As the father of a football-mad son, it fills me with pride every time I see him play an accurate pass, make an assist and, on occasion, score a goal. It's even better if his team wins too. Times that by three and you can start to imagine how Peter Sollosi feels every time his boys set foot on the pitch. His levels of nachas have just gone through the roof.
Sam, Nathan and Ben are three of the leading lights of the MGBSFL. Indeed the siblings lined up with Peter in a league match two years ago, albeit on a day when they were short of numbers.
Back in the day Peter was a top-notch marksman, running defences ragged alongside Steve Feiger at Marshside.
But now the talent is spread around the pitch. Sam produces moments that have left his team-mates open-mouthed on a regular basis. He scores and creates for fun. Ben is something of an unsung hero, linking up the defence and midfield as the all-important CDM (central defensive midfielder). Versatility is the game for Nathan who faces an important final year at university, so appearances could be fewer and far between during the second half of the season.
Another player who has stood out in recent weeks is Liron Mannie of North London Raiders. The former Player of the Year wins my vote for the top player in October after a series of scintillating displays when virtually everything he touched turned to goals. NLR boss Dan Shafron said: “Liron has produced some all-round super games. He is a constant threat offensively and works hard for his team off the ball.”
Having missed out on the best manager accolade in September, David Garbacz edged out RJC counterpart Jon Jacobs after guiding Hendon United to the top of the Premier Division.
Josh Bloom was the star performer in Division One, registering eight goals in five matches. Sam Marchant, another managerial winner, said: “Josh has been under pressure with the summer arrival of Michael Kenley but has truly performed and shown why he is one of the best and most clinical strikers out there.”
Richard Fogelman of Faithfold B edged out L’Equipe’s Grant Bates to the best player accolade in Division Two.
Nicknamed ‘Schnitzelman’ for his love of anything in breadcrumbs, Fogelman hit the target 14 times in three matches, including a seven-goal salvo.
L’Equipe’s cup hopes may already be over for the season, but they look the real deal in the league and Nick Stern has been rewarded for guiding them to the summit.
• Josh Newman has been short-listed for Essex Young Sports Personality of the Year. The trampoline star was runner-up and he hopes to go one better at the event at Chelmsford city racecourse on December 7.
* Maccabiah-bound goalkeeper Russell Corin is usually one of the first names on David Garbacz’s teamsheet at Hendon United. However, this week’s Peter Morrison Trophy draw threw up a bizarre scenario where Corin will line up against his team-mates for the Maccabi London Lions Masters who are using the ‘Jewish FA Cup’ as a competition to warm-up for the trip to Israel next year.
Both Garbacz and Corin has played starring roles in Hendon’s recent monopoly of the Morrison Trophy over the past three seasons. Garbacz said: “It’s an incredible scenario as playing in the tournament was one of the conditions he was accepted into the Maccabiah squad. If it goes to penalties I wouldn’t fancy our chances."
