North London Raiders won the inaugural David Wolff Trophy after winning a nail-biting final against Temple Fortune.
Nearly 200 players representing 16 teams competed in the eight-a-side tournament - a curtain-raiser for the 2019/20 MGBSFL season.
Fortune were one of the surprise packages on the day, and they were within seconds of securing the crown until Raiders broke their hearts in the dying seconds.
SPEC won the Plate tournament after edging out Maccabi Lions FC.
Competition organiser Dan Kristall said: “It is something we have been wanting to do for a couple of years. The idea behind the tournament is that we want to start the season by getting as many teams in one place possible.
“We used a handicap system in the attempt to level up the tournament and give all teams a chance of winning. In our minds this worked because we had a final between two outsiders in Raiders/Temple Fortune.
“Of course this made it much tougher for the Premier Division sides but we felt that this would add the competitive edge to the tournament and Raiders overcoming a 1.5 goal deficit in the final, proved the point that although difficult, overturning the deficit was not impossible.”
Brook Farm Rovers, Camden Park, Fairlop, Faithfold, Hendon United Sports, Jewdinese, Maccabi London FC Blue, Maccabi London FC Red, Maccabi London FC Masters, Oakwood and Scrabble also participated.
Kristall went on to say: “The top two teams qualified for the trophy and bottom two qualified for the plate competition.
“The handicap system will be reviewed for next year’s competition but we are looking forward to building on this success and hope to have even more teams involved next year.”
MGBSFL vice-chairman Phil Peters said: “The tournament also presented us with an opportunity to honour David Wolff, who is entering his 50th season as league chairman and what better way to do it than by bringing together so many people on whom he has made a direct impact. The reverence in which he is held was clear for all to see.”
Player of the tournament: Jordan Nathan of Raiders
Tournament winners: North London Raiders
Plate Winners: SPEC
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