Ahead of the big kick-off in the MJSL, Danny Caro speaks to managers from all 10 teams to find out where the league will be won and lost.
AFC FLIXTON RESERVES
Josh Goldstone believes his side will be hard-pressed to repeat the heroics of the club’s first team, Flixton FC, who have stepped up into the Accountants League.
"We’ve got a big squad and everything looks encouraging," he said. "Everyone will want to take a chunk out of us, but there are very few people around from last season. In theory we’ll be the team to beat, but in reality we won’t. I’m not making any predictions for the title, but I think it’ll be one of the closest run leagues in years."
Myers returns to the club following what Goldstone describes as "a self-imposed exile," while centre back Simon Kaye has also rejoined.
MACCABI MANCHESTER 2ND
Having won the Darren Rose Memorial Trophy with a penalties win over an MJSL Select XI last weekend, Maccabi Manchester 2nd are confident of mounting a sustained title challenge.
Alex Lee, Jake Kelly and Jordan Kaye were the star performers, according to co-manager Irving Modlin, in a game where successful spot-kicks from Michael Greene, Harry Myers, Rafi Lewis, Ben Shalom and Lee saw them home.
Summer signings include James Maggid, Daniel Seaman Harris, Richard Buxton and Max Lee, with captain Nick Yardley confident the new additions can hit the ground running.
"It will be close this year, with all teams capable of winning the league," said Modlin, who leads the team alongside Sheldon Lee. "Jake Kelly, Dan Margolis and Dan Rubinstein have vital roles."
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB 2ND
Mark Collins is relishing pitting his wits against the MJSL’s finest in his first season as manager of South Manchester Sports Club 2nd.
He said: "We have quite a large group of players and I want us to be a lot more competitive as we haven’t challenged for the past few years."
FC Cosmos boss Paul Levy believes his players are capable of "surprising one or two people". He predicts big things from keeper Reece Levy, midfielder Rafi Newman and Alex Glassman.
HAROLDEANS
The Merseysiders are dark horses for the title, but manager Fraser Saville was keen to play down their chances. "I’ll be happy if we finish third again as we’ve lost quite a few players. There’s not a lot of senior players left at the club and we’ll be made up by a core of youngsters," he said.
Saville will be looking to the likes of Adam Shiffman and Jordan Brookes to dominate matches. Haroldeans start their campaign with a tough match against Maccabi Manchester 2nd on September 8.
HEATON PARK ROVERS
The new boys, managed David Seligman and Jordan Warents, believe they have what it takes to win silverware.
"We want to win the league and it would be nice to do something in the National Cup," said Seligman.
Richard Myers and captain Jack Roache will look to catch the eye, while in Harry Roache, Seligman believes his team has "technically the best player in the league".
And if the players needed an incentive, Seligman added: "Our sponsors have promised to take us away if we win the title."
LEEDS MACCABI 2ND
The team is hoping to build on a fourth place finish last season. Manager Marshall Frieze has been fine-tuning his plans for the season, working closely with assistants Daniel Kristall and Alex Ullman.
"We’re looking to start where we left off," said Kristall. "We have some good kids coming through but we know we’ll have to pick up points against the likes of Maccabi Manchester and Haroldeans to judge how far we’ve come."
Much depends on the form of hotshot Jonny Goldstone, who registered 20 goals last season, defender Gideon Maar and midfielder Dov Gilbert.
MACCABI MANCHESTER 3RD
Anthony Gellman and Richard Hamburger lead Maccabi Manchester 3rd into the new season in confident mood. Several members of the squad won medals at the recently concluded Maccabiah Games and Hamburger believes the winning mentality can rub off on the team.
Midfield general Josh Gellman captains the team that Hamburger describes as "highly technical, with lots of pace".
Hamburger said: "I’ll be delighted if we can finish halfway as it’s the first time many of the boys have played in men’s football. I think this season will be a bedding-in process.
OAKHILL LIONS
"We're aiming to compete on all fronts," Oakhill manager Josh Daniels told JC Sport. "We feel the league isn’t as strong as it has been for the last couple of years and I’ll have the team fired up to win the title.
"We have a lot of exciting talent fresh out of school and ready to burst on to the scene competing in northern men’s football, It’s a whole different game to what is played in London."
REICH INSURANCE RANGERS
Avrom Klyne hopes new signings Paul Delmonte, Daniel Mednick, Joseph Mann, Ben Blackstone, Joey Cohen, Simon Rabinowitz, Doniel Lachs and Avi Kashmir will help them win more than they lose. Gav Bollel captains the team.
