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Cost of ﬂights set to tumble

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:28 +0100

Holidaymakers received a double dose of good news this week with a prediction that the cost of flights to Israel are set to be slashed, and a U-turn by the Israeli government over its proposal to levy 18 per cent VAT on tourism.

According to a senior Israeli tourism official, the price of an air ticket from the UK to Israel may fall by up to 30 per cent when the new open-skies policy comes into force in April next year.

Naama Oryan-Kaplan, director of the Israel Government Tourism Office in the UK and Ireland, said she anticipated prices would be reduced by between 20 and 30 per cent under the new rules which will open up routes to airlines in the European Union.

Carriers are expected to reduce their prices to attract an additional 250,000 tourists from the EU.

“This is a positive development in the Israel tourism industry,” said Ms Oryan-Kaplan. “There will be many options for new carriers to enter the Israeli market, including low-cost airlines.”

A pre-booked return ticket from London to Tel Aviv on El Al currently costs between around £400 and £430 for an adult flying economy class. If the anticipated reduction takes place, the price could fall to as low as £280.

Ms Oryan-Kaplan said: “There has been already an interest from airlines, and new routes should be announced soon.”

The chief executive of Ryanair has told tourism industry figures that the budget airline would consider flying to Israel under the open skies agreement.

Speaking at a UK-Israel business event, Michael O’Leary promised to route Ryanair flights to Israel if there was a level playing field for competition. “We would like a significant portion of our growth to go to places where it needs it — like Israel,” he said.

He noted that more airlines flying to Israel would make travel more affordable for passengers and boost the tourism market. Because of high prices, “tourists avoid Israel”, he said. “It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful country with enormous opportunities.”

He complained that only two of the country’s six airports were being used for international flights. “Israel is a very rich country — build some jet runways and fulfil the enormous tourism potential. We want to open up bases in Israel and put our jets there.”

Meanwhile, UK groups organising trips to Israel have reacted with relief to the Israeli government’s decision to not push forward Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s proposal to levy 18 per cent VAT on hotels and travel services.

“We’re very happy,” said Ilan Scorah, UJIA co-ordinator for tours and gap year programmes. The cost of a UJIA tour, currently £2650, “would have leapt by 12 per cent”, he said.

Harry Jardine, national director of the Federation of Zionist Youth which runs educational tour groups to Israel, welcomed the decision which, he said, followed “great lobby work from organisations across the Jewish world”.

The proposed tax was expected to reduce tourism in Israel by 14 per cent. Last year, 200,000 British tourists out of a record total of 3.4 million visited the country — which was named the eighth most expensive tourist destination by a World Economic Forum report.

LibDems and Jews

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:17:23 +0100

There will be few in the Labour Party sorry to see the back of Lord Ahmed, whose shaming of his party was long-standing and unpleasant.

He jumped before he was about to be pushed. Ed Miliband's handling of the issue was firm and just - and what a contrast with the LibDems. Even if we ignore the way Baroness Tonge was indulged for so long, the way the party has dealt with David Ward has been a disgrace.

Mr Ward, remember, condemned "the Jews" for their failure to learn from the Holocaust. The so-called disciplinary action against him consisted of requesting that he spent a few minutes with a Jew or two. Not only does he still hold the party whip, the LibDem chief whip refuses to comment on the matter. Why is it that the LibDems seem to have a problem with Jews?

Opening the skies

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:16:24 +0100

Last week, we highlighted the benefits to consumers that will flow from the injection of competition into the kosher meat market. This week's news is, if anything, even better. Flights to Israel have always been falsely high.

The Israeli government's internal subsidies and the tortuous process for gaining permission for flights have limited the supply and protected existing carriers - a double whammy for consumers. Even if you want to holiday in Eilat, the absence of regular, direct flights makes it more an expression of faith than a mundane decision about finding a place with good beaches.

But now, after eight years of planning, the Open Skies policy will transform Israeli airspace. Even with current fare prices, tourism is growing - a sign of how wonderful a destination Israel is. With more realistic fares, a boom is almost guaranteed; easyJet already fly to Tel Aviv and it seems certain Ryanair will join them. Not only will the other carriers who now fly have to reduce their fares; there will also be more flights, and to more destinations. Good news all round.

After $57m trial, claims body is still under fire

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:44 +0100

As if the convictions in the $57.3 million (£37.6m) fraud case that was wound up in a Manhattan federal court last week were not enough, it was alleged on Tuesday that top officials at the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany were warned about the criminal activity nearly a decade before they called in external investigators.

The fraud was perpetrated over two decades and, of the 31 people convicted, 10 were former Claims Conference employees. Semen Domnitser — one of only three to plead not guilty who were on trial last week — was himself the director of the defrauded programmes between 1999 and 2010. It emerged in the trial that Domnitser had helped people falsely apply for funds from two major programmes.

The Forward has now claimed that a whistleblowing letter was seen by senior leaders of the Conference in 2001. The accusations it contained were corroborated by a preliminary internal investigation but further action was deterred by Domnitser until the federal investigation in 2009.

Clearly, the Claims Conference, one of the most important Jewish institutions in the post-Holocaust world, which has disbursed around $70 billion since its foundation in 1951, must now answer some serious questions about its governance and oversight.

The organisation released a statement in the wake of the trial saying that “Deloitte was hired by the German government to review the processing systems for both individual compensation programmes and homecare allocations, identify any potential weaknesses and recommend improvements.”

A “packet of recommendations”, it said, had already been adopted or were in the process of being adopted.

The questions of how the fraud went on undetected for 15 years — and how the warning went unheeded — remain unanswered. As of going to press, Greg Schneider, current executive director and former chief operating officer; Gideon Taylor, then the executive director; and Julius Berman, the chairman of the conference, had not provided any answers.

The Claims Conference has no doubt required a large bureaucracy to achieve its two aims — to secure funds from governments responsible for post-Holocaust compensation and to distribute that money to victims and survivors.

However, the organisation appears to have fallen down in its management of that bureaucracy.

The scale of its achievements is vast. The Conference secured collaboration between a large number of representatives of the institutions of world Jewry, raised money from German governments before and after unification and established myriad programmes to recognise the ways victims suffered.

But it has come under fire in recent years. A former chairman of the board of the WJC, Isi Leibler, has been a voluble critic of the Conference’s lack of independent oversight and recently suggested that the $57.3m fraud might be the tip of an iceberg.

It remains to be seen how the Conference responds to his accusations and how effectively it will be able to clean its own house.

Naso

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:15:02 +0100

This important blessing, so well known and used with gratitude by Judeo-Christian traditions, is ubiquitous in many services. But it’s curious. God is usually responsible for blessing. Yet here it is Aaron and his sons, the priests, who are asked to do the blessing.

In many traditional synagogues, Cohanim duchen and offer this blessing. So powerful a childhood memory was this for Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock in Star Trek ,that he took the image of the Cohen with separated fingers as his standard and, what became iconic, greeting.

It’s powerful stuff. But controversial, too. Unusually, these blessings are introduced through a command to the priests, “Thus you shall bless them”. This has dismayed classical commentators. Were the priests invoking divine blessing as a parent might or were they themselves engaged in blessing Israel?

The majority understanding is that the priests invoked the divine blessing, a supplication to God. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch insists the Torah did not suggest a priestly caste with free power to bless. Rather, the priest had clear and distinct instructions to invoke this specific blessing.

Although priesthood is no longer, its legacy survives in many parts of the Jewish world and Cohen and Levite still have roles in liturgical life.

Progressive synagogues have chosen a democratic attitude to the community, where all are Israel and all those who act as shaliach tzibbur have the right and responsibility to invoke this blessing (just as Aaron and his sons). Rabbi John Rayner called this blessing, when used liturgically, “the threefold benediction of the Torah” as an alternative to its priestly title, drawing out the threefold blessing of protection, graciousness and peace. And it’s that which is invoked by mother, father, rabbi or those leading prayers, just as the Torah may have intended.

Hawking’s shame

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:48:46 +0100

Looked at overall, the BDS campaign is miserably unsuccessful. Trade between the UK and Israel is at record levels and growing ever higher. But, on an individual level, there are still those who are willing to single out the Jewish state for boycott.

Whatever sophistry is used by its proponents, the BDS campaign is fundamentally antisemitic. Despite the fact that Israel has by far the best human rights record in the Middle East, let alone compared with nations such as China and Sri Lanka, it is Jews on whom the boycotters focus their attack.

It is sad to have to add Stephen Hawking to the shameful list of boycotters. We had thought better of him.

Stonegrove Park bows out on a high

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:11:09 +0100

WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER 18 GREEN DIVISION
STONEGROVE PARK TIGERS 2 POTTERS BAR 1

Stonegrove Park, established in 2003, ended their season and their existence on a high on Sunday, bowing out with a hard fought victory over Potters Bar.

Founder and Club Secretary, Mark Simmons said: "It has been a great 10 years for Stonegrove Park FC, but along with the other committee members, we have decided that the club has run its course and with the sole remaining team being mainly too old to compete in youth football next year, it seemed a natural time to close the club."

The club's final game was at their home ground at Northwick Park, with a good crowd of well-wishers turning up to support the home team.

Potters Bar started the game well, but it was Stonegrove Park who piled on the early pressure to open the scoring in the 12th minute when the ball broke loose towards the Potters bar goal and Joe Myers was quicker to the ball than the Potters goalie to poke the ball into the back of the net.

It was Potters Bar's turn to apply the pressure and there followed several minutes of sustained pressure, and several corners attacking Stonegrove’s goal, before the pressure paid off for Potters Bar who equalised, and so it remained at half time, one all.

The second half was also a tight affair, with both sides having chances. Stonegrove’s back four of Michael Simons, Mehar Sethi, Ben Kreiger and man of the match Barnaby Powell had a solid performance and some fine saves from Sam Ellard in goal ensured Potters Bar’s second half was unfruitful.

It was the hard-working midfield of club captain Paul Cotter, Alex Chaimo, Ethan Ezra and Scott Greenfield who supported Noah Style when he scored Stonegrove’s winning goal with 10 minutes to go.

Assistant-manager Philip Style was suitably honoured that his son should score the final goal for Stonegrove Park.

So it finished 2-1 to Stonegrove Park, a fantastic way to go out.

Manager Kevin Bernbaum, who was presented with a Spurs shirt by the team at the end of the match, said: "This was a great team performance, with Stonegrove Park exceeding the extra 20 per cent I asked for in the second half.

"A special mention is due to Ethan Ezra and Noah Lachs for playing out of position up front today, and also to those other squad player who were not here today, including my son Joel Bernbaum."

Stonegrove Park started in 2003 with two teams in the now defunct AJY league, and developed to a peak of four teams during its lifetime.

Mark Simmons, the club secretary was the final ever AJY football manager of the year. Stonegrove Park also had teams in the Maccabi Leagues and in the later years the Watford Friendly League, peaking in 2009-10 when the Under-14's won the Watford Friendly League U14s Green Division as managed by Simon Greenfield and Sharon Eskenazy.

Mark Simmons finished by saying: "I am just pleased that we enabled so many boys and some girls to play competitive football over these past 10 years. I hope they remember their time with us fondly."

They're in a league of their own at 70

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:35:42 +0100

Thirty years ago, the late Lady Jakobovits described the League of Jewish Women as the community’s “jewel in the crown”. Times may have changed but past league president Miriam Kays told its 70th anniversary lunch that the importance of its voluntary work was undiminished.

“The demand for our volunteers, who help all communities, continues,” she told the 140 guests, including 10 past presidents, at London’s Carpenters’ Hall. Examples of wider recognition had been north-west region members receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and accolades for volunteers in awards marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Times executive editor Daniel Finkelstein was guest speaker and current president Marilyn Brummer hosted the lunch.

Long-time Nightingale chief is to stand down

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:10:19 +0100

Nightingale Hammerson chief executive Leon Smith will step down at the end of 2013 after more than 40 years with the care home charity. He will become an external ambassador for Nightingale.

Mr Smith has helped the charity to become a leader in the provision of dementia care — Nightingale’s state-of-the-art £6.5 million dementia wing was opened in 2011. The search for his successor is under way.

“Nightingale Hammerson has been a huge part of my life and after 40 years I feel that it is time to hand over the reins to someone else,” Mr Smith said. “My new role is going to be very important in the coming period.”

Kosher enough for the church

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:06:14 +0100

ITV’s Strictly Kosher series has one fan in high places, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Calling for better religious broadcasting, he wrote in the Radio Times that “the marvellous portrait of Manchester’s Jewish community is one example of how the media can help us to see the people around us as they really are.”

West London's flower power

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:05:09 +0100

The early advent of Shavuot, and a cold April, has left Rabbi Julia Neuberger with a headache: will she find enough roses this year for the festival.

At her West London Synagogue, children scatter baskets of rose petals during shul and then dance over them, releasing the scent.

“The idea is to represent the sweet smell of Torah,” she said. “It looks lovely and the smell is amazing.”

Jazz band's fighting spirit

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:00:50 +0100

The film Defiance dramatised the story of the Bielski Otriad (Brigade), the partisans led by four Jewish brothers who resisted the Nazis in occupied Poland. Now their heroism has inspired a different work — a “jazztronica” composition, The Bielski Suite, from London guitarist, Alex Roth.

He and brothers Nick (saxophone) and Simon (drums) are trying to raise £4,000 to take the piece on tour, using sponsume, a crowd-funding website which offers donors rewards such as concert tickets or EPs.

They have called their band Otriad.

Dig this

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:46:26 +0100

The Jewish Leadership Council’s report on community vitality quoted this from one contributor: “Why are people members of synagogues? It’s for burial — let’s call a spade a spade.” Methinks he speaks with forked tongue.

Getting your kicks out of shul

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:42:39 +0100

It was a tricky situation for Northwood United Synagogue; their annual meeting last night clashed with a Championship play-off game for local team Watford.

But the congregation came up with the answer. The AGM was moved to an earlier time, followed by a live showing of the critical game with beer and popcorn. An alternative workshop was offered to non-spectators. At half-time, the meeting would resume for any other business and then back to the footie.

Watford are hoping for a Premier League place, following champions Cardiff and runner-ups Hull — respectively my birthplace and that of my colleague Marcus Dysch.

The odds of the native cities of two JC reporters winning promotion in the same season are a quarter of a zillion to one and, had you placed a bet on it, you would have made enough to buy Chelsea

Team GB names Maccabiah water polo squad

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:01:55 +0100

Team GB will take a 12-man Water Polo squad to compete at this summer’s 19th Maccabiah Games.

The side’s talent pool is overflowing, featuring some of the best players in the country, and managing to blend youth with experience. Included in the squad are two Maccabiah debutants, Josh Brown and Jared Baker, who both play at a top level in the British National Water Polo League.

Joining them is David Lewis, who played for GB as an 18-year-old in 1997 and has since been playing at a high standard in Australia.

The side will be hoping that leading talent, James Kattan, will be fit in time for 18th July as he is recovering from recent keyhole surgery on his shoulder.

Maccabi GB will be lead by one of the top Water Polo coaches, Nikola Jovanovic. Jovanovic’s CV is one of the most impressive in the Team GB delegation.

Having played in the first division Water Polo for Serbian Club NIS Classic from 1992-2000, he went on to coach and manage the side from 2000-2005. During that time, NIS was a force to be reckoned with, as the team featured strongly in the first division, the Serbian-Montenegro Cup, LEN Cup and they won the European Water Polo League.

In 2008 he moved to the UK to become Development Officer at the London Swimming Regional Training Centre, which was followed by a role as the London 2012 Olympic Games Technical Operations Manager for Water Polo.

In preparations for Israel, the team has entered a European water polo tournament in Mallorca, Spain just two weeks before they leave for Israel. Most of the squad and the GB Management Team will be travelling to Spain for what should be ideal preparation against teams from Spain, England and Germany.

GB player Neil Haftal said: “The more experienced players in the squad, who have been to previous Maccabiot, are under no illusion of the tough task that faces us in Israel. Water Polo is a major sport in Israel, USA, Hungary and Brazil with many of their squads playing full time. We are, however, boosted by securing the experienced Serbian coach, Nikola Jovanovic, and some fantastic talent in the side.

“Playing for Maccabi GB at the Maccabiah Games is one of the greatest honours you can have as a British Jew and I know that all the boys will enjoy themselves, whether they’ve been before or are going to Israel for the first time."

SQUAD:

Jared Baker (18)
Started playing at HABS. Has represented county and regional level for under-18 and trained with the Great Britain team. Started playing for Maccabi GB in 2008 and has since played for Watford and Polytechnic. Currently playing in the British National League First Division.

Steve Behr (40)
Started playing at HABS. Played under-16 for North England Students then with Polytechnic in 1st Division National League for eight years (1998 - 2005). Past Maccabiot: 1989, 1993 and 1997.

Ashley Blake (32, Goalkeeper)
Started playing at HABS. Represented Middlesex and Southern Counties and invited to train with England. Played at University of Birmingham and Penguin Juniors.

Josh Brown (21)
Played at City of London School (2003-2009), Polytechnic (2007-2011), Durham, Team Northumbria (2011-current) and University (2010-present). Top-scorer in the British National League Championship Division Two this year.

Arron Gould (16)
Played in the ESSA (National League). Under-14 and under-16 winner and was recently a finalist in the under-18 age group. Trains with the Manchester Water Polo Club Men's team and regularly trains with the GB National Women's team.

Neil Haftel (57)
Started playing at Harrow at both local and National League level. Currently plays for Watford in the National, London and Middlesex Leagues. Past Maccabiot: 1973, 1977 (Swimming) 1989, 1993 and 2005 (Water Polo).

Dan Kattan (36)
Started playing at HABS and has played for Herts County, Southern Counties and Manchester University, where he won the BUSA Championship. Playing in Middlesex, Herts and London Leagues since 1993 with Maccabi GB and now Watford. Past Maccabiot: 1993, 1997 and 2005

James Kattan (32)
Started playing at HABS. Has represented County, Regional and International all at U18 Level. Played National League Division 1 with Hammersmith Penguins before University, now playing with Watford and Maccabi GB. Past Maccabiot: 1997 and 2005

Sammy Kattan (35)
Started playing at HABS. Represented County and Regional at under-18 level. Played at Leeds University. Currently living in Israel. Past Maccabiah: 1997

David Lewis (33)
Started playing at Highgate School. Represented Southern Counties and captained Middlesex. He also played for Penguin Juniors as well as representing the University of Massachussets at the NCAA Division One Final Four Water Polo Championships. He currently plays for the UNSW Wests Magpies in the Sydney Metro League. Past Maccabiah: 1997

Yakov Sadovskii (28)
Started playing in Canada at age 11. Played two seasons in the French National League, followed by two seasons with Ealing in British National league. Currently plays for Watford in the National, London and Middlesex Leagues.

Gyorgy Szemere (35)
Started in Hungary aged seven for KSI. Played for the University of Birmingham and Maccabi GB in 1996. Played for a year in German Team, Essen06. Trained with London Polytechnic in preparation for the Maccabiah games in 2005. Currently plays for Zurich City Water Polo team in the Swiss First Division, East National League and Second Division North National League (2nd XI). Past Maccabiah: 2005

Dresden gets rabbi back, 70 years after the Shoah

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:00:43 +0100

Last week was a historical one in Dresden. The Jüdische Gemeinde zu Dresden, the Jewish congregation in the city, finally got its rabbi back — more than 70 years after Rabbi Albert Wolf had to flee Dresden and Germany.

And as if to underscore that this is a moment of renewal, the new rabbi, Alexander Nachama, is just 29 years old.

How does Rabbi Nachama feel about it? “Good. But I don’t actually feel so young in this position,” he said. He was ordained by the non-denominational Aleph Rabbinic Programme in the US and graduated from the Abraham-Geiger-Kolleg Rabbinic Seminar at Potsdam University. “As a child in Berlin, I held pretend worship services and started to lead prayers in the synagogue when I was 14.”

Rabbi Nachama’s installation took place in the Dresden synagogue. The young rabbi is now part of a significant family tradition. His grandfather, Estrongo, who was widely known for his expressive singing, survived Auschwitz and became chief cantor for the Jewish congregation in Berlin after the war. Alexander’s father, Andreas, who was present at his induction, is a rabbi in the German capital.

Young Rabbi Nachama stresses that he stands on his own two feet as a congregation leader in Dresden. Before the Second World War, there were more than 5,000 Jewish inhabitants in the city. By 1945, only a few were left. Rabbi Nachama now aims to engage the younger generation of Jews so that the congregation, which today has 720 members, can keep growing.

The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dr Dieter Graumann, sees Rabbi Nachama’s installation as part of a positive trend: “The growing numbers of both female and male rabbis show how the Jewish congregations in Germany once more blossom. Seventy years after the Shoah, this is close to a wonder, and we welcome it from the bottom of our hearts.”

Kiddush required to offer helping hand for walkers

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:30:43 +0100

Tzedek, Gefiltefest, Jewish Social Action Forum and World Jewish Relief are asking central London synagogues to lay on special kiddushim next month.

The move is to allow Jewish activists to participate in the Walk for Change — an event, organised by the Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign, to raise awareness of world hunger.

The walk, which starts from Hyde Park, takes place on Shabbat, on Saturday June 8.

Competition at last

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:51:26 +0100

The opening of a new kosher butcher in Golders Green might seem of parochial interest only. But it is far more than that. It offers the possibility of a revolution in kosher shopping. For too long, the meat trade has been able to use the cost of kosher supervision as an excuse for ripping off shoppers. Plainly, kosher meat is going to be more expensive than treif.

But the absence of real competition has feather-bedded kosher shops. The duopoly of licensing in London by the London Board of Shechita and Kedassia has meant a form of de facto - even if unintentional - collusion against the consumer. Now that a new butcher has opened, with meat licensed by the Manchester Beth Din, there is at last a dose of competition. All sorts of claims about the kosher status of this new shop are being bandied about. They are entirely irrelevant, because it is up to consumers, not competitors, to decide. If consumers are unhappy with licensing arrangements then a new shop will go bust.

If they are satisfied, and like what is on offer, it will prosper. That is the point of choice and competition. It might be unpopular with the existing providers but it should be anything but that for consumers.

Norstar and Raiders to merge

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:16:49 +0100

Two leading MSFL clubs agreed to a merger this week in a bid to bring success to their loyal fans.

Norstar and North London Raiders – fierce rivals in previous seasons – will now compete as Norstar London Raiders under the Chairmanship of Jonny Adelman.

With Raiders A boss Rob Richman standing down, Norstar A boss Phil Peters will lead the first team which will combine the brightest talent from the two sides, with a few additional summer signings on the cards.

The club will also be putting out a strong B and C team, with the management teams to be confirmed, although Raiders have announced that Oli Shorts and Rich Abrams will be stepping down from their positions with the B team.

Peters told the JC how excited he was about the merging of these two great institutions of Jewish football

He said: "Whilst it will be emotional to say goodbye to Norstar, the club has served a great purpose and now we move on as Norstar London Raiders.

"I'm looking forward to moving aside from the boardroom to concentrate solely on managing the first team in the coming year.

"It will be difficult without my long-serving assistant Jamie Slavin, who will take up the role of vice-chairman, alongside me, but I hope to announce the appointment of new assistant in the coming weeks.

"I'd like to thank Jamie and on behalf of both of us thank all the players and supporters who have been on the journey with us over the last five years.

"Rob always told me that I'd be replacing him at Raiders although I’m not sure either of us thought that it would happen like this.

"There are some very big shoes to fill and it’s no coincidence that he and Sir Alex both announced their retirements on the very same day."

News of the merger had to be kept on ice until Raiders's survival was guaranteed so as to avoid any allegations of foul play, with the two teams going head-to-head this weekend.

Richman said: "I have had a brilliant seven years and can't thank Jonny Adelman enough for asking me to take over all those years ago.

"It is wrench to leave and I will miss everything about managing this special Raiders side as it is all I have known for a long time.

"However, it is the right time to move on as other commitments in my life mean that I don’t have the necessary time to do the job the justice it deserves.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the players for their dedication and wonderful spirit that makes this club so special.

"I am excited though at the merging of Raiders with Norstar. I think this safeguards the future of both clubs and I know Phil has big plans for the A-team next season."

Club chairman Jonny Adelman told JC Sport: "Raiders will celebrate its 22nd season in the MSFL in season 2013/14. To remain vibrant for that length of time it's been essential to reenergise the organisation from time to time.

"The merger with Norstar, a club with a long and proud history and an ethos similar to Raiders provides a great opportunity to do just that once again. I believe the merger will enable the Club to push on in our quest to deliver major silverware.

"It is a bittersweet moment for the Club. We're excited by the merger and with the playing and management talent that it brings to Raiders.

"At the same time it is the end of an era with Rob Richman stepping down as A team manager. Rob has been a superb manager and guardian of the Club, commanding respect from both his team and opposition alike. As a one-club man he remains an integral part of Raiders going forward and will work alongside me to ensure the Club continues to go from strength to strength.

"I must also pay tribute to Oli Shorts who has nurtured an emerging group of players in to a competitive team.

"Phil becomes only the sixth A-team manager in our 22-year history and I am confident that he will be a worthy successor to Rob."

South progress to League Cup final

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:57:50 +0100

ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL
SPORTING MANCHESTER 0 SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB 1st 3

South Manchester Sports Club 1st booked a place in Accountants League Cup final with a comfortable win over second division champions Sporting Manchester.

On a blustery night at the University pitches, and with several regulars missing South never looked in any trouble.

Goals from Sparkes, Levy and Peppi sealed the win, but it could have been many more.

With the league title sealed last week with a 4-2 win at Deloittes, back to back victories have shown a good reaction to the disappointment of defeat in the final of the Peter Morrison Trophy at Boundary Park.

South have now lost just three of their last 25 games and a final win would be a fitting end to a historic season.

Dates and final venue are yet to be decided with opponents PWC.