Austin Lipman admits his world could have come tumbling down when he was released by Arsenal, after spending 14 years with his boyhood club. But he insists he could not be happier now as his life has been transformed by Jewish football, and he is embracing his religion more than ever.
December 10, 2018 11:38
Now aged 23, Lipman was spotted by Arsenal scouts playing for Redbridge under-sixes on Fairlop Oak. He made such an impression that his parents were handed a card by club officials and he was invited for a trial. “Ever since that day I felt like an Arsenal player,” recalled Lipman.
He acknowledged football helped to shape him during his childhood. “It was a great time, when you can play a sport better than others,” he said. “Football was a hobby that I loved. It can help to make you popular at school and gives you positive feelings that you may not experience otherwise.”
One of Lipman’s first coaches at Arsenal was club legend Liam Brady. “He visited me in school and asked if I would be prepared to leave a year early,” recalled Lipman. “My parents and the school gave me the casting vote and I decided to stay on at Brentwood school, where I’d been admitted on a sports scholarship.”
A conscientious pupil, Lipman enjoyed his hectic weekday schedule, although at times combining football and his education became a juggling act. “Initially, school had been my main driver and football was my hobby but then my hobby turned into my lifestyle and it became all about the football. Playing for Arsenal youth affected my schooling quite heavily as I had to commit to training for two hours, three times a week.”
Lipman eventually left school aged 16 and turned full-time less than a year later, initially starting with a two-month scholarship before signing a three-year pro contract on his 17th birthday.
During this time, he also earned eight caps for England, playing in qualifiers and friendlies at U16 and U17 level.
But he acknowledges his commitment to football came at a cost. “I’d made many sacrifices and couldn’t do a lot of things my peers did,” said Lipman. “I moved out of home aged 16, which compromised my family life and put strains on every kind of relationship.
“I also shared a property with Alex Iwobi and we remain great friends. He’s worked hard and I’m very happy he’s made it into the Arsenal first team.”
Lipman, who describes Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp as his “idols” also worked with other former Arsenal stars, Steve Gatting and Steve Bould, and he met former boss Arsene Wenger, “but it was never more than that,” he said.
He described the atmosphere at Arsenal as “very relaxed and laid back. “But to make it at the highest level you have to be individually driven, so I trained as hard as I possibly could.”
Lipman went on to represent Arsenal in Uefa U19 Youth League – visiting Emirates, Stamford Bridge, St James’s Park, Olympiacos and Athletic Bilbao. However, his dreams of making it in the Premier League were quashed when he left Arsenal just before his 20th birthday. He nodded intently and said: “I knew my time had come to an end and it was a very matter of fact conversation with Steve Gatting.” Asked if he would have done anything differently if he could turn back the clock, he replied: “No. I was happy to leave the club as I knew there was no longer a path for me at Arsenal.
“It’s an amazing lifestyle if you can make it work, but it’s never as rosy as people think.” Lipman admits he “experienced a lot of ups and downs” and said: “It’s how you deal with the setbacks that make you a better person.”
With his career at a crossroads, Lipman did not know where to turn. “I started fishing around for clubs and spoke to more than ten coaches in a short time-frame, but it didn’t work out. Then it became clear it was no longer financially viable. I had to decide whether to stay in the game in some capacity, so I met several coaches, including Steve Grenfell,” who worked with several Maccabi League football teams. “At that moment it dawned on me that I had never realised my Jewish connections,” said Lipman.
Things have moved swiftly for him since, on both a work and football front. Grenfell invited Lipman to train at London Lions, and he has never looked back. “The boys welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “The set-up at Rowley Lane is first-class and I immediately felt part of the football family at Lions. It’s a wonderful platform for Jewish boys to express themselves.”
It was there he met Jon Ellis and Max Kyte. “They introduced me to the world of property development,” said Lipman. “Jon and Max trained me their way and it seems to have worked well. Lions have changed my life. It also made me love football again as I had fallen out of love with it.”
His surroundings at Rowley Lane have resulted in a busy social life too, mixing in Jewish circles. “It’s never been better,” said Lipman, “and I’ve made unbelievable friends thanks to Maccabi London.”
He became an instant hit at Lions and was selected to represent Maccabi Great Britain at the Maccabiah Games in Israel last year. “That was an incredible experience that words really cannot describe,” he said.
“The Maccabiah brings our religion together. The standard of football was very high and it was great to win silver.”
But, for Lipman, the Jewish Olympics was more than just sport. “I met my girlfriend there and the event completely changed my outlook on life.” Love was certainly in the air in Israel — Lipman’s mum also met her boyfriend — the father of MGB and Lions team-mate Adam Burchell.
“Before the Maccabiah, my barmitzvah was just about the only Jewish experience I encountered growing up. But now I enjoy Friday nights with my family and it’s brought me closer to my religion.
“People don’t quite understand how Maccabi London can change the lives of Jewish youngsters. It’s made me reflect on how these experiences can change lives without exerting oneself, but by just being there.
My grandparents couldn’t be prouder now, seeing me maintain a Jewish lifestyle. They are prouder of this than watching me play for Arsenal and England.”
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