ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
It was approaching 11pm as we trickled out of Rowley Lane. After a roller-coaster of a season, it was fitting that London Maccabi Vale’s AGM was a little rocky. But in the end, there was a general feeling of satisfaction that the right decisions had been made and the right people were in place to take the club forward.
You had to feel for Adam Brand who was itching to get to bed a couple of days after his daughter’s batmitzvah, as well as Russell Corin who had his son’s bris the following morning.
The three stooges in the corner came through the test of time with flying colours, with messus Hooker, Okin and Sylvester making some salient points.
Tiredness has been a hot topic in recent weeks. Terry Hyman is no Raheem Sterling, but he deserves a break after a good shift as chairman. And all the signs point towards exciting times under new chief Simon Barnett.
* The second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup has thrown up some mouth-watering ties. The one between arch rivals Norstar London Raiders A and FC Team B is the pick of the bunch for me. Both teams are at the top of their respective divisions and have enjoyed some almighty battles over the years.
Team ended their 3G hoodoo against NLR B last weekend, and manager Mitch Young is excited about the challenge.
He said: "There is no tougher game in Jewish football at the moment than Raiders A away, but what an opportunity to test ourselves.
"All the pressure is on Raiders — it would be embarrassing for them to go out of the cup against lower league opposition.
"Having lost in the final last year, they will be doing all they can to reach it this year, so we will hoping to take advantage of the pressure they are under.”
However, with David Dinkin, JJ Spiro, Matt Stock and Jordan Marks named in the NLR squad, it will take something really special to stop the boys in orange.
* Anyone looking to break into sports journalism should pop down to Lord’s Cricket Ground for the London Sports Writing Festival over the next couple of days. The literary event, which closes on Sunday, features guest speakers including Roy Keane, Roddy Doyle, Sol Campbell, Gareth Thomas, Nicole Cooke and Sir Trevor Brooking.
The sessions focusing on Liverpool FC and penalties are right up my street, but it’s not all football. There’s also a couple of master-classes on sports writing and photography. For further details, go to www.londonsportswritingfestival.com.