Golden oldies looking to impress at Maccabiah Games

With their preparations almost complete, the pair reflected on their squad, which is made up of a number of talented and committed Jewish footballers that have yet to compete at a Maccabiah Games. They are coached by ex-professional footballers Steve Grenfell and Tibor Kukan.

Reuben said, “We have a great bunch of boys with immense ability and we are confident that every player can and will play a major part of our success in Israel.

“We look forward to having a great time both on and off the pitch – it will be a full and immersive Maccabiah experience for our guys, especially with some of them having their kids taking part in junior teams.”

These Games will be extra special for a number of the players, with some of their children competing in the respective GB Junior squads.

A former captain of Wingate & Finchley, Myers remarked: “We were determined to reach as many potential players as possible and leave no stone unturned in the selection process.

“Accordingly, we believe we have selected a balanced squad comprising of players that have never been to a Maccabiah alongside players that have been there and got the T shirt - one player still has kit from when he first appeared in the 1960s.”

Giving his thoughts on the aims for the squad, Reuben continued: “As anyone who has been will tell you, participating at a Maccabiah is a fantastic experience on many different levels.

“Andrew and I have endeavoured to create a professional and enjoyable environment for the squad both on and off the pitch throughout the build-up and our time in Israel.

“We have been very fortunate to have been part of special experiences at a number of Maccabiah Games and understand what it takes to have a successful and memorable time.”

SQUAD:

Michael Abraham

Gideon Barnett

Laurence Beck

Paul Buxton

Richard Buxton

Daniel Gordon

Peter Lazard

Bradley Lazarus

Bradley Lee

Kevin Lotzof

Max Radford