Maccabi London Lions secured a triumphant 5-0 victory over Great Yarmouth in the FA Vase third round on Saturday, advancing to the competition’s fourth round.
The FA Vase, which has nearly 600 teams participating each season, offers clubs the chance to progress to the final at Wembley Stadium. With just five more games to go before reaching the coveted final, the London Lions are now one step closer to making history.
The win sees the Lions, the only remaining team from the South Midlands League, progress to the last 32 teams in the nationwide tournament, which includes clubs from Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System.
The Lions started strong, with captain Austin Lipman scoring within the first two minutes.
Lipman doubled the lead early in the second half, before assisting Max Davis, who set up Mikey Perkins for a third goal. Further strikes from Daniel Creese and Yoav Sade completed the comprehensive 5-0 victory.
Speaking after the match, Lipman reflected on the team’s success, highlighting the strong camaraderie and unity within the squad. “It’s a great feeling,” Lipman said.
“We are a very proud team. We all love being together as a group. We play for the love of football, camaraderie, and friendship. It’s a real joy to be part of this team, and what we did this weekend just brought an immense sense of togetherness.”
Lipman, the club's all-time top scorer, also stressed the importance of the team's community spirit.
“It’s about more than just football for us,” he added. “It’s about our community, our identity, and the friendships we’ve built. We’re all friends before we’re teammates, and that has made us a successful football team.”
Manager Andrew Landesberg acknowledged the progress made but reminded everyone that the team has yet to win the tournament.
“I think a lot of the season concerns have been great so far, but we keep reminding everybody that we haven’t won anything really important, especially the FA Vase,” Landesberg said.
“Our focus is all the way through, and we’re doing well in the league and in three cups. It feels good, but we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. Every game is a big game for us.”
Landesberg, who is proud to manage the only all-Jewish team in the English football pyramid, praised the players for their commitment, saying, “It’s fantastic that we’re playing at a semi-pro level against teams that are paying players. We’re doing it because it’s about the club and the community, and it’s special.”
The Lions will face Egham Town, currently top of the Combined Counties Premier Division, in the FA Vase fourth round on January 11.
