Many happy returns as Fortune hit 40

Forty years to the day since the club was formed, Temple Fortune played a commemorative tournament at Princes Park in North West London, the home of TFFC’s origins.

A four-a-side competition featured 17 players with the Old Boys A team winning the final 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The match against the Old Boys B team finished 1-1.

The contest was decided when Moroccan Yali Mamouri, the competition’s top-scorer with 11 goals, converted to leave keeper Lee Fegan to save Rob Benson’s spot-kick. A team skipper Fegan was presented with the Jack Kyte Challenge Cup.

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Net gain for Levy

Harel Levy retained the Israel Tennis Championships after upsetting Dudi Sela.

Levy won 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in Ra’anana.

There were no surprises in the women’s final as Shahar Peer beat Tzipi Obziler 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.

In the men’s doubles competition, Andy Ram teamed up with his coach Noam Behr to defeat Levy and Noam Okun 6-1, 6-4.

Julia Glishko and Nadine Fahum won the women’s tournament after seeing off Esther Masuri and Shir Perkis 6-1, 6-1.

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Cup hopes put on hold

This season’s JC Barry Goldstein Trophy has been placed in doubt as the bad weather takes its toll on the MSFL season.

The Maccabi League programme has been hit badly by sub-zero temperatures and heavy rain. Eighteen matches fell victim to the weather last weekend and the forecast for Sunday looks set to see players kicking their heels again. London Maccabi Lions A have only played five league games.

League chairman David Wolff voiced his concerns in his column on www.thejc.com. He said: “It looks most unlikely that the Barry Goldstein Cup will take place this season.

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War stops play

This weekend’s Israeli football programme has been postponed due to the fighting in Gaza.

“It would be wrong to play while residents are under fire and in bomb shelters,” an Israel Football Association spokesman explained.

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Cash keeps the Lions in charge

The top two in the Herts County Premier league London Lions and Codicote played out a 2-2 draw at Rowley Lane but had the Lions returned from their Christmas break with their shooting boots on the result would have been very different.

The pitch was just about playable after a heavy frost the night before and both teams started the game like they had just returned from a long break.

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Johnson to lead World Cup bid

Simon Johnson has been appointed chief operating officer on the executive management team of England 2018 Ltd, the company bidding to host the World Cup.

The former FA director of corporate affairs recently completed a six-month stint in the role as acting CEO.

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No Palace visit as Ben goes Dutch

Ben Sahar snubbed Championship clubs including Crystal Palace to agree a six-month loan deal with Dutch Premier League strugglers De Graafschap.

Sahar, 19, who is under contract to Chelsea until the summer of 2010, had loan spells with Championship sides QPR and Sheffield Wednesday last season. The Israeli striker has been on loan to Portsmouth since the start of the current campaign but failed to make an appearance.

“I had offers from the Championship in England,” said Sahar. “But there the game is based on long balls and much more physical play.

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Lee called to Bar for third Ryman managerial stint

Adam Lee is relishing his third managerial job in the Ryman League Division One North after taking over at Potters Bar Town.

Lee, 44, has been out of football since leaving Enfield Town, where he was joint-manager, in September. Prior to that he managed Wingate & Finchley.

He said: “I’m delighted to be back and looking forward to the challenge.”

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