Redbridge Jewish Care's MSFL title success has been a long time coming. They are worthy winners in my eyes and the stats speak for themselves.
They have won the most games, lost the least, scored the most goals (53) and conceded the fewest (16).
Victory is just reward for the club's founders, Mickey Brown, Mickey Tabor and Lee Silver. They started the club that was first known as Barkingside Youth Jewish FC, an Under 14 team, which has gone on to work its way up the ladder and through the divisions of the Maccabi League.
I played for them in season 2000/01, when they were known as Barkingside Athletic, and am surprised it has taken them so long to win it. They have always had a strong group of players, with strong connections to Wingate & Finchley's Russell Brill, Jon Bolle, Jason Roukin and Neil Burke, to name just four.
Redbridge have come on in leaps and bounds over the years and now have strength in depth and quality from back to front. The current batch are top-notch with keeper Dan Lee keeping five clean sheets and Daran Bern scoring 14 goals in what has been a real team effort. They are also a top bunch of lads.
Southgate Harmen boss Dan Uzan hit the nail on the head in his description. "They had pace, aggression and character throughout the team. The pace they have up front is a constant threat and they have boys in their team who believe they can win every game."
● Israeli junior Daniel Poleshchuk's climb up the squash ladder has been recognised by mega-agent Pini Zahavi. He part-owns Israeli sports media group Charlton who have signed a one-year contract with TV Sports Media to televise squash competitions starting with the Canary Wharf Super Series. In their newsletter, TV Sports Media takes great pains to point out that next year they hope to obtain a greater fee from Charlton, following the progress and, hopefully success, of Poleshchuk.
● The Maccabi Masters Football League will be undertaking their seventh Israel tour between October 25 and November 1. This year's trip features 16 players in a delegation of 25.
The team of over 45s will play a several matches against local opposition and will visit places of cultural, sporting and political interest.
League chairman Stuart Lustigman said: "We will dedicate our tour to the memory of the recently murdered members of the Fogel family and in support of the surviving children. As always we demonstrate our solidarity with Israel through football."
● There are three big games on Sunday when North London Raiders B look to wrap up the JC MSFL Division One title. The go head-to-head with title rivals Brady Maccabi at the Hive.
Meanwhile, I'll be taking my North London Raiders A team up to Manchester for the semi-finals of the Peter Morrison Trophy. Manchester Maccabi's Community and Sports Centre at Brooklands will also be the focus of the potential MJSL title decider where Republic of Mancunia hope to seal the title against Maccabi 3rds. Later in the day, Manchester, South Manchester Sports Club and Leeds Maccabi will contest the inaugural MJSL Veterans Championship Trophy.
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