The weekend of 12-14 July saw Leyton Orient Walking Football Club breaking new ground with a visit to Edinburgh. The trip had been some time in the planning, once Heart of Midlothian FC, celebrating their 150th anniversary, announced that they were inviting Leyton Orient to a pre-season friendly, based on players from the two clubs’ having taken a lead in volunteering in the Great War, and the losses both suffered.

Accommodation was found for most of the travelling party in student flats belonging to Napier University, conveniently situated walking distance from Tynecastle Park and not far from the city centre. Although small, the rooms had the benefit of being cheaper than expected for a capital city in July, with over a thousand Orient supporters plus Paul Weller fans due in town. A communal kitchen/ seating area with TV was well used and presided over by chef Dunn (“there’s black pudding and haggis”) and sous-chef Howard (“I’ve got a brilliant Japanese bread knife.”)

Also very welcome was the civilising presence of three female guests, although they surprisingly seemed to find attractions such as Holyrood Palace of more interest than watching the football.

Of the thirteen players who originally signed up, Tim Conlan and Colin Corrigan unfortunately had to withdraw, but recruiting two goalkeepers from Scotland, plus some young blood in Nick Ramsden from the Pals Battalion band, John Hockley’s son Jonathan and Orient legend Matt Lockwood – all making a walking football debut – enabled the O’s to field two teams of roughly equal strength, captained by Phil Stevenson and Steve Tongue. Both teams played in the gold strip with the very appropriate ‘Tommy Club’ soldier’s logo.

Hearts also fielded two teams, making six in all with the confusingly named Oriam, who Orient had encountered at the Algarve tournament in April, plus Edinburgh City. The 20-minute matches were played on the Hearts community grass pitches just behind the impressive Tynecastle Park, with changing rooms in the stadium itself.

The hosts had promised it would be an extremely relaxed “fun and enjoyable” event, with “inside of the foot shots” and “no score-keeping." Orient suggested the day beforehand that even with these admirable intentions, referees would be needed, but none were supplied, so the three matches going on simultaneously at all times had to be self-refereed.

This led to problems familiar from international tournaments abroad as the Scottish version of the game is very different from that played in the Essex League. Running, contact and the fiercest of shots from all over the pitch dominated most games, and play simply carried on when the ball went over head height. The one stated intention adhered to was that players managed to shake hands at the end of the game.

Stevenson’s Orient A team started with a win and took part in the higher scoring games while Tongue’s B team managed two draws while Lockwood was available before he had to dash off to play elsewhere, but they then had no substitutes available and suffered two narrow defeats.

Stevenson said: “It obviously wasn’t walking football as we know it. Having no referees meant running and tackling from behind went largely unpunished. Everybody tried hard in testing conditions and I’d like to say a special thank you to Jonathan Hockley for his commitment and contribution. Socially it was an enjoyable tour. We found a couple of decent pubs and restaurants so we quickly overcame the disappointing set of the walking football results.”

Tongue added: “I’d endorse all that, with thanks to two excellent goalkeepers plus debutants Ramsden and Lockwood in our team, who adapted very quickly. It was a privilege to play alongside Matt Lockwood, who once scored a classic free-kick winner playing for Dundee against Hearts, and had he been able to stay and play for both teams, results would no doubt have been better. It’s understood that the two football clubs intend making this a regular fixture, with the next one in London, so we will hope to invite Hearts and return their post-match hospitality.”

The following day most of the squad took part in a march to the ground led by a marching band from each club (with Ramsden on drums) and attended the game at Tynecastle, which the O’s deservedly won 2-1.

Results:

Leyton Orient A

v Edinburgh City won 2-1 (Hockley jnr, Stevenson)
v Hearts Blues lost 4-2 (Gould, Conlan)
v Oriam lost 2-0
v Hearts Maroon lost 6-2 (Gould 2)

Leyton Orient B

v Hearts Blues drew 1-1 (Lillington)
v Hearts Maroon drew 0-0
v Edinburgh City lost 1-0
v Oriam lost 2-0

Leyton Orient A squad: Oriam loanee (Gk), Phil Stevenson (cpt), Micky Howard, Colin Wells, Howard Gould, Chris Conlan, John Hockley, Jonathan Hockley.

Leyton Orient B squad: Hearts loanee (Gk), Steve Tongue (Cpt), Maurice Birnbaum, Stevie Dunn, Julian Lillington, Derek Slater, Nick Ramsden, Matt Lockwood.

Goalscorers: Gould 3, Conlan, Hockley jnr, Stevenson, Lillington.

© Copyright 2024 Leyton Orient Walking FC
Image used © 2024 Steve Tongue

Location

Tynecastle Stadium, McLeod St, Edinburgh EH11 2NL, UK