MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
MANCHESTER MACCABI 1st 2 SPORTING MANCHESTER 1

Tony Gellman likened Manchester Maccabi’s historic double to the shock success story of English football champions Leicester City.

Even though Manchester Maccabi’s title triumph might not rival Leicester’s on the Richter scale, Gellman believes should send shockwaves through Jewish football.

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Not since 1989 have Manchester Maccabi 1st won a top division.

And after following up their County Cup triumph by holding off the challenge of AFC Flixton to lift the Accountants Premier League title, assistant-manager Gellman said: “This is massive for the club. “We won the County Cup for the first time in our history this season and ended our 27-year wait for the championship.

"We have won Eccles League and the Tameside League over the years but those were the lower divisions. To be top of the tree speaks volumes for the players.

"Some might say we’re not be the best team in the league but we have got the over the line by sheer tenacity, organisation character and team spirit. It’s very similar to Leicester City’s story when you look at it."

Manchester Maccabi were crowned champions after squeezing past Sporting Manchester 2-1. Olly Grant and Sam Hatton were the scorers at a tense final game at Brooklands.

Gellman paid tribute to manager Scott McGarvey and said: “Scott has got the team fit and organised.

"We train hard twice a week and that got us through the back-end of matches. While teams have faded, we have come on stronger.

"We have been so hard to score against. We rarely lose our discipline or shape in matches. There’s been quite a few narrow victories.

"So it’s certainly not by luck that we sit here with the trophy. AFC Flixton are a top team, perhaps the best team, and it’s been neck and neck between us both all season.

"To get over the line ahead of them is a fine achievement as they are a good side who didn’t want to give up their trophy lightly."

Gellman cited last summer’s transfer dealings as the secret behind their success. He said: “Some quality players like Adam Stevens arrived. But it’s been a real team effort where we have had to use around 21 players.

"At the end of the season we’ve lost the likes of Adam, Josh Gellman, Marc Maynard and Max Foster, yet still won when it mattered.

"To lose to North London Raiders in the Peter Morrison Trophy was no disgrace as they are a good team and we slipped up against Flixton in just the second game of the season. Nobody can say we haven’t deserved it."

AFC Flixton co-manager Stuart Delmonte said: "On behalf of Tony Rosenberg, myself and from everyone at the club, we offer our congratulations to Manchester Maccabi. They are worthy winners. To play six games in two weeks and do what they did is unbelievable.

"It's a testament to their management team. They must have been super-fit to get though all those games and to keep winning."

Scott McGarvery, Maccabi's manager, believes the double is the start of something special for the club.

He said: "I hope to stay but at this level you take it one year at a time. The most important thing is the squad stays together.

"We had just 21 players this year and we want them all back.

"I will sit down with Gelly and discuss plans moving forward. They are a dedicated bunch of players. I wouldn’t do the job if they weren’t. I think the team can only get better.

"You would hope we could dominate this division for years to come but you never know."