In Wolff's Words

The good, the bad and the ugly

David Wolff — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:40:57 +0000

We are now halfway through the season and things are starting to ‘hot-up’ with the potential winners and runners-up emerging, as well as some relegation candidates.

Double-headers possible
The weather is also playing a significant part. It has been extremely wet over the last few weeks and we have lost a few games. I do not think that this is going to abate and we could well be forced into arranging ‘double-headers’ before long. No-one wishes to do this but it could be inevitable and we will need to take stock at the end of January.

Authorities must get to grips with race hate in football
Sadly, racism and antisemitism has been n evidence in recent weeks and the authorities need to get to grips with this to stamp it out. It is an evil that has been in existence throughout the whole of my life and I doubt will ever be cured due to in-depth hatreds that exist. Obviously, it is something we do not experience within the JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League being the animal we are and this is the very reason why we must not deviate from our ‘raison d’être’ to exist as a solely Jewish league. Were we so to do we would rapidly lose our identity.

Let the officials officiate
There has been a trend, from time to time, for some teams not to accept Referee's decisions and further to that to post adverse comments on the media websites. This is totally unacceptable for a number of reasons, not least the possibility of losing the services of match officials. A lot of hard work going in to obtaining and retaining referees. Misdemeanours within the perimeter of the pitch, although not welcome, are part and parcel of the game and are well catered for within the FA's disciplinary 'code of conduct'. What is not acceptable is confrontations after the games either in the referee's dressing room or the car park or as previously stated media postings.

A whole new ball game
I attended one game in the Peter Morrison tournament where the ‘repeated substitution’ was used. I think it is too early at the moment to form an opinion but my initial re-action is that is restricts the flow of a game with stoppages. I heard that in one game (not in our competitions) that 82 substitutions were made in a game. I wonder if any time remained to play!

Happy the Hammers are on the up
West Ham are really having a good season considering it is our first one back in the top flight. We have slipped over the last few games but still remain in a respectable mid-table position. We now need to get back to winning ways immediately to avoid a rapid drop down the table, but I am confident with Sam Allardyce at the helm he’ll move the Claret and Blue’s forward.

Enjoy the New Year and I hope to catch up in 2013.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

"Things are starting to hot up"

David Woolf — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:47:24 +0000

We are now half way through the season and things are starting to ‘hot up’ with the potential winners and runners up emerging, as well as some relegation candidates.

The weather is also playing a significant part. It has been extremely wet over the last few weeks and we have lost a few games. I do not think that this is going to abate and we could well be forced into arranging ‘double headers’ before long. No one wishes to do this, but it could be inevitable and we will need to take stock at the end of January.

Sadly, racism and anti-Semitism has been n evidence in recent weeks and the authorities need to get to grips with this to stamp it out. It is an evil that has been in existence throughout the whole of my life and I doubt will ever be cured due to in-depth hatreds that exist. Obviously, it is something we do not experience within the JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League being the animal we are and this is the very reason why we must not deviate from our ‘raison d’être’ to exist as a solely Jewish league. Were we to do so, we would rapidly lose our identity.

There has been a trend, from time to time, for some teams not to accept Referees decisions and further to that to post adverse comments on the media websites. This is totally unacceptable for a number of reasons, not last the possibility of losing the services of match officials. A lot of hard work going in to obtaining and retaining referees. Misdemeanours within the perimeter of the pitch, although not welcome, are part and parcel of the game and are well catered for within the FA’s disciplinary ‘code of conduct’. What is not acceptable is confrontations after the games either in the referees’ dressing room or the car park or as previously stated ‘ media postings’

I attended one game in the Peter Morrison tournament where the ‘repeated substitution’ was used. I think it is too early at the moment to form an opinion but my initial re-action is that is restricts the flow of a game with stoppages. I heard that in one game (not in our competitions), that 82 substitutions were made in a game. I wonder if any time remained to play!

West Ham are really having a good season considering it is our first one back in the top flight. We have slipped over the last few games, but still remain in a respectable mid-table position. We now need to get back to winning ways immediately to avoid a rapid drop down the table, but I am confident with Sam Allardyce at the helm he’ll move the team forward.

Enjoy the New Year and I hope to catch up in 2013.

David Wolff

Chairman

JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

We must keep our house in order

David Wolff — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:03:57 +0100

The season is now 6/7 weeks old and it is now time for me to write my first article. The large 12-team divisions ensure a full programme for everyone to enjoy the next seven months with all the thrills and spills that football throws up. I won’t comment on individual teams suffice to say that I have enjoyed my visits around so far and have seen 12 of our members in action. In the main, the quality is good but discipline warrants a mention.

I can only re-iterate how lucky we are to have 100 per cent coverage by referees, but there are still far too many players being cautioned, especially for dissent and also dismissals for Violent Conduct. I can only say that this is completely unacceptable and really MUST improve. It needs to be emphasised by Management to players that the image of the league in particular and Maccabi movement in general is not acceptable and gets us a ‘bad press’.

The league, at its AGM, decided NOT to take advantage of the new Repeated (Roll-on Roll-off) Substitute system although it has been adopted for the National Maccabi Peter Morrison Trophy and will be monitored to see if it is a possible way forward. The scheme is only in situ for TWO seasons before it is reviewed by the International Board, who are the Law Makers.

* I hope you are the generation inspired by the Olympic and Paralympics games I must tell you that I enjoyed being involved as a volunteer.

* I am sure that everybody is acquainted with the events in the England under-21 match against Serbia during the week. No person, whatever, colour, creed or religious persuasion would condone what happened there. The message of hatred and intolerance that they have exhibited is not wanted in any part of football.

Maccabi GB, admirably led by Chief Executive Officer Martin Berliner, are in the forefront of campaigns to combat and try to stamp out Racism in Football which, of course runs alongside that of antisemitism. We are proud of the fact that we are an all-Jewish organisation and intend to keep it that way. This is why as a token of identity Maccabi GB is asking you to affix ‘iron-on’ badges to your kits. I know that, in this day and age, some people do not agree with our policy but, rest assured, were we to change, it would need to be all or nothing and we would lose our identity which deep own no-one wants to see happen.

Also, we live in a diminishing community and it is important to ensure that we play a part in retaining our identity.

I am sure that there are possibly some non-Jews registered in the league and I would say to anyone who is doing this knowingly, to examine their consciences and stop immediately. In the past, we have found teams who have abused our policy on a wholesale scale and they have been removed from membership.

I read in the JC this week that, in the wake of the John Terry matter, former FA chairman Lord Triesman, has received antisemitic letters. Be under no illusion, antisemitism still exists and it is our duty to police it and report it to the authorities. The CST and Maccabi GB need to be informed if you come across it be it at football matches or elsewhere in life.

* On a lighter note, what about dear old West Ham. Well, we’re not holding up the table but in fact playing very well and for the first time in years I am actually enjoying the matches at Upton Park.

Have a great season.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

Reflecting on season 2012/13

David Wolff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:44:33 +0100

We are now almost at the end of June, with last season’s activities becoming a memory. The awards evening took place last Monday and although it could have been better attended, for those who did come they had a memorable and enjoyable evening.

Hendon were ab-fab
The medallists have all been reported in the paper, but I would just like to mention here the fabulous achievement of Hendon United Sports in winning everything in their path. This is the indication of a truly great team and on this note, I was disappointed to read the unsavoury comments made about them. This was unwarranted but did not detract from what they and their manager had done.

Next season
We are now in the process of preparing for next season. Everything is in its earliest stages but looks like we will have one or two teams less than last year and therefore have to adjust accordingly.

New pilot scheme - roll-on subs
The AGM of the league is not until July 7, where everything will be finalised but the most ‘contentious’ issue will be whether we go ahead with the ‘Pilot Scheme’ of repeated (on-off/roll-on) substitution or stay as we are. The FA (under F.I.F.A.direction) is allowing the use of between THREE and SEVEN substitutes. We will have to wait and see what the clubs want, but I have already taken a ‘straw poll’ amongst the secretaries and the majority seem to prefer the current system.

The Hammers - back where they belong
West Ham United. Well, we are thankfully back where we belong in the Premier League but now have to bring in players that are capable of sustaining this position. Our trip to Wembley in the play-offs proved yet again how much that team fell short of a true Premier League challenge. I have no doubt that the two David’s and Sam Allardyce will be working hard all summer to improve the squad and make us into a real force.

My Olympic Challenge
The Olympics are almost upon us and I am really looking forward to playing my part as a Volunteer at the ‘Olympic Park’ in Stratford. I grew up in the area and how it has changed down the years. The Westfield complex is a truly great shopping mall and I recommend everyone to visit it. The Olympic site itself used to be the old railway marshalling yards and how great it now looks. I hope that the heritage that will be left for the East End of London and Borough of Newham will benefit the area for many years to come but ONE thing I do not want to happen is for WEST HAM to move to the Olympic Stadium. A poll reported that 86 per cent of us want to remain at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park and that’s how I hope it will be.

Enjoy the remainder of our ‘summer’ and I will see you all next season.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

We must all learn from Muamba

David Wolff — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:10:52 +0100

Much of the football news over the last couple of weeks has been dominated by the incident involving Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers. Thankfully, highly qualified medics were on hand to save his life and steer him towards what we all hope will be a full recovery.

Such highly qualified medics are not to hand at the Sunday venues and G-d forbid if a player was unfortunate to have a similar occurrence the outcome may not be so successful.

I can recall two such instances in the league when Ivor Benveniste of Oakwood had a cardiac arrest on the pitch and sadly passed away. Also, at a match that I attended, a player swallowed his tongue and went into spasm. He turned blue and all that could be done was to place him in the recovery position and wait for the ‘fit’ to pass. I had only just finished a first aid course with Gary Lewin, the Arsenal and England physio, so I had some idea as to what should be done but shamefully the one point we were taught, that is not to panic, passed me over to my regret. Thankfully the player, Benjy Wreshner, made a full recovery, and we laugh about it now. The incident was featured in Esther Rantzen ‘That’s Life’ and one of the reporters ‘mocked’ the incident and made light of it.

The reason for my going into these two incidents is to highlight the fact that we should have at least one person at every game that has some idea as to how to handle such a situation, and in fact Maccabi GB are holding two courses for this purpose. I would ask you to consider this very seriously and if you need further details please let me know.

There are now only a handful of teams that I have not been able to get to this year and I apologise to them for that. I will try to make up for this next season. Some of the divisions are now determined and I congratulate the winners and runners-up. I will make a full speech to them at the presentation evening.

Special congratulation to the finalists of the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup, Hendon United Sports and Brady Maccabi and also to the finalists for the Peter Morrisson Trophy, Hendon United Sports and Oakwood.

I am disappointed to note that the’ London Inter-League Cup Competition will not be played this year due to a lack of interest.

The Maccabi GB team to Marseilles for the European Maccabi Football Trophy has now been selected and I am sure you will join me in wishing them luck.

Now to Upton Park, my spiritual home. If we could win our games at the Boleyn we would be sitting comfortably at the helm of the Championship points in front. Instead we are in third place, hoping to win against Reading at home on Saturday and then a nail-biting few weeks to see if we can get into the automatic places. You cannot expect to win matches without strikers, but Sam Allardyce is yet to work that out!

Promoted or not our football has been dire this year (once again) and if we do go up we will need to overhaul the squad to say there. Come on you Irons!

Wishing you all Chag Sameach and well over the remainder of the season.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

The standard is high at top-end of the league

David Wolff — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:38:10 +0000

This season just seems to be whizzing by and we are now at the ‘business end of the season' with the promoted teams emerging.

I have now seen all bar one of our Premier Division teams and can confirm that we really have a high standard at the top end of the league. All the games I have seen have been great, especially the semi-final of the JCCyril Anekstein Cup that broke the hearts of North London Raiders A. But two wonder strikes from Greg Corin of Hendon United Sports A was real value for money. Greg is such a talented and skilful footballer.

It is a great shame that we lost Montana Boca United from Division One. They have been great stalwarts for the league over many years but, like everything else in life, nothing is forever and I would like to place on record my thanks for their great contribution. Leaders Oakwood appear to be heading for the Premier Davison and I am sure we all wish them every luck in their Peter Morrison Trophy semi-final with South Manchester.

Congratulations to Camden Park on their promotion from Division Two. Another excellent unit who should make it all the way to the Premier Division. Hendon United Sports B are the dark horses in this division and are the other team most likely to be promoted.

Division Three has been led all the way by Glenthorne United B and I look forward to paying them a visit in two weeks time. Shirley Park looks the most likely team to join them for promotion.

Division Four has really been a great contest. New teams are always unknown quantities but Brady Maccabi B, SPEC FC and Athletic Bilbaum will be there or thereabouts at the final curtain. I really enjoyed my visits to matches in this division.

We also have a very exciting end of season programme. On Monday May 7 a one-day London Inter-League Cup competition is due to be staged and we have entered a team. We are awaiting details of the tournament and will appoint our own Management team shortly.

Also, Maccabi GB are sending a team to Marseilles for the European Maccabi Football Trophy. It is expected that most of the players will come from the JCM(S)FL. If anyone is interested they should let me know and I will give them contact details.

Things are looking real good down at the Boleyn and I hope we don’t blow it ... but you can never tell with West Ham. Top (or thereabouts) of the league maybe, but sadly the performances are not of the best. Many of the games have been dire and most boring. Far too defensive and not enough flair which in truth is the ‘West Ham Way’ To play THREE games with 10 men for most of them is not something I would recommend ... no good for the blood pressure ... but at least we have come out mainly on the right side of the result. We will need a massive overhaul if we get promotion. Anyhow, moaning over, I am pleased that the Hammers are at the right end of the league. Long may it last!

Wishing you all well over the remainder of the season.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

Proud to have a vibrant league

David Wolff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:38 +0000

We are very proud that we have such a vibrant 49-team football league, but for me it makes life very difficult, if not impossible, to get round to all the teams within one season.

So, I was pleased to see my first match in the Premier Division between North West Neasden A and FC Team, a couple of weeks ago and I wasn’t disappointed. FC Team went 2-0 up in the early stages of the game, but Neasden did not drop their heads and fought back to win 5-3 in what turned out to be a wonderfully exiting game which topped the league for sportsmanship and was a great advert for Jewish football.

Likewise, my second Premier game was between London Maccabi Lions and Faithfold which was another excellent contest. The first half belonged to the young and talented Faithfold but the second half belonged to Lions who never ceased to press for the equaliser, which came from new recruit to the league, Ollie Craig, who never gave up.

Over the next two weeks I hope to visit another of our four premier teams and them to see some of the leading contenders in the lower divisions.

The divisions are really beginning to shape up. Division One is very close with Redbridge JC, Chigwell, Oakwood, Norstar and Brixton OB (who have played fewer games) all in with a shout.

Camden Park, who have been completely re-formed, and ably run, by Nick Kagan and Josh Marks, look to be heading towards the Division Two title.

In Division Three, Glenthorne B, whom I have yet to see, but will make every effort to, are running away with that contest. They have won every single game this season. Quite a remarkable achievement.

The fourth division is a really close contest and I can tell you that the standard in that division is excellent. There are four main contenders, Athletic Bilbaum, North London Raiders, Brady Maccabi B and Spec FC. I have seen them all and was extremely impressed.

We are well ahead with the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup. The semi-final draw will be made at the next meeting of the Management Committee on Monday January 30. We shall also be considering whether or not to stage the Barry Goldstein Cup this season and I can tell you this is most likely.

Maccabi GB have entered and been accepted into the National Futsal League. They play their first fixtures yesterday at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre with the second set of fixtures being played in Swindon the following week. I am sure that you will join me in wishing Jonathan Cohen and his squad every good luck.

As always, a few words about my favourite football team. I must say that the standard in the NPower Championship is, in my opinion, very poor. I do not want to degrade the efforts made by West Ham United in being joint-top, but must say that if we do return to the Premiership we will need to overhaul our entire squad if we are to retain top status. But let’s get there first and nothing is for certain.

Also, every West Ham supporter that I have spoken to DOES NOT want to leave Upton Park for the Olympic Stadium. I really hope Sullivan and Gold take that on board. The Boleyn Ground is our spiritual home and it would be a terrible wrench, having been a regular since boyhood, to move. I am sure that the ground can be re-developed and we do not need to cater for crowds of over 35,000.

Hope to see you during the remainder of the season and can I remind club officials of the Council Meeting at Rowley Lane on February 13.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

We're on course for an early finish

David Wolff — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:32:21 +0000

We can regard ourselves as extremely lucky that, so far, the weather has been extremely kind and that no games have been postponed. Let us hope that this long continues and we can finish the season on time or even earlier.

I have really enjoyed all my visits this season and the quality of the football has been really good and I haven’t even been to a game in the Premier Division yet.

I took in the tail-end of a match last week end and saw the manager, who had been acting as the assistant-referee, run on to the pitch and vigorously remonstrated with him over a disputed decision. His behaviour was completely unacceptable and I really hope actions like this stop immediately.

Referees will just walk away and all the hard work put in by Martin Fox will be fruitless. If team officials can’t set examples then what chance does anyone else have?

Non-Jewish cups update
The Cup competitions are progressing well and I am particularly delighted that Hendon United Sports Club A and Brixton Old Boys A have progressed in their respective London FA cups. These competitions are an excellent way in which we can sell ourselves to the ‘outside’ world and make new friends.

Know your First Aid
I want to repeat and cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have a sterile and fully equipped First Aid kit available at each game and, what is as important, someone who knows how to use it. Every team should have at least one, if not more, fully competent people to administer first aid.

There was a terrible incident in a Masters game last weekend that required an ambulance being called. Luckily a doctor was participating in the game and he lent much valued assistance.

Time for Blatter to step aside
There has been a great deal in the press and on TV about the 'unfortunate' remarks made by Sepp Blatter the other week. The words were poorly thought out and did much to undermine the valuable work that is being done, particularly, in this country, to eliminate racism and antisemitism. We can never be ‘blasé’ about this subject and especially, as Jews, we are at the front in the firing line. I think Blatter realised his errors and he really appeared to be most uncomfortable and fidgety at his subsequent interview by the BBC.

In view of the several errors and reputation that FIFA now have as a completely disrepute organisation, he would do well to stand down. However, he obviously earns huge sums and would not wish to lose the income that his position generates. I think we will all have to sit it out until the end of his term.

Up the Hammers
West Ham United at second in the Championship and drifting above team three is a position that everyone (apart from Southampton) would envy. We are on course for a swift return to the top flight. The standard of football in the Championship is not great and we would need to really improve the squad if we do get back. In the meantime no one can complain about the excellent points tally we have made on the road and I hope we can add to that at Upton Park. The move to the Olympic Stadium has gone on back burner and as far as I am concerned, it can stay there!

See you all on the circuit.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

Some predictions have gone horribly wrong

David Wolff — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:03:51 +0100

The weeks march on and more fixtures get played. The league tables are taking shape and some of my predictions are going completely wrong. Nothing new about that!

I would like to re-iterate my remarks from the previous message to say how pleased I am with the quality of the matches that I have seen so far. We have a lot of skilful players in the league and they help to promote a good image for us. I do look forward to my weekly visits and thank you all for the warm welcome you always give to me.

We have had a 100 per cent coverage of referees and I do hope you stop to think how lucky you are to get this service. We are the envy of other leagues. So, those of you who argue and dissent with decisions, I would urge you to think again and remember the great effort that Martin Fox, our Referees’ Secretary, makes on your behalf.

Another word about our administrative set up. You can all see the fixtures online. This is the culmination of several years of work, with much trial and error, made for the league by Nigel Burns our fixtures secretary. I hope that you find this service useful together with the Player Registration systems that Adam Rynhold controls and can be found on the same website.

There is never any excuse for your own administration not to be first class.

One or two players have suffered serious injuries and I would like to wish Elliot Wallis of SPEC a speedy return to full fitness after a horrific leg break that resulted in the abandonment of his match. I would also like to mention the head injuries sustained by Sam Franks, Brixton Old Boys, and Benjy Aaron-Richardson, Athletic Bilbaum and I hope that they have had no repercussions from this. I was actually in attendance when these latter two injuries happened and on each occasion ambulances were called.

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have a sterile and fully equipped FIRST AID KIT available at each game and, what is as important, someone who knows how to use it. Every team should have at least one, if not more, fully competent people to administer first aid.

A couple of week-ends ago Maccabi GB sent a team for a trial match to gain a place in the National FUTSAL league and were accepted into the second division. FUTSAL is an up and coming game and we always participate in the Maccabiah and Maccabi European Games. The JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League are very happy to support this venture.

Now to mention West Ham. The match against Ipswich was a complete disaster. Notwithstanding the fact we lost in the last moments by one goal, the entire display was disgraceful and one of the worst I have ever seen from a West Ham team over nearly 60 years. But let me quickly add that their performance against what was a poor Blackpool team was a vast improvement and re-assuring that Sam Allardyce will eventually get it right and hopefully get us back into the Premiership sooner rather than later.

That’s all for now. See you all on the circuit.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League

New teams have impressed

David Wolff — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:20:05 +0100

The first two weeks of the season have passed and there really has been a mixed bag of results.

I have now seen three games, all in division four, and I am very pleased and impressed with the new teams that have joined the league. It is always refreshing to have new faces involved and this is why I am forever confident that the league will continue to flourish for years to come.

I had an interesting meeting with the Jewish Chronicle last week and they will be making contact with you shortly to arrange for players to get copies of the JC for a limited period as a promotion. I think that, as they are our sponsors, we should try to involve ourselves in other aspects of the community where we can.

I trust that you are finding the new fixtures site and results/goal-scorers service easy to use and that it provides useful information. I know that you may need opera glasses to read the print if you make a copy, but we are trying to get this more ‘printer friendly’

Next weekend sees the start of the ‘Road to Wingate’ with the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup. The Premier Division teams and top four from last season’s first division are exempt the first round so this will give incentive to go a bit further, if not all the way, in the competition.

Well after two weeks there is not much to say except that I hope many of the players do read the contents of the website and I would be delighted to discuss with any of you any topics that you feel would be of use to the league.

Let my final paragraph tell you that I witnessed a rare event last weekend. Yes! It was a win for West Ham at Upton Park. The first since March 5 when we beat Stoke City 3-0. I am sure that Big Sam will gel the current crop of players into a good unit in due course but there is quite a way to go. The midfield (if we are supposed to have one) has yet to function and we must play more than ONE forward at home. Ever confident for a quick return to the Premier League!!

Continue to enjoy your season.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League