In August 2012, London Lions became the first-ever all-Jewish team to win a game in the Emirates FA Cup and on Saturday, they will reach another more personal landmark.
The Barnet-based side, champions of the Herts Senior County League last season, built the new 200-seater Alan Mattey Stand at their Rowley Lane home in 2015 and, now that their ground meets the required FA National Ground Grading standards, they will play a home Buildbase FA Vase tie there for the first time.
The Lions, who are made up entirely of Jewish players, roll out the red carpet for Wiltshire outfit Malmesbury Victoria, of the Western League, in second round qualifying and will carve out a new best-ever run in the competition with a victory – the two sides have agreed on extra-time and penalties, rather than a replay, in the event of a draw.
The Lions act as the men’s team of the wider Maccabi London Lions club and Andrew Landesberg, who is both manager and chairman, is proud of the role his side plays in the Jewish community.
“Over the years, across London, there were a number of Jewish youth clubs that had football teams – as the world has developed, there aren’t any anymore,” said Landesberg, whose 23-year-old son Nick came all the way through the Lions’ youth ranks to become a first-team player.
“The youth club has gone and has very much been replaced with what we offer at Maccabi London Lions.
“They come in at six or seven-years-old and, at the moment, nothing is off-site, because we have facilities to do that.
“I think we have a brand within the community. In other words, there is a level of aspiration to be playing for London Lions.
“I think there’s a level of pride of the badge [which features the Star of David] and of the club, for obvious reasons, but it’s very much what it’s brought to the whole community.”
The Lions are set to be missing a number of players that are still recuperating following their involvement representing Great Britain in men’s football at July’s Maccabiah Games in Israel, an international event sometimes referred to as the Jewish Olympics.
Landesberg was handed the honour of managing the British side, who were beaten 3-0 by the United States in the final.
Buildbase FA Vase history
The Lions, who now play in the Spartan South Midlands League, are competing in their fifth Vase campaign and their previous best run saw them reach second round qualifying in 2013-15, where they were knocked out by Stotfold.
Their opponents, the Vics, reached the third round proper in 1976-77, eventually losing to Hungerford Town.
Did you know?
The Lions began life as Sunday League team called Maccabi Association London. They joined the Herts Senior County League in 1995-96 under the name MALEX.
The prize
The winners of Saturday’s clash will progress to the first round proper and net £725 in prize money, with the losers awarded £250.
