On Friday 25th July, a scratch Leyton Orient team headed to Billericay to participate in a Fun Day that involved games with different walking football rules. The games had the same core rules: 6-a-side, three touch, 5 non walking offences leading to a penalty that included fouls and shots over cross bar height and finally dribbling from free kicks and kick-ins was allowed. As further torture for the keepers, each game finished with a penalty shoot-out of three penalties. The Orient squad consisted of Len Cheston and Derek Myers sharing keeper duty, Colin Corrigan and Tim Conlan defending, John Woods, Phil Stevenson, Jack Kotonou and Simon Slater providing midfield energy and strikers.

First up were Heybridge Swifts. This game was played on a very small pitch but with normal size walking football goals. Both teams forgot the new rules and sprinted towards conceding penalties. Fortunately, Stevenson scored for Orient but the Swifts scored their penalty.  Orient had plenty of chances and should have won. Final score: Leyton Orient 1 v 1 Heybridge Swifts (Stevenson).

Next up were Billericay. Normal size goals and normal size pitches. Again, Orient dominated the early stages, again Orient self-destructed conceding a penalty. Referee Stuart Short to the rescue. Billericay finished the stronger but Orient defended well. Final score: Leyton Orient 0 v 0 Billericay.

The third game was against another Billericay team. The game was to be played with three quarter full-size goals. This time Myers went between the sticks. Billericay had two players who could hit the ball hard and accurately and despite some magnificent saves by Myers, Billericay ran out easy winners. Final score: Leyton Orient 0 v 5 Billericay.

The last game of the day was against Chelmsford and played on small goals without keepers. Orient started to look very tired and made some errors that gifted Chelmsford some goals. Eventually one of Stevenson attempts at tricky free kicks fell to Cheston a yard out who toe poked home. Final score: Chelmsford 4 v 1 Leyton Orient (Cheston).

Captain Cheston commented that ‘Simon Slater had a fine high energy debut, and I hope to see him put his name up for selection again. I did not see any mileage in any of the new rules bring adopted by the Essex League. I will try to ensure we have a few no keeper practices before the Vienna trip’.

The Club thanks Billy Sedgwick and his Billericay team mates for organising an entertaining morning. It was played in an excellent spirit.

Leyton Orient squad: Len Cheston (Cpt, Gk), Derek Myers (Gk), Colin Corrigan, Tim Conlan, John Woods, Phil Stevenson, Jack Kotonou, Simon Slater.

Goal scorers: Stevenson, Cheston.

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Image used © 2025 Trevor Ridley