Twinning visit culminates in football match between Boreham Wood and Maccabi Shoham

A promising young football team from Shoham in central Israel has visited Elstree & Borehamwood as part of a historic town twinning agreement that seeks to forge cultural, educational, sporting and business links between the communities.

The visit culminated in a hard-fought friendly match between Maccabi Shoham FC and a Boreham Wood FC XI which was held at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Meadow Park on Sunday 23rd July 2023. Ending in a 1-0 victory for the Israeli visitors, a 500-strong local crowd of school children and families enjoyed an exciting game.

During the week, the Shoham team trained with the Boreham Wood FC local Academy and were also joined by “Wood Army” manager, Luke Garrard.

In addition, they visited Kenilworth Primary School in Borehamwood, answering questions from enthralled pupils in a school assembly and treated them to football training sessions.

Managed by David Smila and coached by former Israeli international striker, Ofer Shitrit, the team were guests of honour at a community breakfast at which community groups, faith leaders, local councillors and residents participated and they also visited Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium and other attractions in central London.

The occasion breathed life into the recent twin town agreement between Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council and Shoham, a town of 26,000 residents.

It’s the first such twinning for decades between the UK and Israel and follows an official signing ceremony that took place in March 2023 during a visit by the Mayor of Shoham and other dignatories.

As part of an exchange that will mutually benefit residents in the two countries, plans are afoot for collaborations on robotics, creative arts and sport.

Manager of Boreham Wood FC, Luke Garrard said: “It was an absolute pleasure to have been involved in this historic week, the bond the Club has made with everyone from Maccabi Shoham was incredible.

“The connection between myself and the staff and players of Shoham will be long lasting. I thoroughly enjoyed spending a week training the players and the energy and respect they showed was amazing. The work that went into making this week a success was so evident on Sunday when you hear all the speeches at the presentation and the well wishes to the Chairman, Mandee and Billy.

“I really look forward to seeing how the future looks between the two Towns, if the start is anything to go by, I can see this being a flourishing relationship for years to come.”

Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and one of the instigators of the twinning arrangement said: “We’ve been immensely privileged to host FC Maccabi Shoham over the past week. Borehamwood and Shoham are towns with shared values whose football clubs sit at the heart of their communities. We thank Danny and Billy Hunter, Luke Garrard and all at Borehamwood FC for their huge contribution to this tremendous initiative that has added a new dimension to this town twinning and helped position our Borough as a new hub of municipal internationalism.”

Cllr Rebecca Challice, Mayor of Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council said:
“We have witnessed not only an exhilarating football match but also a celebration of friendship, and unity. We can proudly say that this Twinning Agreement is living up to its aim of forging cultural, educational, leisure, and business links between our two communities. The youth team from Shoham spending a week training with Boreham Wood FC has been a pivotal part of this exchange, fostering bonds of friendship and understanding that will endure.”

David Smila, Manager of Maccabi Shoham FC said: “It was a dream week for us and the players that we will never forget. The twinning relationship came from the heart and we wanted to thank the people of Elstree and Borehamwood, the Town council for hosting us, Danny and Billy Hunter at Boreham Wood FC and Luke Garrard the Manager for helping us train with the team.

“We are sure that this will be the first in a tradition that will become regular in terms of exchange visits between Shoham and Borehamwood. The alliance of twin towns will become an alliance of twin brothers! Thank you from your Maccabi Shoham family.”

Cllr Dan Ozarow, Chair of Elstree & Borehamwood town council’s international affairs sub-committee said: “Maccabi Shoham FC’s visit this week has lit up our town and created a real buzz. Local people have welcomed them with warmth. The football training they gave the school children, the free tickets for the match that Borehamwood FC kindly offered to the whole community and the cultural exchanges between the two sets of players during shared training sessions between the academy sides from both towns are examples of practical benefits that this visit has had for people in Elstree and Borehamwood this week alone.”