When a rabbis’ football team took on the Spurs Legends last year in aid of Netanya’s Laniado Hospital, they were trounced 9-2.
On Sunday, the rabbis were minutes from exacting revenge, leading 5-4 until a late equaliser from a Tottenham side featuring Mark Falco, Justin Edinburgh and Darren Anderton. Through individual and general sponsorship, £20,000 was raised for the hospital.
A crowd of 300 turned out to support the rabbis at Edgware Town’s Kingsbury ground.
Players included Barnet Synagogue’s Rabbi Barry Lerer, a Liverpool fan, who said that sharing a pitch with footballers he watched as a teenager was “surreal.
“At one point I won the ball off Darren Anderton. He was dribbling and I went to tackle him and I took it off him. That was my best moment.
“It was all played in such a friendly spirit — everyone had a good time. And we played well as a team.
“My wife and kids came along. It was a really good family day out.”
Rabbi Ben Kurzer, assistant minister at Edgware Synagogue, said Laniado was a worthy beneficiary.
“A lot of people will have family who have been on the receiving end — or the giving end — of treatment from Laniado.
“It was great fun on Sunday. On the pitch we felt better than last year. We enjoyed ourselves.
“I’m definitely up for playing again next year. But we have to make sure we win.”
