13 August 2026
- Gizmo's match preview
- Tiff joins the Os
- Website improvements
- Live text notice
Gizmo's match preview
Toby Ladies – away – It’s a new dawn!
A new season in a new league, a new division with a new coach and a brand-new team. But it is still Leyton Orient! Let’s see what this year’s model looks like.
The coach who must pump it up is the amiable Jody Buckley who has moved across from Maldon and Tiptree and has been very busy recruiting a new squad.
It starts at the back with young Freya Faulkner in goal. In front of her, hand in hand, are Gracie Hickman and Elissa Stonebrook. This year’s girl in midfield is captain Stef Paci, who has also moved from Maldon and is responsible for the beat. Up front we have Amy Yeldham and Tiffany Balfour as strikers and Brittany Varon on the wing who will be looking for little triggers to start a press. One of the more intriguing recruits is Sara Merican who has represented Singapore in both football and cricket. My guess is she’s likely to operate at right back for us. There are others, whom we will get to know over the coming weeks.
Toby FC was founded way back in 1932 and named after a best bitter from Bass, which is very exciting for old beer drinkers like me. The ladies team started up in 2022, and they have been going great guns having gone undefeated to the league title in 2023 and promotion in 2024. I don’t want to do just lip service to them, because they have been doing rather well. They finished sixth in this division last season, handicapped by an inability to score goals.
Georgia Fraser was the best performer, with six in thirteen. April Sykes got four from midfield. The defence was shaky early in the season but got better towards the end (stout). On their website they have two goalkeepers listed: Kirsten Lane and Maeve Pitney, although neither played much last season. Maeve is one of three Pitneys in the squad; Isobel turns out in defence and Erin in midfield. Fran Browne was ever present in midfield last season. Donna Fletcher, Jodie Sanderson, Aliya Sambani and Charlotte Williams are stalwart members of the defensive unit.
This is a challenging start for an all-new Orient team and will give them a good indication of where they are in relation to the division. They have had a disrupted pre-season so it may take some time for the team to gell. This game is not going to be a case of no action! Here’s hoping for a positive start from this young Os team.
Venue
The Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, Dagenham RM9 5PU.
Tiffany Balfour joins the Os
The club has declared the signing of Tiff Balfour in preparation for the new season. Tiff is the fifteenth name on the registered players list. The club made the announcement as follows:-
Manager Jody Buckley said:
“We knew within one trial that Tiff was a player we wanted. She’s extremely fast, very powerful and comes with a strong background having previously been with Brentford. Another signing that shows our intent for the season ahead.”Welcome to the O’s, Tiff! ♥️
Tiff shares a surname with one of Orient's recent stars: Kallie Balfour, perhaps there's a family connection? Tiff was dual registered at Brentford so she could play for both the first team (Tier 5) and the 'B' team who now play in Tier 7 in the Greater London WFL - where we just came from! According to the GLWFL, Tiff made just the one appearance for the Bees last year. We join the club in wishing Tiff every success at Orient, hopefully the LOFCwomen.com crew will get to see her on Sunday for the opening league match of the season, away at TOBY Ladies, at Parsloes Park, Dagenham.
Website improvements
Ben James has produced the definitive "how to" instructions about our home ground at Cheshunt. Everything you'll need to know about visiting the ground to support the O's women is here. We have updated the relevant page accordingly so Ben's work is now always available via our How to get there page.
After this coming Sunday, there'll be a string of home games coming up so here's Ben's info to help you....
Cheshunt FC – Leyton Orient Women’s Home Match Guide
Whilst Leyton Orient Women are expected to take to the pitch for a few games at Brisbane Rd, most home matches this season will be played at Cheshunt FC’s ground on Theobalds Lane in the Borough of Broxbourne. The post code is EN8 8RU. There’s plenty of free parking at the ground and it’s about 600 yards from Theobalds Grove Overground Station.
At the Ground.
Orient play their matches on Cheshunt’s main stadium pitch, with kick-off normally scheduled for 2pm. There is an abundance of covered seating along with terracing and areas for those who wish to stand. As there is no charge for admission, use any of the open entrances to get to the stands. Toilets are located just to the north of the West (main) Stand.
Right behind the West Stand is a sports bar with several large screens showing that day’s Premier League and/or Cup matches. Unlike at Brisbane Rd, you are allowed to consume alcohol beverages whilst watching the match but please ask for your drink to be poured into a plastic glass. Food at the bar is limited to crisps, peanuts and chocolate bars. There are also toilets near the parking lot entrance to the bar.
For more substantial sustenance, there is a ‘shipping container’ canteen located in the parking lot behind the North Stand. It serves grub such as burgers, pies and wraps as well as hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages.
Please note that dogs are not allowed at Cheshunt’s ground, except for certified guide and service canines.
How to Get to Cheshunt
By Car or Motorcycle:
From the M25 motorway, take the exit at Junction 25 and head north on the A10 (Great Cambridge Rd) towards Hertford. After approximately 800 yards take the third exit at the roundabout, and head west for approximately 750 yards on A121 (Winston Churchill Way) following the signs to Cheshunt/Walton Cross. At the next roundabout, take the first exit, heading north on the High Rd (B176) and continue to drive for approximately 400 yards. On your left-hand side, you’ll see Theobalds Grove Overground Station. Pass under the rail bridge and then take the immediate left onto Theobalds Lane. Drive for about 600 yards and then turn right into Cheshunt FC’s ground and park for free at one of the 200-plus spots.
By Overground (Weaver Line):
Theobalds Grove Station is less than ten minutes’ walk from Cheshunt FC’s ground. Turn left upon exiting the station, walk under the bridge, turn left on to Theobalds Lane and then continue to walk for about seven or eight minutes until you reach the ground.
Theobalds Grove Station is served by the Weaver Line which terminates at Cheshunt Station to the north and Liverpool Street Station in London. Trains arrive at and depart from Theobalds Grove Station every 30 minutes.
If you’re coming from Leyton or Walthamstow via public transit, the best place to catch the Weaver Line to Theobalds Grove Station is at Seven Sisters Station – first taking the Jubilee Line.
By National Rail:
Whilst Theobalds Grove Overground Station is closest to Cheshunt FC’s ground, some weekends the Weaver Line does not operate (check https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/ for the latest status and planned closures). The next best option via transit is to catch a train to Waltham Cross Station and then take the 310 or 242 bus to Theobalds Grove Station or walk the 25 minutes or so to the ground. Trains to Waltham Cross can be caught from Tottenham Hale Station.
By Bus:
The nearest bus stop is at Theobalds Grove Station. This stop is served by bus routes 310 and 310a (Waltham Cross to Hertford), 242 (Waltham Cross to Potters Bar), and 251 (Waltham Abbey to Cheshunt).
LIVE-TEXT show this Sunday
Following on from previous years, LOFCwomen.com will be proving live text coverage of Sunday's opening league game away at Toby Ladies WFC. We know of at least four of the LOFCwomen.com gang who will be in attendance so they'll be making some noise. We'll publish a link to the coverage on Sunday morning so all you'll need to do is vist LOFCwomen.com and click the LIVE-TEXT link to follow along with us.
Lensman Ben James will be there with his phone so we hope to put together another of our series of photo slideshows from the game.
Ace correspondent Larry Peterson will be leading the update service from the touchline, his comments will appear within a minute or two. Of course, we'd prefer Orient fans to go along to the match and support the girls "live" but, if that's not a possibility, we look forward to your company on-line. The show starts about 1:30pm, it's free, there are no ads, no sponsor banners and we don't leave cookies (or anything else) on your device.