Tributes have been flooding in for David Wolff who celebrated 50 years of dedicated service as chairman of the MGBSFL on Monday night.
Wolff, a West Ham season ticket holder who was born around the corner from Upton Park, knew nothing about the surprise celebration dinner, hosted by Redbridge Jewish Care at Redbridge JCC.
The league chief received a series of accolades from organisations including the London FA, Wingate & Finchley, Maccabi GB, the Maccabi Masters Football League and the MGBSFL.
A number of past and present players and managers attended the evening, as well as former Team Maccabi GB and Hendon United manager Lord Kestenbaum who described Mr Wolff as "unique".
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"Well done David - what you have done over the years is nothing short of amazing. You should be very proud to know that your efforts have given so much to the community. The world needs more Wolffys in it!" Paul Lenchner
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"Many congratulations David you deserve all the plaudits great servant to Jewish football." Alan Lee
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"Congratulations David - amazing what you have done for Jewish football. Keep up the good work." Elliot
Bloom
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"Congratulations David - we are all proud of you. East London legend." Marc Silver
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"The Wolff of West Ham. What David does for the MGBSFL is fantastic. 50 AGMs is some achievement!" London Lions Blue
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"Well done, Dave, what an amazing achievement - without you none if this would be possible!
"Congratulations again, you are a legend." Bergy and all the Redbridge boys!
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"FC Team would like to congratulate David for 50 years involvement in the MSFL. David has been a real pillar of support for the club and has helped us progress over the years, providing constant support. He does not get enough credit. Having to deal with hundreds of moaning managers and players every week cannot be easy and he deserves a lot of credit for keeping the league thriving. I would like to publicly thank David for his excellence contribution to Jewish Sport and everyone at FC Team values and appreciates what he has and still is doing" Mitch Young
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"Congratulations to David for what really is a phenomenal achievement. For 50 years, David has worked tirelessly and voluntarily to make sure the Jewish community has a well run league for people to take part in. He is an example to each and everyone of us and I am really pleased his efforts were rewarded with the dinner last night. I know David will have greatly enjoyed the dinner and it was somewhat fitting that West Ham also marked the occasion with a win!" Rob Richman (NL Raiders)
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"Congratulations David! Fifty years service is an incredible achievement and your passion and enthusiasm for the job today is certainly there for everyone to see. You should be proud knowing that you provide a platform for hundreds of people to play football every week. The face of Jewish football!" Jonathan Cohen (Temple Fortune)
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"Congratulations David - this is a real achievement and a massive thanks for all the work you have put in that makes this league what it is today. Well done!" Simon Linden (Blizzard Storm)
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"We just chuck out the number 50 years without truly appreciating how remarkable a time that is. One man has given so much for so long and for anyone who has ever played, watched or managed on a Sunday morning, we should all be indebted to David for ensuring such continuity and good times. I reiterate the words of Lord Kestenbaum - 'this man is unique - a true one-of-a-kind - may you continue to go from strength to strength' - here's to the next 50!" David Garbacz (Hendon USC)
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"When I started playing in the Maccabi League, David Wolff was chairman. Forty years later, I’m managing a team, serving on the management committee and he is still Chairman!
"As JK said, ‘TOTALLY UNIQUE’ - a legend in the Jewish football fraternity, Maccabi GB and most probably an unrepeatable feat in this day and age.
"Well done David, dedication above and beyond the call of duty." Rob Shooman (Faithfold & MGBSFL Management Committee
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"Amazing dedication and commitment for 50 years service. David, you are the MSFL. Long may it continue Mr. Chairman!" Richard Slater & on behalf of everyone at Chigwell Athletic FC)
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"Congratulations David, an unbelievable achievement and to still show the desire and passion is remarkable. The league would not be where it is today without your hard work." Darren Yarlett (Takeley FC)
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"On behalf of everyone who have been involved with the original Brady Club and the current Brady Maccabi, I want congratulate David on his 50 years with the MSFL; he is a legend and everyone who has played in the league over the years owes him a great gratitude for keeping the league vibrant. Long may he continue... Joel Nathan (Brady Maccabi)
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"As one of the League's longest-serving teams, it was a real privilege to represent Temple Fortune FC at such a prestigious occasion, one fully merited for David's outstanding commitment to the League – and more importantly Jewish football as a whole – over such a lengthy period of time. The heartfelt accolades David received were fantastic and I think he will need a new cabinet just to fit in all of his well-deserved awards!
Congratulations, David: forever a supremo of Maccabi football. Nigel Kyte
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"On behalf of everyone at Redbridge JC, I would like to add my congratulations on this fantastic achievement. We will never see anyone surpass or even equal what David has done - last night was a fitting tribute to those achievements." Jon Jacobs (Redbridge JC)
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"Congratulations on 50 years to the fantastic Mr Wolff! A remarkable achievement - the MSFL family has played a part in so many people's lives... David has time for anyone and really deserves all the praise for such a great job over the years. Adam Hakimi (Redbridge JC)
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"All at L'Equipe would like to wish David a huge mazel tov on celebrating this milestone. I know that all the managers and secretaries of L'Equipe over the years have thoroughly enjoyed working with him and it is great seeing him around the grounds of the lower leagues. On a personal note, being another West Ham fan, it's great having David to have a bit of a natter to before the games kick off. Here's to another 50 years and congratulations from everyone at L'Equipe." Dan Cordell (L'Equipe)
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"Congratulations David from everyone from Catford and Bromley Maccabi. Thank you for all of the hard work you've put in over the years. As the league's oldest extant club, it's an honour to share our 50th anniversary with your own personal half century." Adam Luria (Catford & Bromley Maccabi)
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"I believe that I am now the longest-serving referee on the MSFL panel, together with my colleague Nigel Kyte. That is over 33 years of service, maybe even more. I was also the referees secretary for seven years and it was then that I saw first-hand the work that David does and continues to do so.
"Until you work with him you have no idea the amount of time and effort he puts in. This wonderful league that we are all privileged to be associated with owes David a lifetime of gratitude.
"We have all played our part, but he is a unique person in what he has done. My good friend, Lord Kestenbaum, used one word at Monday's dinner - unique - and that is what he is.
"David, we have been friends and colleagues for over 30 years and I personally salute you and thank you for what you have done for the MSFL." Martin Lavender (Referee)
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"Whether you’re a team at the top or at the bottom of the MSFL, you can guarantee that David will make an effort to get to know every single person involved. His dedication to the cause knows no bounds and to reach 50 years is a truly incredible achievement. Congratulations David!" David Gordon (FC Team B)
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"Fifty years is incredible. You rarely hear of anyone committing to something for 50 minutes these days - let alone 50 years. It's an old-school mentality of dedication and commitment - it's a lesson for us all to learn. My congratulations on behalf of everyone associated with Oakwood (now and past) go to David for reaching this amazing milestone. All the tributes he's received are well deserved. He's a fixture of Maccabi football and his work in the community on our behalf is always appreciated." Ric Blank, Oakwood
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"Congratulations David on this remarkable milestone, and a sincere thank you for all you do for Jewish football - I have no idea whether the MSFL would even still be active had it not been for all your tremendous efforts." Adam Glekin (Hendon C)
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"Thank you from all at Faithfold FC for all your efforts and work over the last 25 years while we have been involved in the MGBSFL.
"Congrats on the 50-year achievement - the league would not be where it is today without you.
"Woolfie you are legend!" Daryl Phillips and all at Faithfold FC
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"David, I first was associated with the MSFL 40-odd years ago when you were vice-chairman of the MSFL. Our friendship grew very quickly, both from a footballing point of view and also because we were both working in the same profession.
"I was both a player and secretary of Roundabout Football Club and you became very close to us - to myself, the club and all the players. I was very fortunate to be asked to become secretary of the MSFL under your guidance and I thoroughly enjoyed working with you closely until my work commitments forced me to stand down.
"I was able to see first-hand how much Maccabi football meant to you and the immense time you put into ensuring that the MSFL became the success story not only in those days, but much more so now. Your involvement with all the teams and their players over the years has to be seen to be believed and you have become a hands-on chairman where your fantastic enthusiasm has earned you the right to be called 'Mr Maccabi'.
"I cannot contemplate that anyone else could give as much time as you have all these years to the Maccabi cause - you are to be applauded for everything you have done to promote Jewish football.
"In more recent years, I thank you for your support to me as a referee and your continued friendship.
"I wish you the best of health for the future and may you continue as the league chairman for the foreseeable future and see the MSFL prosper further still under your leadership." Laurie Benson (Referee)
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"Congratulations David. Here's to another 50 years. With your jinx work continuing at SPEC, if you could refrain from coming to any of our games, that would be great!" Ricky Lawrence and all at SPEC
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"Congratulations David, what a magnificent achievement as chairman of the MSFL for 50 years. As a newly qualified referee almost 30 years ago, it was David who persuaded me to join the league's panel of referees. I can only admire the tremendous effort and time that you spend on behalf of league, and hope that you continue for many years to come." Stuart Ansher, Referee)
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"As manager of London Haroldeans, one of the league's newer clubs, I have only come to know David over the past year or so. In that time, David has been a huge support to me personally and to the club throughout our first season in the MGBSFL. He was very encouraging when I initially mentioned the idea of forming the team and his dedication to football and the community at large is impossible to understate. We are fortunate to have David Wolff behind our league ... it is difficult enough to run one team, let alone coordinate four divisions of them!
Thank you David and congratulations on 50 years with the league! We wish you many more years of good health and communal involvement. All the best, Jonathan Abrams and London Haroldeans
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"What's the time Mr.Wolff?
Looks like 50 years.
David is a real legend of Jewish football.
No-one will ever be able to step into his shoes/boots.
It's been my pleasure to have played and managed under his chairmanship.
All the very best for another 50 years." Eilon Kennet
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"As a family member, I have known David all his life and I can vouch for his worth as a human being. He is a caring brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend - a true credit to his late parents." Marlene, his cousin, in Edgware)
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"Southgate Harmen FC would like to congratulate you, David, on reaching a milestone which will probably never be repeated. Your dedication to not only the MGBSFL but to London football generally, cannot be under estimated. The number of people who attended last night’s function and the words spoken, shows the considerable esteem you are held in." Stuart Cohen (Chairman SHFC, Vice-Chairman MGBSFL)
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"Congratulations on 50 years. This league wouldn't be where it is if it wasn't for you. Here's to another 50." From everyone at Woodford Wanderers FC
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Add your tribute to David Wolff by emailing dcaro@thejc.com
