ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Not everyone finds fasting for 25 hours a straightforward task. For me, the last couple of hours are the toughest but this year some sporting trivia saw me through to the conclusion of Yom Kippur - after I was all repented out.
There is no doubt that there are some talented sportsmen at virtually every shul. In London, Norrice Lea is full of big players while Barnet has a thriving cricket section, as does Cockfosters and North Southgate.
In Manchester, some of the leading lights from the MJSL and NJCL frequent Bowden Synagogue, Hail Synagogue, the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue on in Didsbury and the North Manchester Congregation.
Glancing around the thriving community at Mill Hill United, I am quietly confident that the list of members could rivals most in an inter-shul sports competition including more than half a dozen decent footballers and cricketers. I'm sure that I've missed one or two but we could field a pretty strong side. I know of few better cricketers and inspirational leaders than London Maccabi Vale captain Adam Brand. He would be joined at the top of the order by former LMV members Nigel Roth and Adam Solomons. MAL all-rounder Charlie Sherrard, who spearheads the current shul team, would be another automatic selection.
The WAGs would also have a role to play with Solomons' wife, Ruth, doubling up as team physio and tea-lady together with my other half, Donna.
Of course, any team would have to be managed by Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, a Leeds fan. The northern flavour would be extended by Richie Reggel, known in his sporting days as the Leicestershire Express. Like me, Reggel was a member of the 2005 squad that helped Team GB take bronze at the Maccabiah Games in Israel. He has taken something of a backseat role since then with fatherhood duties keeping him off the pitch.
We would have a plethora of goalkeepers with myself and Solomons vying for the gloves of alongside Faithfold C player-manager David Garson, who has enjoyed a flying start to the season at left-back. In front of him would be teammate Steve Moss, one of the best senior defenders in the MSFL. Garson has somehow managed to keep hold of him with some of the Maccabi Masters big guns waiting in the wings. So the challenge is out there. Let me know if you think your team can rival us.
● There are four key JC MSFL Premier Division matches in store on Sunday but none are more intriguing that the Neasden derby with the in-form Bs up against an out-of-sorts A team. The Bs were left somewhat red-faced ahead of their match against North London Raiders A at The Hive on Sunday. On first sightings, the pitch looked better than Wembley. But when I ventured to the far end there were drainage problems as I prepared to take keeper Danny Berliner through our customary goalkeeping warm-up with part of the pitch under water.
However, NWN joint-manager Sammy Carr is focusing solely on the game. Following back-to-back victories, Carr said: "We will not get carried away with our start to the season and hope to continually improve game by game. Our real test will come against the Faithfold's and Hendon's of the league. We now set our sights on the inter-club derby next Sunday where hopefully we can establish ourselves as Neasden A."
● The JC Cyril Anekstein Cup gets under way on Sunday. Chigwell Athletic sit it out with the rest of the big boys after earning a first-round bye but the all-first division clash between Montana Boca United A and Brady Maccabi is certainly one to keep an eye on.