The weeks march on and more fixtures get played. The league tables are taking shape and some of my predictions are going completely wrong. Nothing new about that!

I would like to re-iterate my remarks from the previous message to say how pleased I am with the quality of the matches that I have seen so far. We have a lot of skilful players in the league and they help to promote a good image for us. I do look forward to my weekly visits and thank you all for the warm welcome you always give to me.

We have had a 100 per cent coverage of referees and I do hope you stop to think how lucky you are to get this service. We are the envy of other leagues. So, those of you who argue and dissent with decisions, I would urge you to think again and remember the great effort that Martin Fox, our Referees’ Secretary, makes on your behalf.

Another word about our administrative set up. You can all see the fixtures online. This is the culmination of several years of work, with much trial and error, made for the league by Nigel Burns our fixtures secretary. I hope that you find this service useful together with the Player Registration systems that Adam Rynhold controls and can be found on the same website.

There is never any excuse for your own administration not to be first class.

One or two players have suffered serious injuries and I would like to wish Elliot Wallis of SPEC a speedy return to full fitness after a horrific leg break that resulted in the abandonment of his match. I would also like to mention the head injuries sustained by Sam Franks, Brixton Old Boys, and Benjy Aaron-Richardson, Athletic Bilbaum and I hope that they have had no repercussions from this. I was actually in attendance when these latter two injuries happened and on each occasion ambulances were called.

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have a sterile and fully equipped FIRST AID KIT available at each game and, what is as important, someone who knows how to use it. Every team should have at least one, if not more, fully competent people to administer first aid.

A couple of week-ends ago Maccabi GB sent a team for a trial match to gain a place in the National FUTSAL league and were accepted into the second division. FUTSAL is an up and coming game and we always participate in the Maccabiah and Maccabi European Games. The JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League are very happy to support this venture.

Now to mention West Ham. The match against Ipswich was a complete disaster. Notwithstanding the fact we lost in the last moments by one goal, the entire display was disgraceful and one of the worst I have ever seen from a West Ham team over nearly 60 years. But let me quickly add that their performance against what was a poor Blackpool team was a vast improvement and re-assuring that Sam Allardyce will eventually get it right and hopefully get us back into the Premiership sooner rather than later.

That’s all for now. See you all on the circuit.

David Wolff
Chairman
JCMaccabi (Southern) Football League