Fans of Leyton Orient Women

30 April 2026

The BIG match!

The BIG match in preview

Tooting Bec vs Orient
May 3rd 2026

A special BIG-MATCH preview by our own Gizmo.

A top of the table clash between Leyton Orient and their dogged pursuers, Tooting Bec. The Bec are the second-best team in the division, having only lost twice, and cemented their second place with a tight 1-0 win over South London First a couple of weeks ago which featured a penalty save from their goalkeeper Rosie Lethbridge.

In any other year... League champions.
Tooting Bec montage image

📷 @tootingbec

We’ve played the Bec loads during the last couple of years and are also scheduled to meet them in the League Cup final on the 17th May out in Feltham. Relations between the two clubs have never been great, for reasons I don’t understand, but things seemed to have calmed down recently. There will always be a south versus east London edge to this tie. Expect the Tooting Popular Front to be out in force for this match.

The Bec have done very well this season: second in the league, which should get a promotion, and in the league cup final. They are led from the front, as ever, by their top goal scorer the very competitive Bryony Bancroft (13 in 17 games). It’s by no means a one woman show as Lucy Hearn and Jayny Saunders have chipped in seven, with Charlotte Stiff just behind on six. Their defence is solid.

Bec Keeper Rosie Lethbridge conceded just 13 in 16 games.
Keeper Rosie Lethbridge image

📷 #fctootingbecwomen

Orient arrive in South London having lifted the Capital Cup with a 4-0 win over a very competitive and battling Hammersmith team, who never gave up. This included a hat-trick from Georgia Griffin (GG3 perhaps?) and an excellent performance from Flo Gamby in midfield. At the back Hayley West was in her best “they shall not pass” mood and, in the second half, Grace Gillard was calm and controlled. They will all be back, along with the usual crew. Poppy Binding will be weaving spells in midfield, I hope to see Steph McCaffrey giving glimpses of her class, the tireless Wiki Fronc and another run out for Olivia McGregor, who had a solid game in the cup final.
Olivia McGregor and Flo Gamby. Successful signings.
Keeper Rosie Lethbridge image

📷 Denise Clarke Collins

The Bec haven’t lost a game since November, so they are in good form. If Orient win today, that will secure the League title, so that’s motivation enough. Given recent results, there looks to be only one winner here.

Recent results

Tooting Bec 0 Leyton Orient 9
(18 January 2026 – Capital Cup)

Leyton Orient 7 Tooting Bec 0
(9 November 2025)

Leyton Orient 9 Tooting Bec 1
(30 March 2025)

Tooting Bec 3 Leyton Orient 2
(19 January 2025, Capital Cup)

Tooting Bec 2 Leyton Orient 2
(8 December 2024)

Leyton Orient 1 Tooting Bec 1
(5 May 2024)

Tooting Bec 3 Leyton Orient 4
(31 March 2024)

Venue

Tooting and Mitcham United FC, Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden SM4 6BF. Club house with bar. There appears to be a Jamaican fast food place on site for those who like jerk chicken, plantains, rice and peas (me). For those who like craft beer, Drop Project Brewing is on the other side of the River Wandle.

Directions

Tram: Take the tram to the Mitcham Tramlink stop, then walk up Tramway Path and turn left on to London Road. Walk past the Fire Station and Imperial Fields is a short walk further along, situated on your left once you have crossed the bridge. Bus: 45 or 280 to Bishopsford Road bus stop.

Tube: Morden Station (Northern Line) then take the 45 bus from bus stop C, five stops to Bishopsford Road.

Train: The nearest stations are Mitcham Junction or Tooting.
From Mitcham Junction train station, take the tram one stop to Mitcham and Imperial Fields is a short walk from the station (see above).
From Tooting train station, catch the 280 bus to Wandle Road bus stop.

Car: We have plenty of parking at the stadium, but best to arrive early, to ensure a parking space is still available. From the M25 take Junction 8 (A217) and follow signs to Sutton. Continue on A217 to Rosehill, take the 3rd exit at the roundabout and follow signs to Mitcham onto Bishopsford Road. Imperial Fields is situated approximately one mile down the road on the right hand side, opposite the petrol garage. Please note that Imperial Fields is within the London ULEZ zone.

Gizmo ✍

Cup Final Slide-show

Feast your eyes on our collection of Ben's photos from last Sunday's big day... 47 images in total. We have hi-res originals available if you'd like one or two, just email us at lofcwomen@yahoo.com and we'll do our best to get them to you.

Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image Cup Final image

O's remaining fixtures

As the season reaches it's conclusion, we have one cup final victory, a league title to win and a league cup to add and thus make it a triple-crown season. Once in a life-time? Maybe never in Orient's existence. This year looks like it has it all.
Here are Orient's remaining fixtures....

Sun 03/05/26 - Tooting Bec - Away.
14.30 kick off.

Wed 06/05/26 - Luton Town - Away
19:45 kick off.

Sun 10/05/26 - AFC Leyton - Home
14:00 kick off.

Sun 17/05/26 - Tooting Bec
League Cup final
14:30 kick off at Bedfont Sports Club.

If you want to see the most successful team Orient has ever had, then get to one of these games. A season like this may never come around again.

Limited service on Sunday

By way of a celebration of a wonderful season, all the lofcwomen.com staffers will be pitch-side this coming Sunday to watch our ladies play and confirm themselves as Premier League champions by avoiding defeat to the best other side in the division - Tooting Bec. Even our Croatia based web Editor will be making the 1600km trip to witness the culmination of a dream season.
Consequently, we won't have the means to provide our normal Live-Text service on the day nor post a report on the Monday (as we have done for every other game for the past four years). However, we will be back on Thursday evening 7th May and then all the way to the end of the season. Sorry folks, but this Sunday's historic game is just too big for us to miss! Come and join us.

Our friends at the Leyton Orient Forum will host basic info but the latest score and any news on the day will be available to everyone via the WOMENS THREAD.

Spare a thought...

Emotions
Emotions after the final whistle

📷 Ben James

After the final whistle last Sunday, you didn't need to look very far to witness both the joy and outpouring of emotions among the gathered people, not just the players. Here was the culmination of being part of a group of hard working and dedicated people - at the moment the realisation of a dream which started over a year ago came to fruition. No shortage of dewey eyes nor exuberant celebrations on the green side in contrast with the overall disappointment from the red side. That's natural.

The lass with the black rucksack, taking the photo, is our own Sammy Rowland. A nasty knee injury ruined Sammy's season and so she had to watch from the sidelines from about half season - as she did every week. As far as we can tell, Sammy is going to win the national "Golden Ball" competiton for being the top goal scorer in the women's FA Cup. A sweetener perhaps but she would've loved to play in this game. She's not alone, Emily Dilliway and Kallie Balfour have missed out too.

This may not be world cup football but the energy, commitment and emotion invested by all the people, including our own, are testament to how good things happen when people get an opportunity to thrive.