Sport
Division Two preview: Fairlop the team to beat in Division Two
Fairlop have been installed as favourites for Division Two after signing Player of the Year Ryan Cole from top-flight Redbridge Jewish Care A.
August 29, 2017 15:31
Fairlop have been installed as favourites for Division Two after signing Player of the Year Ryan Cole from top-flight Redbridge Jewish Care A.
August 29, 2017 15:31In a real statement of intent, manager Aaron Dias has raided their illustrious rivals, with Daryl Rubin, Matt Berkley, Adam Goldman, Kane Hopps, Daniel Bean and Brad Gayer also joining the ranks. Former Arsenal academy player Joel Russell and Jordan Kara, who used to be on the books of Spurs, will also feature.
“The minimum I expect from this group is to gain promotion, but we are here to win the league,” remarked Dias.
“A good cup run would be a bonus, but our priority is to win the league.”
Fairlop go into Sunday’s opener against Hertswood Vale with high hopes. ““Pre-season has gone well and everyone is looking sharp.”
Hertswood are targeting major improvement after “an extremely disappointing campaign last year”. Danny Hirschberger will join Jacob Emanuel in the managerial hot-seat and a revamped squad has been boosted by the arrival of Joni Hirschowitz, James Neidle, Ben Chiltern, Edan Dodi, Gal Alkalay and Harry Marlow.
Emanuel said: “We’re not aiming high and taking each game as it comes. Seven players have left the club and we’ve shored up our defence with the experienced Neidle. His ability to put his head onto anything in the air will be invaluable.
Josh Cohen, James Millet and Elio Elia will be hungry to add to the 25 goals they scored between themselves last season.
Promotion is the aim for new boys Bayern Mincha. “We have the quality in the squad to achieve this, especially with the talent of Adam Ellis and Samuel Leader in our ranks,” said Bayern’s Daniel Holder.
Working alongside Alon Pinhas, Holder describes goalkeeper Joe Nyman as “the Jewish Manuel Neuer and Adam Biton as a “rising talent”. Jake Dayan captains the squad.
The arrival of Craig Edwards, Craig Cole, Jamie Kent, Chandler Monk and Bradley Handelaar promises to make Boca Jewniors a more serious proposition.
With Daniel Beresford at the helm, the club have “released” Joshua Cinna, Mike Myers and Jamie Leboff. Matty Davies has retired while Michael Rosenthal has moved to Madrid.
Jeff Gotch has bolstered his Catford & Bromley Maccabi squad with Mitch Green, Alex Jacobs, Blake Buckman, Matt Bennet and Ben Adaki in a bid to secure promotion. “Jacobs and Green” will add a lot of quality to the team,” said Gotch, who will be assisted by Oleusean Thomas and Simon Bloomberg. Joel Lassman retains the armband and Gotch said: “We will finish in the top two. I had a three-year plan for the club and this is year three, so it’s now or never.”
Entertainment will be the name of the game for FC Team following a restructuring by manager Mitch Young.
“We want to challenge for the title and score lots of goals,” said Young whose side will also enter the London Trophy.
Goalkeeper Ed Bloom makes a welcome return, with the influential Marc Hecht and 18-year-old Bradley Jacobs tipped to impress. Jon Breger returns as captain following a season out with an ACL injury.
Mill Hill Dons will be looking to build on an encouraging first season. The arrival of Josh Cinna speaks volumes of their intentions, while manager Brandon Hamme is confident Lee Stern, James Newman, James Silverman, Sam Demby, Oliver Burchell and Adam Diamond will excite the fans.
“Promotion has to be our aim for this season but we know it won't be an easy task,” commented Hamme.
“We continue to improve as a team and we proved at points last season that we are more than capable of going toe to toe with anyone.”
Hamme believes the Dons are “lucky to have the top-class talent” of Harry Moss. He said: “He made a huge impact in the limited number of games he played last season.
“Josh could help us take that next step by improving an already formidable defence, while Sam Kahn, our most improved player last season, will only get better”.
North London Raiders C will benefit from a handful of B-team players joining their squad. Boss Sam Rose has high expectations and said: “The hope is always to improve on the previous season, we won’t be satisfied with anything less than 100% performances on the pitch and if that leads to a title tilt we won’t be too upset either.”
Centre back Jordan Sapler will bring “much needed solidity in a position we struggled with, as well as Sam Roth”. Rose believes the return of Alex Goodman will “help drive the team in defence and attack”. Jay Rosenthal, Oliver Telvi, Matt Geppart have departed.
Martin Smulovich is confident the “mix of youth and experience bodes well for a strong league campaign” at Real Hendon. “We also have an outside chance of cup success,” he said.
Doron Shooter returns from yeshiva, while Lolu Hibbert, Joel Kutner and Adam Hersh “will add some pace to our ageing legs”.
Smulovich, who will lead the team with Rafi Addelstone, has challenge Chaim Gothold to roll back the years and “be a handful for defenders” whilst insisting Motty Korman “seems to be improving with age”.
Darren Zitren is “excited by the mix of players” at the newly formed Temple Fortune B.
He said: “The players have started to gel nicely in training and it would be great to surprise a few this season.”
A squad featuring Steven Black, Zach Goodman, Gab Saul, Josh Klepper, Simon Cohen and Josh Taylor will look to repeat the achievement of Fortune’s A team last season.
Zitren said: “With a new team, it is hard to definitively articulate how we will play and what we will bring to the MGBSFL this season. That said, there are two character traits we have drummed into our boys which will be evident every time they step onto the pitch; teamwork and commitment.”
Elliot Cukier is relishing the season ahead of Straw Hat Pirates. “The aim is for a mid-table finish and a solid cup run,” he said of the new boys.
Aron Gale, Jono Nesbitt and Ben Mandell are the “ones to watch” but he was tight-lipped about the identity of an “FA Cup goal-scorer turning out for us for a couple of games”.
Ben Mandell captains the Pirates who “will bring passion and commitment to the league”. Cukier said: “We think and shoot from outside the box.”