Joe Jacobson is negotiating a new contract with Wycombe Wanderers. A key player in the club’s successful promotion bid in League Two last season, Jacobson is relishing another crack in the higher division. “I’m really happy at Wycombe,” he told me, “it’s the perfect club for me.”
June 25, 2018 15:36
Jacobson feels refreshed after “a couple of holidays,” including one where the club rewarded its players for promotion with a break in Marbella. “It was nice to celebrate properly,” remarked Jacobson, who returns for pre-season training on June 28.
In the meantime, he will be watching the World Cup – a competition he describes as “wide open”. He said: “Seven or eight teams are capable of winning it, but I fancy Spain.”
The former Wales under-21 defender predicted: “I think England will do okay, they will surprise a few people. If not, it will give me some ammunition to take back to training with the English boys!”
* It’s good to see more and more footballers doing their bit for charity. Having recently completed a successful season-long loan spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Derby County striker Nick Blackman, 28, was in Barbados this week, hosting a new football competition – the inaugural Nick Blackman Friendship Tournament.
The event includes the Walter Tull Memorial Cup — a trophy playing in honour of former Spurs star Tull, who was one of the first black players to feature in top-level football in England. He is also believed to have been the first black officer in the British army.
In an interview with The Voice, Blackman, who scored 12 goals for Maccabi, commented: “It’s important for me to honour one of Barbados’s unknown heroes – Walter Tull, whose father, much like mine, was born on the island. When I heard his story, I felt totally inspired and I feel honoured to be able to help increase knowledge of his story.”
* Catford & Bromley Maccabi Association FC have confirmed they will not be renewing their membership in the MGBSFL next season.
Formed in 1964, chairman Lester Jacobs revealed the club will not be competing in any form of football either for next season or for the foreseeable future. “Fifty-four years is a pretty impressive period of time to keep together for a small Sunday football club,” explained Jacobs.
“But a constant struggle for players over the last few years has drained all energy from myself and Jeff Gotch, our most recent manager. Therefore, the time has finally come to call it a day once and for all.”
* Dudi Sela is expected to return to action at the Antalya Open in Turkey next week after deciding not to defend his title in Nottingham. No official reason has been given by Israel’s leading tennis star who has recently slipped from 101 to 128 in the world rankings.
It’s just as well his slump has come too late to effect his automatic qualification for Wimbledon.