Saturday 5th July, Matchday Two of the inaugural Essex Walking Football League Saturday over 60s League in Billericay. The heavens brooded low over Essex, the grey skies a fitting shroud for the sadness weighing heavily on all present. Leyton Orient Walking Football had lost more than a player. They had lost a heartbeat.

Before a ball was kicked, players from all teams stood in a solemn circle, the Leyton Orient players heads bowed, arms interlinked, honouring Tony Wahlhaus, a stalwart of the club and a giant of the walking football community. Simon Crump, of the Essex Walking Football League, called him “a guiding light.” He was that – and more. Resolute on the pitch, deeply humane off it, Tony was the kind of figure who stitched clubs and communities together with decency, wit, and quiet – and sometimes not so quiet – authority.

The minute’s silence gave way to spontaneous applause – an ovation less for an absence, perhaps, than for a life well-lived and a reminder to cherish the privilege of still playing, still competing, into one’s sixties and beyond.

But football, as it always must, resumed. Leyton Orient entered the day with only two points from nine. Encouragement in performance had yet to yield a fitting return. That changed.

Sitting one point below Leyton Orient, Valley Green opened the day. With the addition of four new Saturday over 60s players, including league rookie, Woods and late goalkeeper recruit Myers, Orient clicked into rhythm. Pillay opened the scoring early, with Okocha soon following up from open play and the spot. The O’s swarmed Valley Green, playing with poise and precision with time even for the Valley Green stopper to keep out another Okocha penalty. The second half saw Birnbaum replace Okocha, quickly shaking off his rustiness. A penalty gave Valley Green a glimmer, but Myers, untroubled all match, saved smartly to preserve his clean sheet. A second Pillay penalty put a ribbon on the performance – sharp, clinical, dominant. Final score: Valley Green 0 v 4 Leyton Orient (Pillay 2, Okocha 2)

Next, old rivals Romford, unbeaten and always combative, the match turned attritional. Okocha was harried and hauled, the referee seemingly indifferent. But when he found Pillay in space, the captain jinked past the defender and smashed the ball with his left foot, top bins. Romford surged after the break. Okocha saw a penalty saved. Then a Romford equaliser from the spot was chalked off for a two-step violation. Myers, for the second time running, made no saves – because he wasn’t asked to. The defence in front of him had been immaculate. Final score: Romford 0 v 1 Leyton Orient (Pillay).

Final opponents, Stanway Rovers, strong at over 50s level, proved equally robust in the over 60s. Physicality crept in, the no-contact rule apparently optional. Pillay, the frequent recipient of jabs and nudges, was somehow adjudged the aggressor. But footballing craft won out. A sweeping move involving Burn, Birnbaum, and Okocha culminated in a vintage finish from the latter – calm, confident, inevitable. Myers was finally called into action after the break, repelling a handful of speculative strikes. Woods, twice released by Okocha, forced a fine save. Then, when Pillay was blue-carded, the team closed ranks, keeping possession masterfully until his return. It was a mature, composed finale. Final score: Stanway Rovers 0 v 1 Leyton Orient (Okocha).

Captain Nad Pillay reflected: “The team played well and to its strengths: control, possession and the ability to score against any team. And three wins and three clean sheets – on another day we would be beaming. But it was clear we were all affected by the news of Tony’s death. For some, their usual exuberance was laboured. Others found a fresh determination. Of course, Bill Shankly was right when he said that football is more important than life or death. But for us, as we head into the autumn of our years, it’s also about camaraderie, hope and the spirit of life itself. We’ve been robbed of some of that with the taking of our dear friend. So today, we mourn. Soon, we’ll be able to celebrate his life. If I may defer to my South African roots, which he and I spoke about at length:

Hamba Kahle, Tony.”

Leyton Orient squad: Derek Myers (Gk), Tim Conlan, Neil Burns, Nad Pillay (Cpt), Maurice Birnbaum, Andrew Okocha, John Woods.

Goalscorers: Pillay 3, Okocha 3

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Image used © 2025 Trevor Ridley