For older Lions it’s a matter of pride

Maccabi London Lions Vets run two teams for 35+ players, and have currently assembled 40 footballers, who are divided into two squads every week.

Dan Jacobs has managed the ‘A’ side for the past ten years and while the players may be getting older, the passion once the whistle goes shows no signs of abating.

Competing in a newly formed, but ‘extremely competitive league’, which combines the winners and runners-up of 4 Vets leagues from last season, Jacobs says: “It means every game is hard-fought and competitive and is why we get up on a Sunday morning.”

Part of the Maccabi London FC stable of 67 teams, which starts at U7 age and goes all the way to over 35, the Rowley Lane set-up definitely has a air of a family environment around it. Jacobs says: “A good number of our footballers played together at open age level for Lions and have ‘graduated’ through to the Vets section. But we are effectively now a rep team for the community, looking to attract the best of those guys, once they turn 35, who still have not just a passion for what the game gives them on the pitch, but for what it gives us off it. I’ve been running this for over 10 years and our ‘family’ is now 100 strong – even those who no longer play are still a huge part of who we are.”

Currently sitting in fourth place in the top Division of the Barnet Sunday Football Leage Veterans East division, Jacobs says: “We clearly always want to win when we’re playing, but it’s about so much more than that. We’d far rather a great game than a thumping win. Most of us have to make real sacrifices to play, so the team and the challenge is far more important to us than the result.”

As to the standard of football on offer, he continues: “Oh, it’s competitive. Most teams have one or more ex-pro players and several who played a good level. But our fitness allows us to compete and challenge ourselves against guys that really know how to play the game. There’s always the odd team that take it too seriously, but most just love the game, it’s play to win on the pitch and then enjoy a post-match pizza and pint. There’s huge respect (and plenty of banter) between most of the teams.”

While their games are played against players of a similar age, there is one exception – when they dip their toes back into the MGBSFL and compete in the Peter Morrison Trophy. Their next match in that tournament is this coming Sunday morning when they take on Division One title favourites Yallatasary. “The competition is just a bit of fun for us and gets us an extra game or two each year”, Jacobs says. “It’s no ‘test’ for us – the kids clearly have a huge advantage so it’s just another game to enjoy and an opportunity to give something back to Jewish football that has given us all so much over the years.”

While their hopes of lifting the Peter Morrison Trophy are still alive, they will hope for a favourable result or face exiting two cups in the space of two weeks. Sunday morning saw them knocked out of the County Cup in what Jacobs described was in the ‘cruellest of fashion’. Up against Hayes United, they trailed three times only for a Dean Nyman double and Greg Corin strike to draw them level on each occasion. Hitting the woodwork twice in the last ten minutes, the game finished 3-3 and went to penalties, which saw the visitors prevail after David Soutar blazed his effort over, the previous nine spot kicks all being converted.

However, while disappointing on the day, Jacobs is acutely aware of how what the team does isn’t just reflected on the pitch. “We feel we’re representing the Jewish community when we put on the shirt and it elicits a sense of pride and responsibility”, he says. “It’s why we aim to be the most hospitable of hosts and politest of guests. Thankfully we’ve earned a reputation and level of respect that we are immensely proud of.”