Faithfold A, the 2013 Maccabi GB (Southern) Football League champions, confirmed their resignation this week - leaving the league with 32 teams.
The Superhoops were rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division after a succession of heavy defeats which left manager Daniel Beresford with the painful decision to fold ahead of Sunday's scheduled meeting with a Harmen team, who feature former stars Alex Taylor and captain Alex Levack.
Beresford admits the decision was made with a heavy hard as they have been "struggling for players since the start of the season".
Faithfold A's only victory this season came in the Peter Morrison Trophy when they upset the formbook to beat last season's runners-up AFC Flixton thanks to a strike from legendary strike Daryl Phillips.
After climbing the league with great speed, Faithfold A will be remembered as one of the all-time success stories of the MSFL. Put together by pupils at JFS, they won the Division Three title in 1997/98 first won the Premier Division in 2004/05 and again in season 2012/13, under Solomon. They also became the first Jewish team to lift the London FA Sunday Intermediate Cup. They remain the only side to have won it. Other successes saw them win the Cyril Anekstein Cup for the first time in 2001/02 and retain it the following year.
The club also enjoyed a period of great individual success, with Ben Lewis, Daryl Phillips and Levack all winning the prestigious Player of the Year award, between 1998 and 2002.
On the managerial front, long-standing boss David Bond won the league's best gaffer prize in 1993/94 followed by Roderick Faithfold and Jonny Kessel, twice, with Solomon claiming the prize in 2013.
Beresford replaced long-standing manager Zuriel Solomon, who steered the team to a top six finish in 2014/15, at the start of the season but the decision to fold has seen their results wiped off the table as they failed to fulfil 75 per cent of their fixtures.
The club will continue to run two teams in the league - the B team in Division One and C team in Division Two.
Faithfold A's demise resulted in David Wolff releasing a statement on the future of the MGBSFL.
"The withdrawal of Faithfold A from the league highlights a worrying trend in 11-a-side football. Although this seems to be national, I can assure you that the league’s Management Committee are looking at ways to buck this in our own organisation. A sub-committee has been established to suggest various initiatives to incorporate.
"I must emphasise the all leagues are governed by the FA Rules and Regulations and there is not a wide scope to apply any rules that are not compliant with those of the FA.
"The real problem is to attract and retain the interest of young people who are probably involved in other interests.
"We will do all we can to increase the numbers and stop others from falling by the wayside."
FAITHFOLD A HONOURS
PETER MORRISON TROPHY
2001/02
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP WINNERS
1998/99
2001/02
2002/03
PREMIER DIVISION CHAMPIONS
1999/2000
2004/05
2012/2013
DIVISION THREE CHAMPIONS
1997/98
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
PLAYER
1998/99 - Ben Lewis - MSFL Player of the Season
1999/2000 - Alex Levack - MSFL Player of the Season
2001/02 - Daryl Phillips - MSFL Player of the Season
2012/13 - Dan Howard - MSFL Player of the Season
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1997/98 - Rod Faith
LEAGUE TOP-SCORER
1994/95 - Daryl Phillips
2004/05 - Daryl Phillips
MANAGER/S OF THE YEAR
1993/94 - David Bond
1999/2000 - Roland Faith/Jonny Kessel
2001/02 - Roland Faith/Jonny Kessel
2012/13 - Zuriel Solomon
