o * Portugal Over 50s *

With a squad of nine players the Leyton Orient over 50s arrived at the stadium on the first day raring to go. Unfortunately Tony Weston didn’t recover from his injury to take part so Len Cheston took the gloves and was the keeper for the tournament, although perhaps Len thought twice when he saw the tournament was using almost full sized 11-a-side goals and the hard ground.

The games were 7-a-side straight 15 mins and Orient were due to play six games on the first day.
Tony Weston was now the over 50s manager for the tournament and did his best to use the squad, giving the players as equal game time as possible. Initially the side found it difficult to adjust to the playing three touch football, the formation changes and also the team rotation. Throughout the day the players all gave 100% and took the managers support and coaching from the sidelines on the chin and kept going in the heat of the day.

During the course of the six games Cheston made some decent saves, rolling back the years and at times putting in a Harry Gregg style performance.

Birnbaum, as always, was very vocal, supportive of his team members including the other team, the referee etc. Birnbaum blocked many a shot in defence and in most cases the opposition got up after a Maurice challenge. Guerinni, always keen, covered the pitch well and was a crucial part of the side which held last years Champions, Malaga, to a goalless draw. Guerinni was also the first to apologise if he made a mistake. Edwards, generally played in defence and responded well to the managers screams and pleas and again was immense in Orient’s defensive display against Malaga, covering plenty of ground and putting in those important tackles.

P.Weston was the midfield general, often sitting just in front of the defence trying to link play. P. Weston also played a part in all of the over 60s games which meant he was the only player to play at least some part in 100% of ALL the Orient games. Zelkowicz, similar to P.Weston, was also playing in both over 50s and over 60s squads, generally in a midfield three although played a few games for the over 50s at the back and in doing so was complimented by our keeper Cheston who felt Zelkowicz shored up the defence and protected him.

Gould was always keen to be on the pitch playing. He played both midfield and as a lone striker covering a lot of pitch but at times found it frustrating with a lack of service getting through to him when up front. Gould was our first goal scorer of the tournament and he also hit the woodwork at least once.

Eades, who played mostly in midfield with the occasional venture forward, gave his all as always, trying to link defence with attack and his elation showed as he punched the air when he finally scored his only goal in front of the main stand in the eleventh game on second day.

Then there’s come to Lillington. Generally a lone striker with his pace and power up front putting fear into the faces of all of the defences. Lillington was unlucky not to score on more than one occasion and was one player mamager T.Weston had to substitute due to his giving his all on the pitch and was visibly puffing. Lillington even saved the manager T.Weston a seat on the coach for which the manager was very grateful for, boot and all.

After day one Orient returned on day two for Two more group games knowing the best Orient could do was to try to win the Plate. Orient’s very last group game, which was the second game on day two was against the previous year’s Champions, Malaga, who’s team were made up of Spanish and a couple of Argentinian players who were all looking to bag goals against what appeared to be an underperforming Orient side. They were so wrong. With determination and grit Orient dug in and shut down their every move. This was Orient’s cup final and when Malaga did score it was disallowed as the ball had been struck from their own half. Of course Cheston knew that otherwise he would have saved it. Orient saw the game through for a goalless draw and pride was restored for the players and the manager with the cries of sacked in the morning aimed at the manager quelled.

After all eight qualifying games Orient had two points, Cheston had two clean sheets and Orient finished eight out of nine teams.

The Plate competition ,for which Orient were now qualified. didn’t go too well.

Game nine was Orient’s first plate game and this is where Orient finally scored their first goal courtesy of a fine low drive from Gould after he escaped from his defender. Every player on the pitch and the manager was as pleased as Gould to see the net bulge at the right end at last. The manager actually told a couple of teams watching on the side this was Orient’s first goal in nine games and they all applauded along with us. The opposition, Oriam from Scotland, equalised four minutes later so the game ended all square.

Orient then suffered two more defeats in their last two Plate games with the highlight being Eades scoring in Orient’s last game in front of a packed main stand to give the O’s a single goal lead but Orient couldn’t hold out and they went down four goals to one.

To summarise although the Orient over 50s never won a game the team all played with great spirit and made many friends, new and old, from the other teams in particular Nottingham Forest who Orient got on so well with in Mallorca, and like in Mallorca Forest went on to lift the trophy for the over 50s.

The social side in the evenings was enjoyed by all whether on the beer, Coka Cola or wine or even two cocktails at a time – eh Julian. The togetherness of the club as always was excellent which is why these trips are always so successful as well as the comradery and respect between clubs. Orient have even taken away contacts to play against a team from both Scotland and France in friendlies in the future.

o * Portugal Over 60s *

The Over 60s had two contrasting days, struggling throughout Monday but finding their feet and some form on day two, and coming within one disputed goal of winning the Bowl competition.

The usual line-up was Everett in goal, T.Conlan and Rains at the back, Dooley, Stevenson and Cox in midfield with Ridley up front. Corrigan, with his useful local knowledge, was the only available substitute until P.Weston and Zelkowicz gallantly fitted in extra shifts between their commitments to the Over 50s.

Unfamiliarity with three-touch football was not so much a problem as a tendency to make at least one crucial error per game, from either a loose pass on the grass (remember grass?) or a basic failure to track runners – and runners they frequently were.

Failure to take advantage of the invitingly large goals also contributed to a series of defeats, although never heavy ones, and meant that a tired team finished bottom of Group D on the first day.

On the second day in a new ‘Bowl’ competition, things improved after a tactical switch that saw Ridley drop into a defensive role with licence to go forward, while Zelkowicz and then Cox played in attack.

By the final match against leaders Gainsborough Trinity, Orient needed a win to take the title. Cox gave them the lead with his third goal in two games but an equaliser was conceded when the referee played advantage to the O’s for a foul on Ridley, which resulted in no advantage at all as Gainsborough immediately took possession and scored.

Manager Tongue summed up: “Against some good and almost certainly younger sides, the team spirit remained excellent even after a bad first day, with only one rant required from skipper Phil ‘Keano’ Stevenson to get our lads going for the second competition. In those later games the passing and control on the astro pitches was much better and in the end it was really disappointing to finish runners-up and not to win the trophy. As usual on these tours, the social side was excellent, though slightly earlier curfews may be beneficial in future. Special thanks to Tony Weston for the last-night (and late-night) quiz.

Over 50s Monday 15th April Group B:

Kingsmaid 3 v 0 Leyton Orient
FC Ferreiras 3 v 0 Leyton Orient
Northwich 2 v 0 Leyton Orient
Coleshill Stroller 2 v 0 Leyton Orient
Gainsborough Trinity 1 v 0 Leyton Orient
Culceth Strollers 0 v 0 Leyton Orient

Over 50s Tuesday 16th April Group B:

Silver Coast Strollers 3 v 0 Leyton Orient
Malaga 0 v 0 Leyton Orient

Plate competition:

Oriem 1 v 1 Leyton Orient (Gould)
Clacton Knights 2 v 0 Leyton Orient
Real Calahunda 4 v 1 Leyton Orient (Eades)

Over 60s Monday 15th April Group D:

Clacton Knights 3 v 1 (Ridley)
Leyton Orient 0 v 2 FC Farense
Leyton Orient 0 v 1 Leisure United
Weston Super Mare 3 v 1 Leyton Orient (Ridley)
Leyton Orient 0 v 2 Scarborough Barons
West Hartlepool 2 v 0 Leyton Orient

Over 60s Tuesday 16th April Bowl:

Aulnay 1 v 0 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient 0 v 0 Silver Coast Strollers
WF Langedijk 0 v 2 Leyton Orient (Cox 2)
Gainsborough 1 v 1 Leyton orient (Cox)

Players of Tournament:

Over 50s: Jason Edwards and Len Cheston tied in the vote
Over 60s: Phil Stevenson
Golden Boot: Alan Cox

Special thanks to Tony Weston and Steve Tongue for managing the teams.

Further thanks to Paul Weston and later in the tournament, Jake Zelkowicz, for turning out for both team.

Colin Corrigan was superb as taxi driver, Algarve host, football purchaser and sorter and fixer.

Leyton Orient Over 50s Squad: Len Cheston, Jason Edwards, Maurice Birnbaum, Steve Guerrini, Steve Eades, Howard Gould, Julian Lillington, Paul Weston, Jake Zelkowicz

Leyton Orient Over 60s Squad: Keith Everett (Gk), Phil Stevenson (Cpt), Trevor Ridley, Tim Conlan, Vince Dooley, Colin Corrigan, Peter Rains, Alan Cox, Paul Weston, Jake Zelkowicz.

Goalscorers: Cox 3, Ridley 2, Gould, Eades.

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Image used © 2024 Trevor Ridley

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