"Not only are we delighted with the squad we’ve built, but also the collective spirit that has developed among them, and the recent results we’ve had against some elite opposition has only reinforced this.”
The majority of players are from London, but the managers – who are both from Manchester – stressed that while the uptake from northern players this time was limited, it wasn’t for a lack of effort.
The team lining up ahead of their match against Manchester City[Missing Credit]
Training sessions are currently limited to one a month owing to commitments arising from the ongoing season, though once the season concludes – and exams are out of the way – the coaches plan to increase this to two or three times a month. As the tournament gets ever closer, sessions – supplemented with occasional fixtures – will increase to two to three sessions a week. Notable among the aforementioned games against elite opposition was a 4-2 victory over the Manchester City Development U15/16 side. Stewart said: “Not only was the Manchester City match a fantastic result, but the performance itself was exceptional, particularly as we were 2-0 down at one point. Once the team settled, they displayed incredible spirit and determination, scoring four times to secure a memorable win."
Of the prospect of taking part at the Maccabiah Games, Schweiger said: “The squad are incredibly excited and eager to represent their country. The commitment they’ve already shown has been exceptional. If they continue with this level of dedication in their preparations, they will undoubtedly gain so much from the experience – both on and off the pitch.”
Stewart also expressed his pride at coaching a side in such a prestigious tournament.
He said: “The Maccabiah Games hold a special place in our hearts for many reasons – not just for the football, but also for the opportunity to connect with other Jewish people through sport.
“Israel, for obvious reasons, is significant to both of us, but we also see sport as a powerful way to bring people together.
"Our ultimate goal is to be successful on and off the pitch, but for us, it’s about more than just achieving success.
"It’s about giving back to a community that has brought us so much joy and allowed us to make lifelong friendships.”
Schweiger added: “Of course, we want to be successful on the pitch and win a gold medal – surpassing our previous achievements of bronze in Israel in 2022 and silver in the European Games in Budapest in 2019.
"However, we also want to create lasting memories and relationships for the squad – memories that will last a lifetime.”
The team took on the U15 Everton Academy side in the first of two warm-up matches[Missing Credit]