The new 2026/2027 League One season starts on Saturday

The 2026/2027 League One season is upon us, with Sheffield Wednesday starting at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

The Owls have not visited Brisbane Road for 14 years since a 1-0 win in March 2012, Reda Johnson scoring the winner. That season, of course, ended in promotion, and Wednesdayites will be hoping they are at least challenging for honours this term, but understand the ongoing rebuilding job will take time.

Ahead of kick-off this weekend, Owls fans will know all the ins and outs of their own team, but they might not be so familiar with what has been happening at their opening day opponents, so here’s a handy guide.

‘WASTED MY TIME’

Orient have had quite the two years. In 2025, they were one win away from reaching the Championship but fell short in the play-off final against Charlton Athletic at Wembley. Last season, they avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth, staying up on the last day. The drop-off had been staggering. Standing in front of the press pack after securing a home point against Burton Albion to secure safety, manager Richie Wellens gave a remarkable post-match interview in which he said the players had ‘wasted’ his time, adding that what they had served up was ‘rubbish’ and that it had been an ‘embarrassing’ season. “It was the only interview I've ever done that made The New York Times,” commentator Dave Victor, who reports on Orient for the BBC, told The Star.

DOM GONE AND THE REBUILD

Unsurprisingly, like Wednesday, a big summer rebuild has taken place, with Wellens working alongside new director of football Scott Mitchell. The O’s have brought in double-figure additions and it is thought they have had a bigger budget to play with. Ethan Galbraith’s move from Swansea City to Stoke City for a reported £10m is believed to have produced a tidy sum from a well-placed sell-on clause when Orient sold the Northern Ireland international. Star striker Dom Ballard, who scored 23 goals last season for Wellens’ men, has departed for Bristol City for £4m, a club record sale for Orient, with another sell-on clause inserted.

Wednesday weren’t the only club to have a problem with goalkeepers last season, it seems, with Orient going through five themselves. Only three teams conceded more than their 71. Former Bolton Wanderers stopper Nathan Baxter has strengthened that department, their first permanent goalkeeper in a long time, after previously relying on loans, and he has made a positive impression already. Ex-QPR man Isaac Hayden will wear the captain’s armband and is being backed to add some steel in midfield, with Wellens determined to have more leaders in his side.

Forward Jaze Kabia has been handed the challenge of filling the void left by free-scoring Ballard, after signing from Grimsby Town for a club-record fee. He scored 24 goals in 57 appearances last season as The Mariners reached the League Two play-offs. The former Truro City man is a livewire, full of energy with plenty of pace. On Kabia, Victor made an interesting point: “I think he'll be happy on his own with players either side of him and a popular number 10. It's not a coincidence that Orient have had two back-to-back golden bootmen in Charlie Kelman and and Dom Ballard. That's because of the way in which which Richie sets up the team, and I think Jaz stands every chance of amassing quite a few goals.”

BENCH COULD WIN IT

Orient’s friendlies have been up and down. They lost to Hornchurch and Swindon Town. Drew against Southend United. But they did beat Belgium side Antwerp. Like Owls boss Henrik Pedersen, Wellens has been more concerned about learning about his new squad. And like Wednesday, they secured their place in round two of the Carabao Cup last weekend, beating fellow League One outfit Oxford United 2-0. Unlike last term, it was their squad depth that helped win them the game, something Wednesday are trying to resolve before the end of the window.

Victor explained: “In terms of pre season results, nothing was spectacular, but the players settled, and you could see patterns forming. Last week to an extent felt like a pre-season game. But it was the first time Richie named his strongest team and they looked sharp for 70 minutes. It was a good match against a good League One team. Orient made a number of substitutes, and it actually made the team stronger.”

‘BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT’

In terms of the feeling around Orient, it is quite positive, but after a poor season last time, the first 10 games will be important. A strong start will settle everyone down, but a slow one could result the fans turn. Victor explained: “It wasn't particularly positive at the end of last season so I think everybody's giving Richie and the new director of football the benefit of the doubt. Everybody is encouraged with what on paper looks to be good signings. Everybody acknowledges that it was difficult circumstances last season in terms of the number of players that had to come in and obviously there wasn't the money available that probably is this time round so the circumstances are different.”

BUZZING TO PLAY OWLS

On paper, it looks like a tricky test for Wednesday. A typical away day in League One where they will be asked numerous questions. Owls fans soon snapped up their away allocation of 1,250 and could have sold thousands more. But Orient won’t care about that and will fancy their chances of taking a scalp. Victor added: “It is going to be a full house and proper noise, which you shouldn’t take for granted at the start of the season in August. I think that's the bit that supporters really value, and appreciate. Wednesday and Leicester are the big names in the division and you couldn't think of a better way to start the season.”