‘This is no crisis ... declining numbers are a sign of the times,' says Wolff

"This isn’t a crisis… it’s a sign of the times. It would be a crisis if we didn’t have enough teams to run one division."

This isn’t a crisis… it’s a sign of the times. It would be a crisis if we didn’t have enough teams to run one division.

Only two teams — Real Hendon and Scrabble — have joined the league, with the latter looking to restore former glories after a lengthy sabbatical. AC Mill Hill have merged with Faithfold, who have added another team.

Asked what factors he believes are contributing to the decline in numbers, Wolff replied: “The cost of playing in the league and the lure of the Premier League are not helping, while the Maccabi Masters League is another contributory factor. There also appears to be a lack of desire which is quite disconcerting, but I’m hopeful that some of the teams who have folded due to university commitments will return in the future.

The league peaked at 65 teams during the noughties, but numbers have dropped in recent years, much to chairman Wolff's frustration. He said: "The league have done everything correctly — we organise the fixtures, handbooks and referees. In fact teams get everything done for them."

Norstar London Raiders A’s Rob Richman suggested an alternative structure — with smaller leagues and four divisions — but clubs voted 26-19 against. Maccabi London Lions earned a reprieve after being relegated from the Premier Division last season, while Blizzard Storm and Camden Park accepted the league’s invitation to step up into the top-flight.

Wolff said: “We need to examine very carefully to see what can be done to revitalise the league and attract new players.
We’re here to serve the community but are very limited in what we can do. I won’t lose any sleep over it as we’re doing the best we can."

Wolff celebrated 50 years in the MGBSFL last year and he said: “I’m happy to continue doing what I do and am in favour of setting up a sub-committee to address the problems, but I’m not in the frame to be involved. There are lots of young people around with ideas, but introducing non-Jewish players is not and never will be on the agenda.”

Richman, who led NLR to the double last season, believes that young managers have a short life-span in the league due to the demands.

"I don’t think there are enough people who are happy to manage and organise teams,” he said. “You have to be very committed and very on the ball to do that. I think you find a lot of boys do it for a season and then don’t want the stress.”

Oakwood B manager Jason Stein fears the league is going to become “a monopoly of clubs with multiple sides and smaller teams will be pushed out of the market”.

His team profited from the league restructure after being promoted, but he explained why he voted for the format suggested by the league in favour of Richman's.

"As I said at the AGM, I didn't think the idea proposed by Rob Richman, of four divisions made up of 10, 8, 8 and 8, was a bad one. Just as I don't think two divisions of 12 is ideal either. However, I voted for two divisions of 12 for the reason that 14 league games is simply not enough. I have sympathy with trying to make 34 teams work, but three divisions seems the most fluid way to do it.

"But for me, the issue now turns to how can we avoid a situation where next year we're debating the idea of two divisions of 14 or 15 teams. It needs to be addressed soon.

"To do that I think there needs to be a thorough examination of how the issue of two teams from the same club playing in the same division can be accommodated, otherwise we're heading for trouble soon with divisions lacking competitiveness. I know there are FA issues there, but a case needs to be made.

Asked how the MGBSFL can increase its appeal to a new audience, he replied: "The league needs to become more integrated into the community. There are thousands of Jewish teenagers and men in London and we're clearing not tapping into that vast reserve. Why? I'm a big advocate of the league increasing it's charitable endeavours to grow its reputation in the community. I doubt many would take issue with that and it's a way of increasing our reach.

"I'd also welcome some sort of mechanism whereby new teams didn't have to pay to register for the first season. Additionally, the league could even subsidise the entry of new teams to a greater level to encourage new sides.

"Essentially, we need to look to remove as many barriers to entry as possible and cost is one of them. The league is fortunate to be in rude financial health and it needs to be looked at how that money can be distributed to grow the league. I think charity and building up goodwill as well as subsidies does just that. A greater social media reach wouldn't hurt either.

"It's very hard, when you're in the bubble of the league, to see what's going wrong because everyone involved is incredibly committed, borderline obsessed, but we need to step outside of that bubble in order to find the answers.

"Finally, there needs to be discussions between the league and the bigger sides - those who field 2-3 teams - about how to keep them involved and happy. Could you imagine if Raiders, Oakwood, Lions, Redbridge and Faithfold ceased their involvement? We're talking nearly a third of the teams alone from just five clubs. Rob, of Raiders, raised a proposal and it got 19 votes, that type of support can't be ignored.

"All sides of the debate, clubs, players and committee have the best interests of the league at heart, so it's time to come up with creative ways to stimulate involvement.

"Speaking personally, I think the league is a fantastic community institution and while, clearly, it shouldn't be compared to the charities etc, it has a special place in Jewish life in London."

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