Here's to the next 60 years !

This MJSL history has been edited by myself but most of the original words are taken from the 40th anniversary dinner brochure with the words of the then President of the MJSL along with our own Hon Life Vice President Tony Sheldon ........

Roll back the years and enjoy !!

The rumbustious history of the MJSL takes on another chapter with the inception of the website. In its 60 years of life the League has progressed from those small beginnings with a handful of clubs to where it is today, having survived through some recent difficult times and no doubt the 63nd season will be yet another to savour.

Many players and managers have come and gone, great nostalgic club names have been laid to rest, families and friends have been split over Sunday "afternoon" or these days "morning" battles, but the underlying ethos of the MJSL has still been preserved as football is still provided at all levels for the community at large.

The Founders of 1948

So in 1948 a handful of young visionaries with a love of football charted the inauguration of the MJSL but I think we can be certain they did not forsee that their brainchild would reach such maturity. The early pioneers were Maurice Halpern, Harry Ross, Herbert Elliott, Len Gould, Harry Sherman, Matt Brennan, Stan Feldman and Tony Sheldon. Brian Myer followed in the late 60s and is I think serving his 5th term as Chairman - Brian being Brian keeps getting his hands dirty and now in his retirement finds all the time in the world to schedule our fixtures. Brian brought in namesake Brian Franks shortly after.

Tony himself was Chairman over a 9 year period still is active on the current committee (now in his 53rd year !!), Dave Adams was a year behind Brian whilst Stan's family have sponsored the MJSL's biggest trophy for 13 years now. Maurice emigrated to Oz in the mid 80s whilst Shimon Halpern journeyed cross the Atlantic. He was the king of raffle sales and understood that for the league to survive must be self funding. Tony recalls the day he stood up at an Exec meeting to shout "through the chair" and promptly went through his own chair !

The Exec in the Modern Era

One of the more tragic incidents was of course the loss of Secretary Joan Collins in 1981 who was in her role for a dozen years. The MJSL could not have asked for a finer servant with an amazing dedication to the cause. Her son Neil continues to sponsor the Joan Collins Premier Division and we will be forever thankful for all their support. Eric Cohen and Johnny Davis chaired through the later years along with the secretarial input for over 10 years of Ivan Gee as the sport went through a rollercoaster with popularity at its highest compared to the lows of scraping one division together.

In the mid 90s new blood began to appear in the ranks, firstly Gary Louis who knew everything there was to know about fixtures, pitches and the like, now Vice Chairman and a season later - for my troubles I was co opted and soon took on Registrations then 8 years ago was talked into taking on secretarial duties by Brian - a truly thankless task let me tell you ! 15 years on and i used to have a full head of hair, but there again Stan's brother Mel and stalwart of the refereeing profession has been cutting it for the last 25 years :).

Merseyside has always provided its teams in the form of Haroldeans as well as an Exec member periodically, currently Fraser Saville still travels for many a long meeting in Manchester.

I have tried with the committee's backing to take the MJSL into the millenium with forward thinking, the advent of the internet and email meant communication channels have improved - although as its easier to send an email than post a letter, sometimes i wonder ! This website has been key in raising the profile of the league with local press and players alike contributing the mammoth number of hits we experience.

On the field, we revived the old 7 a side competition, started an annual Veterans Challenge Trophy, brought in a pre-season Charity Shield and our Cup Finals have traditionally been at prestigious locations. Man Utd's Training Ground at The Cliff, Oldham AFC, Altrincham FC, Salford FC and Stalybridge Celtic have all staged finals.

Sam Bernstein took over the mantle for the men in black 3 seasons ago and has been a resounding success. The accounts have been maintained meticulously for 8 years by Dave Basger and for the second successive year with Brian will continue to dabble where no man dares - Fixtures ! Our newest Exec recruit is Ryan Sidle who has taken on the Reg Sec role whilst the likes of Mr Adams and Mr Sheldon frequently attend Exec meetings. Anthony Bloch, Fraser Saville and Les Blackston complete the MJSL Executive Committee. So as you can see a truly mixed bag of elected voluntary committee members...

Youth survives

We must not forget the Junior leagues as the players who come through the ranks are of course the life blood of the Seniors. Many a father has tried to untie those mud covered laces in freezing conditions on a rainswept Drinkwater Park, Goshen or Hough End in the depths of January ! From the basic Junior and Primary League we have always covered most age groups above 6 years old - Unbelievable you may think but it is again testament to those organisers on a committee who volunteered their services week in, week out over a traumatic 9 month season !

AUG 10 - Unfortunately this is the only section of the MJSL that no longer exists but it is hoped that this will be revived in the not too distant future.

The Teams, Trophies and Tribulations

Springfield were the first champions back in 1948 beating off the likes of Linwood Athletic, Crumpsall Vale, Holy Law Minyan 1st and 2nds as well as the famous Grove House. That year they did the double as they also lifted the Teddy Stone Memorial Troph

Manchester Maccabi 3rd team have just been crowned MJSL Premier Division champions, their club enjoying their 1st success in 20 years - I should know as I was part of that previous winning formula ! 

In between these two championship winning teams, much change has taken place. At its peak there were 3 divisions between 1977 and 1984 and this is when football really was the mainstay for the majority. There have been some years with just one division, the last 2 being examples, although typically 2 divisions have flourished.

Early Years

The only club still going strong since the inception is South Manchester Maccabi FC as it is now named. Originally Lynwood Athletic then South Manchester, is a testament for the MJSL and a provide a yardstick which others must follow. Grove House, Waterpark, GSOJ, West Didsbury, Workingmen's Club, Hakoah, JLB, Maccabi are all names synonymous with what is widely acclaimed as that golden period in the league's history.

Prestwich Casuals can not be forgot existing for 17 years from 1957-73 with 5 titles and 4 cup wins to their name over what was one of the most competitive times in the MJSL. Manchester Maccabi has always been represented in the league with titles and cups going their way in the early 70s and in later years reserve teams grabbing some silverware.

The 70's and 80's

In 1976 the Northern Jewish Soccer League had to fold and it was no suprise that the MJSL who had lost something when that league was originally formed, picked up the pieces with teams from Liverpool and Leeds welcomed into the new ranks. The 70s-80s brought about the likes of City Commercial Club, Heaton Park Rangers, JLB Spartak, Leeds Bnei Brith/AJEX and Liverpool Haroldeans who dominated the scene over a marvellous 12 years. Titanic clashes were the order of the day with many celebrated names doing their "bit" on a Sunday. Arnold Wagman, Val Smith and Ossie Cooper will never be forgotten as flag bearers for CCC.

I am proud to say I had the personal pleasure of my senior debut in a City Commercial Club shirt against JLB Spartak back in 1982 and yes scored the important goal in a 3-2 win but received a rude awakening when a gutsy player from the opposition elbowed me in the face shortly afterwards - he was to become my manager some 10 years later, helping that future team to win 3 titles. He shall remain nameless.

The 90's and beyond

The 90s was a mix of winners as a generation of players were lost and Oakhill were about to make their mark eventually. After Manchester Maccabi 2nd retained the title at the start of the decade, 2 titles went to Merseyside whilst Armyfields became the new kids on the block, a club that rose out of Manchester Maccabi but took 3 titles in 5 years.

When Oakhill took their 2nd title in 1997, they actually made it 4 on the bounce in 2000, their source of players were students residing in Manchester and was in itself a new innovation at the time and the club, although appearing under several guises and variations of the name continue to play their active part within the MJSL ranks.

Then the pendulum shifted with 2 years to Haroldeans followed by another 3 in favour of Oakhill. Over the last 4 years the last two Division 1 winners have taken the Premier title, Roy's Rovers with Leeds J-Uni twice then Haroldeans recaptured former glories and then finally the youngest ever champions Manchester Maccabi 3rd this April, ends our historical journey so far ...

There are far too many teams to mention and apologies to those that have been missed - here are a few more to jog a few memories.... Children Aid, Dunbar Dodgers, North Manchester, Broughton Park, Hakoah, Prestwich Devils, Not Roy Rovers, Southport AJEX, Hamiltons, Raiders, Elmgate, Sale, Sedgley Park Celtic, Melchester, Jacksons Row, Sunnybank Celtic, Sporting Albion, Leeds Judeans, Hale Madrid, Westdene...

Televised professional football all but forced the MJSL to play on Sunday mornings as clubs dwindled and games were cancelled with preference going to watching one's adopted team in a magnificent stadium setting rather than the getting changed in the palatious dressing rooms of Frederick Road.

The league is indebted to the local press over the years, albeit with periodical disagreements but as the saying goes, the past is history and present is fact, but what about the future.... Well as long as there are players to play, managers to manage, volunteers to organise and facilities to use, then of course and long may it continue!

Paul Rose - Aug 06 / updated Sept 07 / July 08 / July 09 / June 10 / July 2011