Merger creates ‘one of world’s largest Jewish football clubs’

Two of the community’s biggest sports organisations this week announced a merger which will see them become “possibly the largest Jewish football club in the world”.

Brady Maccabi and Maccabi London Lions have combined forces and will be known as Maccabi London FC (MLFC).

MLFC will consist of 65 teams aged six to 60, with an estimated 1,000 registered players.

The new club also has the intention of running three competitive girls teams and an has an ambition to have a ladies first team in the near future.

The move is hoped to provide stronger management and more opportunities, with Joel Nathan, former head of Brady Maccabi, who will take over as Vice Chairman, adding that it “will create quite possibly the largest Jewish football club in the world”.

He added the move would make “make MLFC a pivotal organisation within the community.”

Based at Rowley Lane in Borehamwood, the management of the new club has laid down an ambitious five year plan to improve facilities, with former club the Lions’ sponsor, The Alan Mattey Charitable Trust, continuing to endorse the side.

Andy Landesberg, ex-head of London Lions will be its new chairman, and said that “MLFC will be a club for our community. A club deeply rooted in London Jewry. A club that is a not for profit organisation. A club capable of competing with commercial organisations. A club providing the social environment to foster Judaism within our community.

“We have a responsibility to ensure the longevity and sustainability of what will be a very special football club.”

The move was announced on Monday night during a press conference at Rowley Lane, Borehamwood.