It’s refreshing to see that the number of Jewish boys in the Football League is on the rise.
There are two at Wycombe Wanderers in Joe Jacobson, 28, one of the first names on the teamsheet, and Ryan Sellars, 21, while Nick Blackman, 25, at Reading, whose has a Jewish mum and once played at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, is having a superb campaign.
And now Scott Kashket, 19, is making his mark at Leyton Orient. In manager Ian Hendon he has a perfect role model of a former professional to look up to, while Jack Payne, 23, is a former King Solomon High School pupil. He has also been setting the world alight over the past couple of seasons, having helped Southend to the playoffs last year. Long may it continue.
* What a coup London Lions have pulled off in signing Austin Lipman. Having learned from the best in Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal starlet has undoubted quality. It’s important the club make maximum use of him, both in matches and on the training ground, while he’s at Rowley Lane.
I’ve been told he fell out of love with the game after leaving the Emirates but it would be great if he could spend some time working with members of the club’s youth academy.
* Ray Abrahams admits Scrabble FC were left with little option but to forfeit their Peter Morrison Trophy tie against Heaton Park Rovers due to insufficient numbers.
The MGBSFL Division Two title hopefuls had booked a coach to Manchester before several players were forced to withdraw from the squad, with Abrahams citing work commitments, a wedding, a stone-setting and injuries.
Abrahams said: “The Peter Morrison is a competition which we totally support so we are gutted about the situation.”
* Former referee Jonathan Kaplan made a valid point that many appear to have overlooked when asked about Craig Joubert’s handling of the much-publicised Rugby World Cup quarter-final between Scotland and Australia.
Asked about the last-minute penalty award, Kaplan said: “Scotland had a chance to win possession, maul it and win the game. They didn’t. If Joubert’s decision was wrong, and some are entitled to think that, and he has made an error of judgment, then why nothing about the Scottish throw in?
"I know it doesn’t excuse a potential error by the officials, but let’s try to be even handed if we are going to
criticise."
* It looks as though Guy Luzon is on borrowed time at Charlton Athletic. Having stabilised the club last season, he is finding things tough this year and the 3-0 home defeat against Preston North End has done nothing for him in the popularity stakes.
The crowd at The Valley made their feelings clear throughout. There were chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ and the team were booed off at the final whistle.
* Israel is preparing for its first professional golf tournament after it was confirmed the Edmond de Rothschild Israel Masters would be hosted by Caesarea Golf Club. Laetitia Beck, Israel’s top female player, won’t be competing in an all-male event but she described it as “a huge boost for golf in Israel".