Orient women's first pre-season game was played yesterday (Sunday 13th July) at a secure location where fans were not permitted to watch. That includes us. Sadly, we can only bring you basic news. We don't know how many players we took to Norwich but it was certainly more than the eight players the club has announced as having signed up for 2025/26. Those eight are Kallie Balfour, Lucy Porter, Grace Gillard, Sammy Rowland, Hayley West, Poppy Binding, Lola Duroyaiye and Wiki Fronc (see more about Wiki below).
The O's hit the only goal of a competitive first half and then matched their high-ranking hosts after the break to record an impressive opening day victory. Norwich play at Tier four and would have expected to run out winners over the ladies from E10 who play down at Tier Seven. We don't know the strengths of the side Norwich fielded but it's worth remembering this team finished second last season and almost got themselves up to Tier three, they were just two points away from the title and promotion. So, we reckon this was a win worth shouting about. In recent years, we have played Tier Five clubs; Wroxham, Haringey, St Albans and Brentford and have been outclassed by each of them. Today was different.

The latest recruit announced by the club is former Poland youth international Wiktoria Fronc, usually called 'Wiki'.
Wiki spent four years developing her skills in Arsenal's youth development programme before signing for West Ham Utd in 2018. She stayed there until 2022 although her final year saw her loaned to London City Lionesses. Wiki spent time in the USA playing for Hofstra University team on Long Island, New York where she made thirty nine appearances. She moved back to the UK and joined Hashtag Utd (no surprise there) in 2023 and now has moved to Leyton Orient to further her career. We have high expectations that Wiki will be able to contribute to a storming season for the E10 ladies so here's a big lofcwomen.com welcome to her.

Dom Edwards was appointed the manager of Hashtag Utd's women's team earlier this year, here's a photo of him with four Hashtag women players in the background. One of them, Grace Gillard (far left) has now moved to Leyton Orient to join up again with Jason Stephens who, we presume, is Dom's predecessor at Hashtag.
Now that Grace has made the move to E10, she becomes one of eight players we've signed up so far (at the time of going to press). The Greater London WFL Premier Division, assuming that's where we'll play this season, has yet to publish details of the clubs in the league and all the registered players in each. We only have the news updates from the @lofcwomen 'X' channel and that has posted only eight names. Despite that, yesterday afternoon (Sunday 13th July) the O's ladies are played away at Norwich City, we don't know who else was in the team.
Of the eight names we know about, only Lucy Porter has not played for Hashtag Utd women. We ask ourselves whether or not Dom Edwards knew this was going to happen when he took over at Hashtag in the spring. Assuming we've taken something like sixteen players to Norwich today, it seems obvious to ask how many of the un-identified eight are also former Hashtag players. We are aware that five of last season's recruits from Hashtag, only Kallie Balfour has signed up for the new season, we await news about Jade Keogh, Sophie Kelly, Esme Lancaster and Gemma Baker.
Of course, there are others about whom we are curious, notably: Ellie Thomas-Leek, Layla May Duffield, Grace Alexander, Layla Crouch Salmon, Leanne Bates, Sion Kamiende and Stephanie McCaffrey. If you know, do tell please.

If you have an interest in and views about the women's team then please let us hear your thoughts and suggestions. You can contact us (anonymously if you prefer) via our contact form on our home page or just simply email us at lofcwomen@yahoo.com
We look forward to hearing from you.

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