London Maccabi Lions have made a series of appointments as the club looks to consolidate its position at the forefront on Jewish football.
Founding fathers Malcolm Newman, Paul Wise, David Kyte and Philip Lewis have stepped back from full involvement in the running of the club to focus on development of Rowley Lane into the premier Jewish sporting and youth centre. They have handed over the reins to a new senior section committee of club stalwarts Adam Solomons, Danny Schindler, Ben Dale, Andy Myers, Danny Reuben and Nathan Kosky.
The committee’s first priority is to continue to build a solid platform to sustain the success of the biggest Jewish club setup in the UK and ensuring that its ethos remains paramount for the 25 teams, ranging from Under Eights to Over 42s.
The committee have appointed their managers for the coming season with Tony Gold continuing as first team manager of London Lions after finishing seventh in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division in his first season in charge. Danny Jacobs and Jon Green have taken on the challenge of the reserve team.
Pre-season has already started for the Saturday players and Gold is working with some of the top names in Jewish football, after a successful recruitment drive over the past month. The season kicks off on August 16.
For the JC MSFL teams, after five years of building a squad that could compete with the best and with trophies to show for it, A team duo Eilon Kennet and Ben Winston have passed the baton to Andy Myers.
The club has also recruited Gavin Stollar to head the B team. He will be assisted by Danny Reuben. Both teams will compete in the MSFL Premier Division.
The Sunday C team, which has received a belated promotion to Division Two, will be run by Frank Steinberg and Paul Buxton. The Masters section in the safe hands of David Pollock and Stuart Coutts.
Committee member Danny Schindler said: “We have ambitious plans for the club and this has been shown in our line-up of managers for the coming season. We are especially pleased to have secured Gavin Stollar’s services as he is one of the rising managerial stars in Jewish football. Winning the First Division title with Marshside and Glenthorne in 2003 and leading a young Great Britain side to gold at the European Maccabi Football Tournament in Madrid shows he has the quality London Maccabi Lions is looking for.
“We view him as an important part of the long-term plans for the club and we expect both him and all of our managers to take this club to the next level both on and off the field. We are entering a new chapter and thanks to Malcolm Newman, who has chaired the club for many years, and the original committee, we would not be where we are today. To have such thriving junior and senior sections is fantastic for a club that six years ago did not have any youth teams or even its own home.”
Gavin Stollar said: “It is an honour to be joining a club like the Lions. It was a very difficult decision but having been at Oakwood for more than five years I felt I needed change.
“Managing my country in Madrid gave me a thirst for the bigger stage and I believe being involved with Lions will afford me the best chance to improve myself going forward. I am very excited about working with Danny Reuben and the whole club as we aim to lead the way in the MSFL.”
The junior section the committee is made up of Schindler, Nicky Bloom (11-a side teams) and Simon Zamet (seven-a-side teams) who will all work closely with the 30 managers and coaches.
All 19 junior teams from Under Eight to Under 18 will be playing in either the Watford Friendly League or the West Herts League as the club continues to seek the best competition for its youngsters.
For more details contact club secretary Basil Wein on basilw@londonlions.com.
