Joe Jacobson – from Jewish footballer to...Jewish doctor!

Jacobson says his 2006 debut with Cardiff’s first team was the fulfilment of a dream “That was a huge moment for me.” Other notable achievements include being promoted three times, scoring a penalty at Wembley to get Wycombe promoted “and playing some of the best players in the world”.

Joe Jacobson getting his honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University, with law lecturer Ze'ev Portner[Missing Credit]

Jacobson turned out 14 times for the Wales U21 but never for the senior side. “It’s not a regret,” he explains. “But I was as close as anyone could get to playing for my country. A disappointment certainly, but not a regret.”

When asked about his experience as a young Jewish footballer, Jacobson says that growing up, this wasn’t something he ever gave much thought to. “I never experienced antisemitism or anything. There were no Maccabi leagues, I was just a kid playing football.”

At the age of 14, he went to Israel to play in the Maccabiah Games. “Only then, did I play with other Jewish footballers. I realised the level was pretty good.”

That may be a reason why Jacobson was surprised to learn on making his debut with Cardiff that he was the first British-born Jewish footballer to play in the English leagues in 25 years, since Barry Silkman, who played for several clubs, including Manchester City and Leyton Orient.

Teammates didn’t realise the severity of what happened on October 7, and I’ve had some awkward conversations. I’ve told people to be careful and check their facts

On the one hand, “being Jewish was never too big a deal,” says Jacobson. At the same time, he felt “proud to tell teammates I was Jewish - many of whom remarked I was the first Jew they had met. I felt like I was representing Jews in football.”

But the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel had a huge impact on him. “It was devastating,” he recalls. “Teammates didn’t realise the severity of what happened, and I’ve had some awkward conversations. I’ve told people to be careful and check their facts.”

Following a post, where he questioned people in London and Sydney celebrating the Hamas attacks, Jacobson found himself to be the target of abuse. “People threatened they would barricade the gates of the stadium. On one occasion, I went to the game with extra plain-clothed security, which the club didn’t tell me about until later.”

Regarding his work against antisemitism, over the years, Jacobson has become increasingly aware of the importance of his role as a Jewish footballer. “I had to speak up because there was no one else.” He has attended various meetings, such as with the FA after their refusal to light up Wembley arch to show solidarity with Israel. They have now abandoned altogether the custom of lighting up the arch to show support for certain causes or nations, but, at the time, Jacobson says he found himself asking: “Why is it that they stop that only when it comes to the Jews?”

At the twilight of his playing career, Jacobson started to look at the bigger picture. “Footballers spend a lot of time thinking about life after their playing days. It took me a long time to find what I was passionate about. I'm not a Premier League player who can retire into the sunset.” He joined a PFA business course, which he will graduate from in the forthcoming weeks.

As a young footballer, Jacobson made sure he did two A-levels, and he always wanted education to remain in his life. “I needed a back-up plan, and additionally I wanted to feel like a normal kid.”

That investment may now be paying dividends as Jacobson was recently appointed co-CEO at Reading FC. “I’m involved in everything, I’m extremely busy. There’s loads going on, but I love it,” Jacobson says of his new role. “I still get that buzz I used to feel as a footballer when a goal goes in. I want to be a part of restoring this club to the Championship.”