The sun shone on the grand city, the 71 tram merrily clanged to the City Centre and the Golden Harp pub enjoyed a boost to their profits as Orient tour party established base camp in the deeply unfashionable Simmering area. The first main event was attending the training session of our hosts WFAA. A 2-hour session consisting of one hour of warm up and drills and a1-hour game. As we were to learn the Austrians and Germans love a long warm up. The squad were spread around the teams for the games. Peter Rains was outstanding in his game whilst the 'youngsters' realised the hosts were a very good football team. however running and tackling from front, back and side was allowed and Orient struggled to speed up their passing. Orient then had to learn the German penalty rule and playing without a keeper. It was an enjoyable 2-hours, capped by beer in the club house and catching the Bayern v PSG game in our new favourite pub.

The following day was a free day except for a reception in a pub in the centre of Vienna in the evening. Lovely pub, we got to meet some of the opposition from Scotland and Austria and found the German side camped in the Golden Harp. A Harry Kane love-in followed. Despite being from Bremen, the Germans were all big Bayern Munich fans. Some of us were disappointed that they did not know for whom Kane scored his first professional goal.

Match day followed. Orient were hit by Stuart Jackson going down with a tummy bug. Vince Dooley moved across. The over55s kicked off with a 3-3 draw with Scone having been 3-1 going into the last section of the game. they defeated the Austrian team with a gritty 1-0 victory but found themselves chasing shadows against the hosts and the German side. Both sides were slick passing teams understanding the angles of attack in games without keepers. Orient struggled with the uncertainly in passing either holding the ball too long and getting tackled or making a pass too quickly as they did jot want to be tackled and possession bring lost. However despite two heavy defeats the over55s finished a creditable third.

The over65s were the only mixed gender side in the tournament. One of the Austrian teams had a woman player. It meant Orient had two women on the pitch through the games. Orient also had Peter Dooley trying to revive his football career after 30 years of not playing. The 65s quickly realised that early shots would bring results with Mick Mullins adept at crossing the half way line and shooting. The 65s lost to WFAA, the eventual champions whose aggressive press was difficult to play through. the 65s threw away a 2-0 lead away against Triestingtal and had a battling victory over Scone. Bill Preston opened his scoring account with some Dan Ballard type finishing in the final game. The 65s finished in a brilliant second place. On possession statistics the 65s looked well beaten but they defended well and took advantage of some quick shots from the half way line.

Lynda Dowling was the Orient player of the day for her dynamic midfield play. The tournament finished with a meal together with all the teams and grumpiest waiter on record.

Refereeing, was an unusual aspect of the tournament. Each team had to provide some referees. Len Cheston,. Mick Mullins and Micky Howard obliged. Len Cheston blew up for running within 10 seconds of kick off as player ran in front of him. The Orient refs gave the visiting teams some lessons in not-walking with one or two players clearly not used to be pulled up for not walking. It was a tournament played in a good spirit, so if the players swore at us we did not understand them.

Tour manager, Len Cheston summed up the trip. 'It was very successful trip. the social side was excellent. Football wise all players adapted themselves to very different conditions. Grass pitches, frequent running and tackling with variable application of the laws. WFAA, our hosts, were generous with their time ensuring everything relating to the tournament was translated into English. The tournament was played in a very friendly spirit even Maurice Birnbaum managed without his usual clearing out of a player. Maurice also tried to dispel his reputation for lateness by making all the rendezvous in good time'.

Finally special mention to Walter Gall, who was a star and provided transport, hospitality and guidance on visiting Vienna.

Over55s

1-0 TV Neuenburg (Lillington)

0-5 WFAA

3-3 Scone (Dooley, Lillington, Howard)

0-7 WF Triestingtal

Over65s

4-1 TV Neuenburg (Preston, 2, Mullins, Rains)

1-3 WFAA (Dowling)

2-2 WF Triestingtal (Mullins 2)

2-1 Scone (Rains, Mullins)

Squads Over55s, Micky Howard (c), Stevie Dunn, Stuart Jackson, Vince Dooley, Simon Baker, Julian Lillington, Maurice Birnbaum, Walter Gall

Over65s- Len Cheston (c), Mick Mullins, Alison Kay, Lynda Dowling, Mary Kay, Peter Dooley, Peter Rains, Bill Preston