I was treated to a footballing masterclass last Sunday. The only problem was that I was the keeper lining up for North London Raiders A against cup holders London Maccabi Lions A in the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup.
Having taken the scalp of Manchester Maccabi 1st and South Manx A, the team felt it had a chance but we found ourselves 1-0 down after a minute, 2-0 down after two minutes and by half time the Lions had me picking the ball out of the back of the net on five occasions. It finished 7-2 and left me nursing a bruised ego and nose after I pulled off an unorthodox save.
Whoever said that Lions A are finished does not know what they are talking about. Striker Michael Pearson was a cut above the rest while the evergreen Tony Gold, 38, proved that he still has it.
Back in the day, Goldie and I used to have kickabouts in my back yard. Few people know but the Fulham fan used to be a Spurs supporter during our days at JFS. He has gone on to be a fine ambassador for the Jewish game and is doing a great job managing London Lions in the Herts Senior League.
Gold is not the most senior member of the Lions A squad with player-manager Andrew Myers and Aviel Schwarz, the inaugural winner of Maccabi GB’s Fittest Footballer accolade, still going strong. At the other end of the age ladder, David Dinkin and Ollie Leslie are living proof that the future of Jewish football is in safe hands.
Having spent a highly enjoyable and worthwhile 12 months with FC Team last season, I am delighted to see the club going from strength to strength. The new Saturday side’s first campaign in the Middlesex County League was always going to be a tough proposition but last weekend’s victory over London United has given them a great chance of staying up.
Things have really taken off with the Sunday teams who will both be playing JC MSFL Division Two football next season.
Southgate Harmen B joint player-manager Paul Gold will stand down at the end of the season.
I do not want to stoke the coals ahead of Sunday’s match between Zig Zag and Pure Orange Function Band but key players from both camps have told me that the JC should have representation at Chase Lodge. It appears that sparks could fly in the crunch Division Three relegation six-pointer for a game in which the original clash was abandoned after a challenge from Zig Zag’s Nick Levy left POFB’s Michael Lax with a broken leg.
Zeds boss Neal Cohen told me: “Nick apologised, served a 35-day ban and was banned by the club for a while. He is now available and I have every intention of including him.
“POFB have been giving me so much grief while Lax is pressing for damages. They phoned me and said if Nick is included they may pull out of the fixture. We would get the points but I would rather play.”
North West Neasden C welcome back top-scorer Stephen Bloom for the Division Two clash against Lions C. But Paul Andrews, Gary Dymant, Ricky Stolzman and Jake Green miss out.
Brady Maccabi stalwart Scott Ansher was chuffed to see his son, Ricky, walk out with England as one of 11 mascots for Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine.
A big mazal tov goes out to Southgate Harmen stalwart defender and fellow Liverpool fan Dan Sasto, who made a successful proposal to schoolteacher Danielle Martin at the weekend.
Likewise to London Maccabi Vale captain Jerome Colmans on his call-up to the Team GB Maccabiah cricket squad.
Potter Bar Town manager Adam Lee has been pencilled in for extra shooting practice after his miss-of-the-season contender for London Maccabi Lions Masters against South Manx. With two goals already under his belt, the former Wingate & Finchley boss, who will be the baby of Bobby Fisher’s Team GB Maccabiah Over-45s squad, described it as “a Ronnie Rosenthal moment”.
