark Devlin said: “We have enjoyed working with the McCaffrey Football Investment Group across our men’s and women’s sides over the last few years and are looking forward to that continuing. We understand their wishes to expand in the women’s game but are pleased that they also remain committed to Leyton Orient.
“I’d like to welcome Jody to the club as the women’s team’s new manager. He is joining our women’s team at a great time and hopefully he can build on the incredible success that was achieved last season.”
Leyton Orient is also excited to continue its partnership with McCaffrey Football Investment Group (MFIG). MFIG have recently expanded its commitment to the growth of women’s football through a new investment in Actonians Women’s Football Club.
Gina McCaffrey at McCaffrey Football Investment Group said: "Since partnering, Leyton Orient and MFIG have demonstrated a clear commitment to supporting clubs on and off the pitch - helping provide players with greater access to health, wellness, player safety, insurance and the professional standards they deserve. This partnership will continue under the new management structure of Jody on the pitch, and Jason off the pitch.
"We are excited to see Jody, Jason, Leyton Orient and MFIG take this next step. This continued investment into the women’s game will create more opportunities, resources and pathways for players across the football pyramid.
"Leyton Orient FC Women remain an important part of MFIG’s vision for the future and we look forward to continuing our work together under the leadership of MFIG CEO Jason Stephens, as we build on the progress already made at the club."