FC Team B withdraw from MGBSFL - The Jewish Chronicle

The second division club played lost eight out of its 11 league matches this season but were forced to withdraw due to a shortage of committed players.

FC Team registered victories over Boca Jewniors and Redbridge Jewish Care C, but they lost their last match 3-2 against Hertswood Vale.

The team’s records will be expunged as they failed to complete 75 per cent of their fixtures.

FC Team chairman Mitch Young told JC Sport the decision "was not taken lightly".

The decision was confirmed at an emergency club meeting on January 2.

Young explained: "It is important for everyone associated with the MSFL to know that we did everything we possibly could to keep the second team going.

"We started the season with a committed squad of 14-15 players with a couple of pay-as-you-play. However, following on from a number of injuries, poor results and lack of financial commitment the managers felt they could not raise a team and resigned. This left a core group of seven committed players and at this point I has to take over the management and in the space of week signed around nine players who were willing to 'help out'. We completed the remaining matches in December with a makeshift team to try and honour our fixtures and keep the team going.

"All this was at the detriment of our first team, which itself started the season with a strong squad of 20. However with six bad injuries and a group of six long-term members leaving for personal reasons we were left down to a bare 11 in and around October. I subsequently signed three players to supplement our squad but when we have suspensions or unavaialbilities we are are also strecthed.

"On top of all this we moved our ground to a 3g pitch where we are being charged £700 per month. When you do not have committed players paying their registration fees and annual subs this puts a severe burden on the senior management of the club who have personally been paying for pitch, FA fines and league fees for the past month.

"In our 12-year history we have never had to forefit a match or fold a team. Having run three teams successfully and in some seasons four teams it is fair to say we know how to run teams and see out a season hence this decision was made for all the right reasons.

"This season I have seen a staggering number of injuries but more concerning a distinct lack of interest to play 11-a-side football."

Young is confident FC Team "will now prosper with one strong squad competing in the MSFL Premier Division and last 16 of the National Cup".

He said: "Myself and the Senior committee members are as passionate as every to build on what we have achieved thus far in the MGBSFL and review whether or not we can re-establish the second team next season.

"I would like to apologies to all the managers, players and of course David and the MGBSFL Committee for having to do this but we had no other option and look forward to the remainder of the season."

MGBSFL chairman David Wolff said: “It is always disappointing to lose a side, but it seems to be par for the course.

"It’s certainly not a disaster, however, and we look forward to restarting the league following the winter break.”