The curtain has finally closed on Leyton Orient’s 2024/25 season, and although it ended in somewhat underwhelming circumstances, this will go down as one of the most memorable of recent times. After the Huddersfield game, I wrote about the individual moments of the season; the goals, performances, and memories that will stay with us forever. This time I want to reflect a bit on the season as a whole, and look to the future as the work will begin very soon to build again for 2025/26.
Much has been discussed in various places about the season as a whole. August being one of then worst starts to a season the club had had for a while, September seeing a real upturn in form before a very patchy run through October and November. What was noticeable at this time was how strong the support was for the team and the management. Whilst there were definitely some voices calling for Richie Wellens to be sacked (and others - mine included - semi expecting the end to be nigh before the turn of the year) the majority were very much befind the team. Said majority were rewarded by the Moment of the Season award winner Josh Keeley’s dramatic equaliser against Oldham in the FA Cup, which then breathed new life into the club and the team.
This season was a season of some historic moments. The aforementioned Keeley goal being the first goal scored by a goalkeeper in the club’s history, the games in the FA Cup against Derby and Manchester City, the undefeated run from November till January. These will all live long in the memory, as will the recent play-off campaign. The home leg against Stockport had it’s share of controversy (Charlie Kelman might as well have been in the south stand for his first goal) whilst the away leg felt like the longest game of football I have ever watched. That said our fourth penalty shoot-out victory of the season set the stage for a date with destiny against Charlton at Wembley.
As we all know, the final didn’t go our way. Charlton having one major chance and taking it whilst Orient couldn’t get the final ball or the finish correct. It was a somewhat drab way to end the season, but I am gradually starting to feel somewhat relieved by the result. When you look at a combination of league table and players, I don’t think either side from the final is particularly ready for Championship football, and you could say the same about all four teams in this season’s playoffs.
Looking at the contracts, there was always a rebuild on the cards for this summer. Yesterday’s result has made that rebuild potentially more of a rebuild than first imagined. 15 of the current squad are due to leave the club come the end of June, 10 of whom being contracted players and the other five being the loanees. There have also been rumours about Ethan Galbraith’s future, with the well documented £1million offer from Swansea in January leading to rumours of improved offers since. The interesting part will be what the recruitment is like. Will any of the loanees be made permanent? How many of the out of contract players will sign on? Will Darren Pratley remain at the club? We will find the answer in due course.
This concludes my favourite season following Orient. Whether next season will be as memorable is a long way off even predicting, but I hope everyone reading this has a lovely summer whatever you are doing. I will pop up with some posts during the summer looking at how the team are shaping up for the new season, but until then:
Up the O’s
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