Orient Staff Take On Walking Footballers

4 Sep 2019 by Trevor Ridley

This friendly fixture against Leyton Orient staff took place at the Orient training ground, Chigwell. With the weather mild and sunny it was perfect weather for walking football. The Orient staff team was made up of Ross Embleton, Danny Webb and Jobi McAnuff to name but a few. This was going to be no easy task for the walking footballers who were split into two squads to give as many as possible game time against their professional rivals. Games were fifteen minutes long and played to Essex league walking football rules which needed some explaining to the staff.

First up were Orient Blues against the Orient staff and Lillington pounced early to fire the Blues in front. It took the staff a while to get used to the no running format but they were soon into their stride, passing and moving the ball around with consummate ease. The Blues did everything they could to intercept and disrupt the play and packed the area around their goal to prevent any easy tap-ins. Eventually the staff pressure told and some swift passing saw Webb slot in to bring the scores level. The Blues did everything they could to regain the lead and didn’t stop closing down and pressing when they could but eventually the staff quality told and they nabbed their second and ultimately winning goal. Leyton Orient Staff 2 v 1 Leyton Orient Blues (Lillington).

Next up were Orient Reds and they were similarly put under pressure from the start but managed an early goal when Hockley calmly passed the ball into an empty net. The staff now started to control the game with their passing and movement and only some last ditch defending kept them at bay until some neat footwork produced an equaliser. With the Reds finding themselves more and more on the back foot it was no surprise when the staff went ahead. The Reds were not going to go easily and with only seconds remaining a quick break by Manicom allowed Ridley in to convert the equaliser. Final score: Leyton Orient staff 2 v 2 Leyton Orient Reds (Hockley, Ridley).

Watch the Staff v Reds here (starts on the 7 minute 20 second mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om0eSgE0zG4

These two games against the Leyton Orient staff were hugely enjoyable with both the Blues and the Reds acquitting themselves well against younger, fitter and more skilled opposition

The day was rounded off with the Orient Blues playing the Orient Reds. Ridley opened the scoring for the Reds when he passed the ball into the goal from distance. Manicom then extended the lead with a well worked move. The Blues didn’t seem to have any answers for the Reds play and it wasn’t long before Ridley scored a third. Cox then joined in the goal scoring for the Reds with an individual piece of brilliance before Ridley rounded off the scoring with his hat trick and the Reds fifth and final goal of the day. Final score: Leyton Orient Blues 0 v 5 Leyton Orient Reds (Ridley 3, Cox, Manicom).

All in all this was a great morning’s football with every single walking footballer playing their very best. The walking footballers really appreciated the time and effort from the staff. To play against players of such ability is always a pleasure no matter the result and the staff really made the walking footballers feel welcome.

As walking football club chairman, Len Cheston, said after the games: ‘I would like to thank Ross, Danny and Jobi and the rest of the Orient coaching staff for making us so welcome. The Orient coaches were far more strict in their walking than some of the regular walking footballers who incurred Mr Everett whistle. All the walking footballers really enjoyed the session and we would welcome a return match’.

Len also had an opportunity to pick up some tips from Leyton Orient manager, Ross Embleton and the coaches about how they would coach walking football sessions. Ross talked about how the club uses 2-touch football to help players with passing and movement, they also find this slows the game down and might suit older players. The coaches highlighted simple exercises that focus on pass and move.

Finally, the Club’s thanks to Howard Gould for organising the session.

Leyton Orient Blues squad: Len Cheston (Capt), Julian Lillington, Derek Myers, Roger Pope, Ajit Rehal, Tony Weston.

Leyton Orient Reds squad: Alan Cox, John Hockley, Dave Jones, Graham Manicom, Trevor Ridley (Capt), Paul Taylor.

Goal Scorer: Ridley 4, Cox, Hockley, Lillington, Manicom.



Location

Chigwell School, Roding Lane

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