Arvi Sahota is flying the flag for the Punjabi O’s

Arvi Sahota on building belonging with the Punjabi O’s at Leyton Orient

When Arvi Sahota noticed other clubs have supporters’ groups that represent their South Asian fan bases – like the Punjabi Rams, Panjabi Blues and Punjabi Villans – he realised something was missing at his own club. “We’d always gone to Orient games, but it wasn’t until I became a season ticket holder that I noticed there was no official group for Punjabi or South Asian fans,” he says.

Arvi initially launched The Punjabi O’s unofficially, just to see if the idea would stick. It did. By January 2024, the group was formally recognised by Leyton Orient, and a club-supported launch event followed at the stadium in June. “The response from the Orient community was really positive. Bit by bit, we’ve become a recognised part of the club and matchday experience.”

Welcome spaces

For Arvi, visible representation is about more than just optics – it’s about changing perceptions. “Lots of South Asians go to games, but still far fewer than we know are out there. Groups like ours help break down stigma and provide a safe, welcoming space. For older generations who lived through racism and violence in society and around football in the ‘70s and ‘80s, there’s still fear. We want to reassure them that today’s stadiums are different – and their kids will be safe and welcomed.”

Support from the club has been strong from day one. “Mark Devlin, the CEO at Leyton Orient, sat down with us at the launch event and said, ‘Let’s grow this together.’ That meant a lot.” In August 2024, the group partnered with Trehan Football and the club to tackle South Asian under-representation in the game. That partnership is now entering its second season.

There have been challenges, including occasional pushback from fans who didn’t understand the group’s purpose. Arvi meets it with visibility – wearing Punjabi O’s merch, attending community events, and building bridges with other South Asian supporter groups nationwide.

In April 2025, The Punjabi O’s were awarded the EFL Diversity Award – nominated by the club without Arvi’s knowledge. “A huge honour,” he says, “but this is just the start. The goal is to keep doing meaningful work with the club and in the community – by raising the profile of the group in the local and national media, seeing more South Asians in the stands and on the pitch in the professional game.”