A home-grown Jewish footballer playing in the Premier League could soon be a reality after double hopefuls Arsenal this week initiated a partnership with the JC MSFL to become a feeder league for the north London giants.
The collaboration, initiated by Alan Sefton, Arsenal’s head of football in the community, was given the green light after a series of meetings between Maccabi officials and representatives from the Emirates club for whom former vice-chairman David Dein is believed to have been a key player.
Two seasons ago Dein and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger watched part of a Maccabi League game near Dein’s home in Mill Hill, North London. Sefton is believed to have suggested using the league to unearth young talent in a bid to appease fans who want to see a more prominent English playing contingent at the club. At present, Theo Walcott and Justin Hoyte are the only English players that get a game for the Gunners. The move is similar to the partnership between Manchester Maccabi and Manchester City.
With more than 1,200 players from the UK involved on a weekly basis, the JC Maccabi (Southern) Football League is the biggest all-Jewish league in the world. Chairman David Wolff told JC Sport: “This is a very proud day for the league. It is about time our players were recognised as we are much more than a Sunday morning set-up.”
