By, Darren Witcoop
3 min read
ByDarren Witcoop, Darren Witcoop
Oakhill Lions restored former glories by winning the MJSL Joan Collins Premier Division title, while South Manchester Sports 2nd were the kings in the cup competitions.
MJSL — HOW THEY FARED
OAKHILL LIONS
Position: Champions
Season: Oakhill were transformed from mid-table mediocrity to title winners. Quality signings boosted their bid as the students taught their rivals a lesson by storming to the championship by a seven-point margin
Future prospects: Expect Oakhill to challenge provided they find a leader to step into Daniel Rabinowitz’s big shoes as boss
JC Player of the Year: Moses Seitler
LEEDS MACCABI
Position: Runners-up
Season review: Leeds have been the team to beat in recent seasons but they didn’t have it their own way. They were knocked off their perch despite conceding a paltry 12 goals
Future prospects: Will want to wrestle their title back and don’t count against Jamie Warner’s men making amends next term
JC Player of the Year: Rob Selwyn
MACCABI MANCHESTER YELLOW
Position: Third
Season review: Set the pace at the start of the season before slipping away. But can still be proud of their third-place finish
Future prospects: Need to shore up their defence so player recruitment will be vital for Anton Radiven to maintain their challenge
JC Player of the Year: Roy Fux
HAROLDEANS
Position: Fourth
Review: Another decent season despite weekly battles to field teams. Always prove a tough nut to crack
Future prospects: With fresh blood emerging through the ranks next season, the Merseysiders will look to mount another challenge next season
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS 2nd
Position: Fifth
Review: Marc Magid would have snapped your hand off if offered two cup triumphs and a mid-table finish
Prospects: The cup kings would love to transform their heroics to the league. Could emerge as dark horses
JC Player of the Year: Felix Shalom
MACCABI MANCHESTER BLUE
Position: Sixth
Review: Climbed the table following a slow start and ended by lifting the Shonn Trophy. The mix of veterans and youngsters saw Andy Hatton and Charlie Simpson finish as the stand-out men respectively
Prospects: Jonny Rose will stay in charge for another season and will look to take the momentum on from the end of season into next term
JC Player of the Year: Charlie Simpson
REICH INSURANCE RANGERS
Position: Seventh
Review: Just four league wins didn’t do Reich justice. Took their eye off the ball in the league to concentrate on the cups — only to suffer heartbreak in the Shonn Trophy and the Harold Feldman Trophy finals
Prospects: The perennial strugglers have made a habit of improving as the season goes on. Now they need to hit the ground running from the off
JC Player of the Year: Michael Gastwirth
HEATON PARK ROVERS
Position: Eighth
Review: A nightmare season for HPR after going from runners-up to second bottom in the MJSL. An early season points deduction didn’t help as they paid the price for a player shortage
Prospects: Player-manager David Seligman was left frustrated as he struggled to field teams. But with MJSL top-scorer Jonny Franks in their ranks, they stand a good chance of turning the league table upside down next season
JC Player of the Year: Jonny Franks
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS 3RD
Position: Ninth
Review: Finished bottom of the pile and conceded on average almost four goals a game. Will need to regroup in a bid to avoid a repeat
Prospects: Boast quality in the attacking third with the likes of Max Herman and Mike Herz. So shutting up shop at the other end holds the key
JC Player of the Year: Mike Herz
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JC MJSL TEAM OF THE YEAR
GOALKEEPER
Adam Cross (Haroldeans)
DEFENCE
Avi Libbert (Oakhill Lions)
Harry Landey (Leeds Maccabi)
Andrew Hatton (Manchester Maccabi Blue)
MIDFIELD
Ben Mandell (Oakhill Lions)
Sammy Dennison (Maccabi Manchester Blue)
Moses Seitler (Oakhill Lions)
Nathan Ezair (South Manchester Sports 2nd)
ATTACK
Jonny Franks (Heaton Park Rovers)
Osher Landes (Oakhill Lions)
Charlie Simpson (Maccabi Manchester Blue)
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2015-16 HONOURS BOARD
MJSL Champions: Oakhill Lions
Harold Feldman Trophy: South Manchester Sports 2nd
Shonn Trophy: Maccabi Manchester Blue
Tony Cohen Cup: South Manchester Sports 2nd
Senior Player of the Year: Moses Seitler (Oakhill Lions)
Young Player of the Year: Charlie Simpson (Maccabi Manchester Blue)
Top-scorer: Jonathan Franks - 23 (Heaton Park Rovers)
Sportsmanship and Respect Trophy: Reich Insurance Rangers
Respect Manager of the Year: Jonny Rose (Maccabi Manchester Blue)
Referee of the Year: Benham Sarani
