Leeds Uni Jsoc football team lifts its first ever trophy under the lights in London

The club was founded just over seven years ago by Joshua Freddie Carr, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 23. Hapoel say that they play every match in his honour.

Other former players were in the crowd, as well as friends and family of both teams’ players. And in addition to the football on show, spectators were treated to music from a DJ and food from a kosher meat food van.

Spectators at the final in north London (photo: Alex Mandel)[Missing Credit]

Raff Collins, who was given “man of the match” for a stellar performance in central midfield on his return from injury, hailed the team spirit as pivotal to the win.

He said: “This Hapoel side is something truly special – the togetherness, the belief, the way every single player gave everything for each other out there was what got us over the line.”

Hapoel captain Zac Gold, playing in midfield next to Collins, concurred: “I think the difference from this year to the others wasn’t necessarily the quality on the pitch, but rather the togetherness that has been formed on and off the pitch,” he said.

Incredibly, Hapoel won the cup without conceding a single goal in the tournament. They overcame York and Edinburgh 9-0 and 3-0 respectively in the group phase, before winning on penalties in the semi-final against Loughborough after a 0-0 draw in normal time.

This was the second time that UJS has organised the tournament. Selly Oak were its inaugural winners this time last year, winning 2-1 against Bristol’s team in the final.

Team photo for Maccabi Selly Oak (photo: Georgia Rosenberg)[Missing Credit]

Oaks captain and centre back Max Conway, who scored the winning goal in that game, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the team and everyone else involved. Unfortunately we couldn’t retain the cup, but full credit to Leeds who are a fantastic side”.

Their manager David Blitz was similarly proud of their efforts. “It wasn’t our day, but the boys left everything on the pitch and that is all that I could have asked for as a manager,” he said.

En route to the final, Selly Oak beat Warwick and Oxford in the group stage by scorelines of 4-1 and 5-0 respectively, before a 3-2 win over Bristol in the semi-final.

They couldn’t replicate their success on Sunday though, partly owing to the scrappy nature of the game, which Oaks goalkeeper and co-president Harry Weiniger said “didn’t reflect the magnificence of playing in front of such a strong crowd”.

Clear-cut chances were indeed few and far between, until the last few minutes of the first half, when Hapoel keeper Jamie Margolis sprawled across his goal to make an astounding stop from Oaks winger Joe Corney from close range.

Until he was sent off for a second booking with ten minutes remaining, attacking midfielder Ben Freedman ran the game for Hapoel, whose efforts were consistently thwarted by the impressive Adam Rubin, playing at centre back for Selly Oak.

Hapoel's Ben Freedman on the ball with Selly Oak's Oliver Grant approaching (photo: Alex Mandel)[Missing Credit]

That was until Woolf struck, approaching the hour mark, putting Hapoel within touching distance of the trophy.

The Oaks pressed for an equaliser for the match’s remainder, with Conway going closest with a header in the dying minutes, but they ultimately fell short.

Sixteen teams entered the cup, all the way up to Edinburgh and down to Brighton and Sussex.

UJS sports and sabbatical officer Arianna Sultan, responsible for organising the tournament, commended the “passion and resilience displayed throughout the entire cup”.

The cup will return next academic year, as Hapoel look to become the first to retain the coveted trophy, Selly Oak aim to take back their crown, and all the other teams seek their first taste of UJS Cup glory.

Hapoel goalscorer Josh Woolf wheeling away in celebration (photo: Georgia Rosenberg)[Missing Credit]