On Wednesday 19th June Leyton Orient Walking FC travelled round the North Circular to play in a charity event organised by RIP Walking Football Club to celebrate their tenth anniversary. The event was to raise money for the Prostrate Cancer Charity. Orient were to face a range of teams drawn from that club, Welwyn and users of Powerleague Barnet where the games were to be played.

Orient lined up with Len Cheston in goal, Tim Conlan, Fid Neophytou, Gary Latner on defensive duties, Tony Wahlhaus with debutant Phil Jacobs in the pivot role, the wide midfield consisted of Paul Newman (another debutant), Colin Corrigan, Mark Taylor and finally Andrew Okocha leading the line with Alan Lester assisting until Andrew turned up. The games were played on ‘boarded’ pitches with low wide goals.

The team played five games of twenty minutes each. Team Manager Cheston, had decided that everyone should get roughly even game time so a different team played each half.

The opening game saw Orient run out 2-0 winners against a RIP team. It was a feisty affair with Latner warned in the first minute and a RIP player getting a blue card.

Orient then faced a good Welwyn team, running up a 2-0 lead before Welwyn got on a roll towards the end and made it 2-2. The Orient goals came from Newman and Jacobs, a first of two players scoring on their debut. Both goals came from some excellent passing football by Orient.

In the third game, Orient ran out comfortable winner against another Welwyn team, this included a classic Wahlhaus pile driver into the top corner.

The fourth game was against a youthful RIP scratch team, their energy overwhelmed a tiring Orient squad and 5-1 defeat followed.

The last game was against another RIP scratch side. Okocha ran riot scoring six goals as Orient ran out 7-3 winners.

Manager Cheston said after play, “Okocha was the star player scoring eight goals including one goal where he dribbled through the whole team, it drew applause from everyone on the pitch. Newman and Jacobs played with energy getting on the scoring sheet and looking like they could step up to the Essex League. Neophytou was back to his best in defense. In the changing room afterwards, Cheston was praised for his display in the first three games which contributed significantly to the Orient results. Finally, sometimes, you cannot escape the past, Neophytou spotted he could be marking his nemesis from the visit to the Netherlands where he had been awarded the Club’s first red card for an altercation with this player. Whilst Neophytou stayed calm, this player showed he had made not progressed and soon got into an altercation with Latner. Orient send their thanks to RIP Walking FC for inviting us to a well-run event which was on track to raise over £2000 for the Prostrate Cancer Charity.”

Leyton Orient 2 v 0 RIP (Jacobs, Wahlhaus)
Leyton Orient 2 v 2 Welwyn (Newman, Jacobs)
Leyton Orient 3 v 1 Welwyn (Conlan, Wahlhaus, Okocha)
Leyton Orient 1 v 5 RIP (Okocha)
Leyton Orient 7 v 3 RIP (Okocha 6, Conlan)

Leyton Orient squad: Len Cheston (Gk & Cpt), Tim Conlan, Fid Neophytou, Gary Latner, Tony Wahlhaus, Phil Jacobs, Paul Newman, Colin Corrigan, Mark Taylor, Andrew Okocha, Alan Lester.

Goalscorers: Okocha 8, Jacobs 2, Conlan 2, Wahlhaus 2, Newman.

© Copyright 2024 Leyton Orient Walking FC
Image used © 2024 Trevor Ridley

Location

Colney Hatch Ln, London N10 1ST, UK