Leyton Orient forward Dom Ballard has been voted the League One PFA Players' Player of the Year for 2026. The club is also dealing with a kit controversy involving Wrexham and reflecting on a recent league defeat to Barnsley.
Who won the PFA award for Leyton Orient?
Dom Ballard received the top individual honour from his fellow professionals this week. The Professional Footballers' Association announced the Leyton Orient striker as the League One Players' Player of the Year for 2026, according to their official website. Ballard was also selected for the PFA League One Team of the Year.
No other Orient players made the divisional best XI. The team included Lincoln City goalkeeper George Wickens and defenders Sonny Bradley and Tendayi Darikwa. Stockport County's Oliver Norwood and Kyle Wootton were also named, alongside Bolton Wanderers forward Amario Cozier-Duberry.
What is the controversy with Wrexham's kit?
Leyton Orient have publicly questioned Wrexham's new third kit, which features a crest strikingly similar to their own. ESPN reports that Orient used their social media channels to directly ask Wrexham's celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, "What you playing at?"
The issue centres on Wrexham's new badge, unveiled this week. It shows two wyverns or dragons facing each other over a football. This design is remarkably close to the crest Orient introduced in 1976, which incorporates the club's links to the City of London and the Thames. Wrexham's traditional crest features two red dragons, the Prince of Wales feathers, and Welsh flag colours.
How did Orient fare against Barnsley?
Barnsley secured a 3-1 victory over Leyton Orient in a League One match, with the Tykes' boss praising his new loan signings. The Yorkshire Post reported that Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel hailed the contributions of Connor O'Riordan and Makenzie Kirk after the win.
Stendel said Kirk, on loan from Portsmouth, "took the duels" and created chances, while O'Riordan, borrowed from Blackburn Rovers, delivered exactly what was expected. Cameron McGeehan and Reyes Cleary scored for Barnsley. Nicholas Oyekunle netted a late consolation for Orient.
Orient manager Richie Wellens pointed to a lengthy injury list as a significant factor. "A club like ours with a budget like ours can't carry that and have a product on the pitch that can compete at this level," Wellens told the Yorkshire Post. He noted that goalkeeper Noah Phillips made his league debut and Phil Chinedu was playing his third or fourth consecutive game.
What is Leyton Orient's current league position?
The O's sit 16th in the League One table after three games of the new season. They have three points from one win and two losses, scoring four goals and conceding five for a minus-one goal difference. Their recent form reads loss-win-loss.
Richie Wellens's side are four points behind early leaders Blackpool. Attention now turns to their next fixture, an away trip to face Bromley on September 1st. Bromley are currently 13th in the table. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our standings and fixtures pages. The squad will be looking to build momentum after a mixed start.
