Teams from across Europe will battle it out for silverware as the European Maccabi Football Trophy comes to London.
Starting a day after the World Cup commences, the biggest international European Jewish competition will bring together the top Jewish football and futsal sides from across Europe and will see matches held at Maccabi London Brady Sports Ground and SportHouse, Dagenham on June 13 and June 15.
CLICK HERE TO SEE SCHEDULES FOR FRIDAY AND SUNDAY
This will be only the second time Maccabi GB has hosted the prestigious two-day tournament, with Team Maccabi GB competing against Maccabi delegations including France, Germany, Holland and Gibraltar in Open and Masters categories. There will be an Open Women’s Futsal Tournament for the first time in the competition.
The Open Football Team, joint-managed by Robert Richman and Jonathan Green, will be looking to regain the trophy that the side last won in 2010. The squad is made up predominantly from the top five teams from the Maccabi GB Southern Football League Premier Division. They will compete against France, Germany and Team Maccabi GB Masters, managed by Dan Jacobs and Matt Kleinman.
Speaking about their squad and their side’s chances in the EMFT, Green said: "We believe that the group we've put together is a great blend of youth and experience and we've been very encouraged by the training sessions we've had so far.
"It is the closest there has been to a Rep Team in the last few years and we believe this group of players will represent the league credibly and successfully."
Richman commented: This is a great opportunity for the MGBSFL and its players to play at an international level and will hopefully lead to greater opportunities for these players at future international tournaments.
"We would encourage as many people as possible to come down to Rowley Lane and support the team in what is a rare international Jewish sporting event taking place in London."
The full squads are listed below:
Open Football Tournament
Maccabi France
Maccabi Germany
Team Maccabi GB Masters
Russell Brill
Danny Daggers
Tony Gold
Marc Greene
Frank Hyman
Adam Kaye
Matt Kleinman
Bradley Lee
Paul Lenchner
Alex Levack
Adam Myeroff
Loz Newman
Daryl Phillips
Aviel Schwarz
Mark Stewart
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Team Maccabi GB
Russ Corin (Hendon A)
Adam Hakimi (Redbridge Jewish Care A)
David Rhodes (Norstar London Raiders A)
Avi Korman (Hendon A)
Jake Rinsler (Brady Maccabi A)
Josh Morris (Norstar London Raiders A)
Jonathan Kay (Norstar London Raiders A)
Ben Sollosi (Redbridge Jewish Care A)
Ben Joseph (Brady Maccabi A)
Rocky Spitzer (Faithfold A)
Yoav Kestenbaum (Hendon A)
Ethan Zone (Norstar London Raiders A)
David Woolman (Oakwood A)
Jamie Wolfson (Norstar London Raiders A)
Josh Rose (Oakwood A)
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Due to their spectacular unbeaten season, many of Team Maccabi GB’s Open Futsal team has been hand-picked from Maccabi GB Futsal, who competes in the FA National Futsal League. There are some new faces, such as Jordan Kay, Sammy Horne and talented Loughborough University Futsal player, Russell Goldstein. They will be overseen by Maccabi GB Futsal Player/Manager Jon Kurrant.
The team will face-off against an experienced Masters side, managed by Maccabi GB stalwart, Adam Lustigman, as well as France, Holland and a mixed Germany/Gibraltar team:
Open Futsal Tournament
Maccabi France
Maccabi Holland
Maccabi Germany/Maccabi Gibraltar
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Team Maccabi GB
Jordan Davidson
Alex Olcot
Jordan Kay
Jon Kurrant
Scott Shulton
Sammy Horne
Dan Sugarman
Jamie Bernstein
Adam Bernstein
Russell Goldstein
Team Maccabi GB Masters
Phil Caplin
Adam Gishen
Dean Schulberg
Mark Wagman
Alex Norman
Saul Zaidman
Paul Shamplina
Daniel Reuben
Daniel Levy
Max Radford
Toby Lustigman
Ben Lewis
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For the first time in the competition’s history the EMFT will welcome an Open Women’s Futsal category, with the best female Futsal players from across Maccabi’s European Delegations facing-off against each other.
The format of the weekend will see group matches played on Friday morning and afternoon, before the EMFT’s official Opening Ceremony and Shabbat coming in. On Sunday the competition resumes with playoffs and finals followed by the trophy presentations and a BBQ.
Maccabi GB’s Joint Vice-Chairman Daniel Collins, spoke about the excitement that the EMFT brings to the Community. "It is not often that the UK’s Jewish Community has a major sports competition on its doorstep. We all know how big these sports are in this country and with the whole country gripped in ‘Football Fever’, thanks to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, what better way to immerse ourselves in Football and Futsal.
"I encourage everyone within the Community to come along to Maccabi London Brady Sports Ground and SportHouse to cheer on Team Maccabi GB’s Open and Masters teams and to welcome other Jewish athletes to the UK with open arms."
Football matches will be played at Maccabi London Brady Sports Ground, Rowley Lane, Arkley, Barnet, Herts, EN5 3HW.
Futsal matches will be played at SportHouse, Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2JR.
Full schedule
Friday, June 13, 2014
9am-5pm – Football matches played
12pm-4:30pm – Futsal matches played
6:30pm – Opening Ceremony
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Sunday 15th June, 2014
9am-1pm – Football matches played
9am-12pm – Futsal matches played
1pm – BBQ and Medal Ceremony at Maccabi London Brady
