League One is one of the best leagues in the English Football League (EFL) with its sides competing against each other in the aim of promotion at the end of the season.
So far this season, Cardiff City have stood out among the rest of the teams with the Bluebirds achieving 55 points across their 26 games in the campaign so far.
However, across the league, some players have stood out amongst the rest and have excelled in their position.
With this in mind, we have chosen our team of the season in the English third tier so far. The team will be made up of a 4-2-3-1 formation and will have eleven players.
Joe Whitworth has played a crucial role in Exeter City’s defence, which ranks as the best defense of any team in the league having only conceded 23 goals.
Whitworth, on loan from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, has a save percentage of 71.6% whilst also preventing 3.39 goals, helping the Grecians to win crucial points in their campaign so far this season.
Furthermore, the 21-year-old has succeeded in 69.5% of his passes and 38.4% of his long balls so far this season, showing his ability on the ball.
Meanwhile, in comparison to Nathan Trott, Whitworth outscores the Cardiff goalkeeper on save percentage, goals prevented, successful pass percentage, and successful long ball percentage.
| Statistic | Whitworth | Trott |
| Save % | 71.6% | 70.9% |
| Successful Pass % | 69.5% | 62.6% |
| Goals Prevented | 3.39 | 2.31 |
| Successful Long Ball % | 38.4% | 31% |
With these figures in mind, our choice of Whitworth as our League One goalkeeper of the season so far makes sense.
In a Lincoln City side that is currently second in the English third tier, Adam Reach has stood out as a key part of the Imps’ side.
The 32-year-old, who signed for Lincoln last summer following a spell at Wycombe Wanderers, has scored four times whilst assisting a further three goals.
Meanwhile, Reach has also created 29 chances this season whilst making 36 tackles, displaying his ability at both ends of the field.
Speaking about the Englishman, Lower Tiers writer and Lincoln City fan Rob Beezley stated: “[Adam] Reach has been an absolute revelation for Lincoln City this season.
“He’s looked solid both defensively and going forward. His goal against Barnsley was incredible and he scored three goals in three games across the Christmas and New Year period.”
With this in mind, his place in this team is deserved.
Having joined Bradford City in the summer, Joe Wright has solidified himself as an essential part of Graham Alexander’s project during the first half of this season.
So far this season, Wright has won 65.3% of his duels and has blocked 17 shots. Meanwhile, at the other end of the field, the 30-year-old has scored three times, including a late winner against Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day.
Given his influence at both ends of the field, Wright has done enough to be included in this team.
Jack Fitzwater has been one of the best centre-backs in League One this season. The 28-year-old, who features in an Exeter side that has conceded just 0.9 goals per game, has made 28 tackles and has won 122 duels.
Meanwhile, he has also created five chances whilst scoring once and assisting once. Here, it is clear to see his influence at Exeter.
Furthermore, in comparison to his other defensive counterparts (Pierce Sweeney, Ed Burns, and Luca Woodhouse), Fitzwater outscores them on key defensive statistics.
| Statistic | Fitzwater | Sweeney | Woodhouse | Burns |
| Tackles Made | 28 | 20 | 12 | 23 |
| Duels Won | 122 | 72 | 44 | 97 |
| Blocked Shots | 25 | 6 | 9 | 11 |
With this in mind, and considering Fitzwater’s central dominance, he deserves to be in this team.
Rounding off our defensive selections is Lincoln defender Tendayi Darikwa.
The 34-year-old, who acts as the opposite full-back to Reach, has scored three times this season whilst assisting three goals as well. Furthermore, he has made 41 tackles whilst winning 98 duels, showing his abilities in defensive situations.
In attacking scenarios, Darikwa has had six shots on target from ten attempted and has made 15 successful dribbles, demonstrating his threat when on the offensive.
Speaking about the right-back, Rob Beezley stated: “Captain fantastic, quite literally. [Tendayi] Darikwa, like [Adam] Reach is not afraid to get forward and contribute with goals and assists and he’s also very consistent, he’s very rarely under an eight out of ten.
“His standards are high but he achieves it every time.”
Considering these comments and the figures previously stated, it is clear to see why Tendayi Darikwa makes our team.
As captain at Bradford, following in the footsteps of Richie Smallwood, Max Power had big shoes to fill when he arrived in the summer following a spell aboard.
But, he has delivered on the expectations placed on him by Bantams fans with him creating 49 chances (the highest figure of anyone in League One this season).
Furthermore, the 32-year-old has made 49 tackles and has won 101 duels, helping to boost Bradford’s defensive abilities and helping to limit sides to just 27 sides against the Bantams this season.
With this in mind, Power is a good addition to this team.
Stockport County are fourth in League One, just one point behind Bradford after their first 26 games of the season.
One key influence is this strong position is Oliver Norwood who is currently in the middle of his second season at Stockport.
The 34-year-old, previously at Sheffield United, has scored five goals and assisting goals a further four times helping County to gain key points in an already congested league.
Meanwhile, the former Sheffield United midfielder has created 45 chances whilst also making 58 tackles and winning 91 duels showing his value in both attacking and defensive situations.
Chris Willock has formed a key part of Cardiff City’s project this season with him primarily playing at the left winger position.
In the 2025-26 season so far, Willock has created 33 chances, scored four times and assisted four goals. Furthermore, the 27-year-old has made 25 tackles and has won 74 duels showing his defensive abilities and providing balance to his game.
His defensive qualities were clear to Lower Tiers writer and Cardiff City fan Cian Griffiths who stated that Willock has “no fault” in his defensive game and is “getting back more and supporting Bagan a lot more.”
But, Griffiths also highlighted that Chris Willock can still improve as the season enters its final few months. However, even with this in mind, his figures clearly show his benefit to the Bluebirds therefore making his place in this team deserved.
Gideon Kodua has been central to the success that Luton Town have had so this far this season. The attacking player, who has played as a central attacking midfielder recently, has scored nine times in League One this season.
As well as this, the 21-year-old has created 19 chances and has made 12 successful dribbles showing his ability to get Luton into attacking situations.
Furthermore, from a defensive lens, Kodua has made 30 tackles whilst winning 90 duels making his gameplay balanced and beneficial to his side at both end of the field.
Given his balanced and beneficial gameplay, Gideon Kodua’s place in this team is well earned.
Bolton Wanderers have had some players that has stood out this season amongst the rest. Amario Cozier-Duberry falls right into that category.
We could just say six goals, eight assists and leave it at that. But, from a wider perspective, it is clear that Cozier-Duberry brings much more to Bolton.
So far this season, the right-winger has created 41 chances whilst having 35 successful dribbles, showing how he can push Wanderers up the pitch and can provide alongside scoring.
Furthermore, he has made 35 tackles and has won 116 duels giving the 20-year-old a good foundation that can be built on during the later months of this season.
Meanwhile, in a direct comparison with Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary, it is clear to see that Amario Cozier-Duberry outscores the Tykes’ winger.
| Statistic | Cozier-Duberry | Cleary |
| Goals | 6 | 5 |
| Assists | 8 | 6 |
| Chances Created | 41 | 22 |
| Tackles | 35 | 18 |
| Duels Won | 116 | 59 |
Our final selection is Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard. The frontman, who in currently in the middle of his first season with the O’s following his move last summer, has scored 15 times in the league so far this season.
Ballard has also assisted two goals whilst creating 21 chances for his teammates showing his ability to both score and provide.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old has won 87 duels and has made 14 tackles so far this season demonstrating his ability to aid Leyton Orient in defensive situations.
With this in mind, his place in the team of the season is well deserved.
