<< ISSUE 1 • THURSDAY 23RD JULY 2015 >>
OLD BOYS WIN FIRST EVER LEAGUE TROPHY!
|| NEWS IN BRIEF ||

JUST 34 TEAMS IN MGBSFL, LOWEST NUMBER FOR YEARS
 DIV.3 DELETED AS FIRST XI GAIN 'PROMOTION' TO DIV.2
 DAVID GOLDBERG RETURNS AS OLD BOYS XI MANAGER
 TF RAIN JACKETS SPONSORED
Fortune Teller by Nigel Kyte
Welcome to Issue 1 of the 2015/16 season. This is the 40th season of The Fortune News – surely the longest running newsletter in Maccabi sport! Also, the approaching season is the Club's 40th in Maccabi football, an incredible achievement of longevity of which we should be very proud.

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New look TFN for 2015/16
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The masthead at the top of this newsletter shows a selection of old annual editions produced over the years. The earliest issues used to be typed up on my Mother's dodgy old typewriter before I had access to computers (when technology moved on). Once typed with minimal graphics added, the master pages were photocopied on many a company copier (usually during lunchbreaks when the print room was empty!) Next came collating the pages and stapling them together before finally being distributed by hand! This meant dropping them off to someone in each team or taking them to venues. Oh, the good old days of real time-consuming blood, sweat and tears! Nowadays, each issue is typed on my iMac in a web production program called Adobe GoLIve and uploaded via a FTP site using FileZilla for the technically-minded. Easy peasy in comparison but it still requires a lot of work to type up the thing in the first place!

The newsletter has been given a brand new look and I hope you like the neat design! There is a new 'Fortune Facts & Figures' feature in the third column with links to various pages of information. This will stay all season and will be your main source to get to the 'nitty gritty' TFFC pages that you will need. Once the season starts, the result panels will be back for both teams (like last season) so that you can find out the Temple Fortune scores of the morning's fixtures, together with a brief report. And the MGBSFL and Masters round-ups will return, giving the results of other games played in our teams' respective divisions.

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40th season in Maccai football?
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There's a question mark above for a reason! Effectively, 2015/16 is the Club's 40th season in the Maccabi (Southern) Football League, except that the League is no longer called that. Due to sponsorship, it is now called the Maccabi GB Southern Football League. But there is no way I can allow Maccabi GB to get the credit for all the seasons prior to their relatively recent sponsorship, because for the majority of the time we have played in the League, it has been called the M(S)FL!

And for that reason, our official line is 'the 40th season in Maccabi football!' – afterall, we do play in the Maccabi Masters Football League as well!

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First ever MMFL trophy for OBs
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On the subject of the MMFL, I was delighted to receive the League's new Sportsmanship Trophy from MMFL Chairman Stuart Lustigman at the AGM last week. This is the first Masters 'silverware' that the Club has won since the Old Boys Team became founder members of the League in 1999/00. It is also the second sportsmanship award that we have received in 39 seasons of competing in Maccabi football, following on from the Second Team's M(S)FL success in 1998/99. I broke the news on Twitter as soon as I returned home from the AGM and a little while later Stuart emailed me, saying "Hi Nigel, what took you so long?!!" Well, it was exciting news, Stuart!

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Ellis & Co to sponsor again
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To help commemorate the Club's 40th season in Maccabi football, I am hoping to order 30 new TFFC rain jackets in yellow and black (as recently emailed to everyone), as soon as I get everything I need to progress the concept. I am delighted that James Ryan of Ellis & Co (Golders Green) has stepped forward to sponsor these jackets, with the promise that he will have the proceeds returned from all sales.

The jackets, which I think will cost around £15, will carry the Club crestin colour with appropriate '40th season' wording on the front. On the reverse will be large TFFC lettering and the Ellis & Co logo. I am currently awaiting a new quote from the supplier and also the new branded logo from Ellis & Co. My grateful thanks go to James for his generous offer yet again.

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Woolly hats coming too!
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Nothing to do with the 40th season celebrations but I am looking to order 30 black woolly hats with TFFC lettering in yellow on the front (to go with your lovely yellow and black rain jackets!) Peter Kyte, our longest serving player, has kindly said that his company Enabled Projects will sponsor these for which we are grateful. I reckon the hats will cost just £5 each.

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Membership forms and fees due
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A lot of admin work has been going on in recent weeks in preparation for the long season ahead and YOU can play your part in the efficiency of our organisation by getting signed up as soon as possible. Forms have been emailed out and quite a few players have responded early, saving some money off their fees, which has been appreciated (considering that I have already paid out over £500 in fees). If you still have not rejoined, please go to the Club Membership page where you can find links to the Club Forms you require. Incidentally, this is also the one and only place where you can gain access to The Fortune News on the website, other than via the usual emailed link (which will be sent weekly, usually on a Sunday evening, once the season commences).
If you haven't joined up yet, please return your membership form and payment as soon as possible. Please note that the MGBSFL and MMFL Registration Forms are not available via the links on that page and will need to be emailed separately.

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Pre-season training sessions
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As part of the preparations for the Club's 40th season in Maccabi football, pre-season training is being held on Sunday mornings until 9th August at Mill Hill Park, Wise Lane, Mill Hill NW7, commencing at 10.15am. (Please be punctual – there is nothing more off-putting for any newcomers than to see others turning up LATE). If your intention is too rejoin TFFC , please make every effort to attend. Also, if you have any potential player you can bring along, please feel welcome to do so – the more the merrier! Please direct any queries about training by email to Jonathan Cohen.

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And finally...
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I hope that you enjoy this bumper first edition which has been compiled over a number of weeks. The newsletter is not normally this large but there has been a lot of info to cram in! Whatever our fortunes will be over the coming weeks and months, thank you for being a part of one of Maccabi football's longest running clubs. September approaches and brings our 40th campaign in Sunday league football. And with it, bright optimism for a long but hopefully decent season ahead!

Remember, wear our shirts with pride and respect that long-existing badge! Good luck to each and everyone of you!


True colours
We don't need Cyndi Lauper to reveal the TFFC playing kits for the 2015/16 season! We will be using two splendid kits sponsored by Ellis & Co which are both in excellent condition. The First Team have been given brand new navy and red socks to go with their '40' shirts and red shorts.



Tweet away with TFFC!
For updated news on anything 'official' about the TFFC worth sharing with Club Members, start following the Club's Twitter page on http://twitter.com/YellowsAndReds where we are periodically 'tweeting'.
Please connect with TFFC because this is where you will find access to breaking Club news, such as fixtures, results and anything else going on.


Headline story: Old Boys win first ever league trophy
Temple Fortune Old Boys are the new recipients of the Masters Sportsmanship Trophy which was presented to Club Chairman Nigel Kyte at the MMFL AGM last week. Far from being a meaningless accolade, this award rewards the hard work and sporting ethics which we try to instil in our Sunday football. It could not have happened without the cooperation of all Old Boys players so this is very much a collective team award.


>
> Temple Fortune pipped EDRS Stonegrove to the Trophy based on sportsmanship marks from referees and the number of yellow and red cards received. As Nigel said in an email sent to everyone last week, congratulations go to Howard Wallis and his Old Boys Team of last season for clearly playing the Game in the right spirit! >

MGBSFL: Lowest entries for many years
The MGBSFL has been reduced to just 3 divisions for the 2015/16 season, having attracted a mere 34 teams which is the lowest total for many years. It was not that long ago that the League was proudly boasting over 60 teams in no fewer than 6 divisions but the numbers have fallen drastically in recent seasons, with too many teams folding compared to new ones joining. So now the MGBSFL is down to a mere 3 divisions, containing 10 teams in the Premier Division and 12 each in Divisions 1 and 2.
> At the AGM held on Monday 13th July, Chairman David Wolff reported that the national trend was showing a reduction in the number of 11-a-side teams, so nothing that was happening within the League was that much of a surprise how ever disappointing. When TFFC joined the M(S)FL in 1976, there were 3 divisions so you could say that we have gone full circle 40 seasons later! Now the Club is back in Division 2 where we started!

Good bye, Fortune!
Temple Fortune have been drawn a bye in the Cyril Anekstein Cup first round. For the fourth season in succession, our MGBSFL team has received a bye to the second round. The last time Fortune reached the quarter-final of the CA Cup was in season 2012/13 which was the sixth occasion – sadly, all six attempts to reach the last four were unsuccessful! You can see every cup tie ever played by the Club here.

Twelve teams in MGBSFL Division 2
With the restructuring of the League being confirmed at the MGBSFL AGM recently, here is a list of teams making up Temple Fortune's division: Athletic Bilbaum, Boca Jewniors, Catford & Bromley Maccabi, Faithfold C, FC Team C, Hendon United B, L'Equipe, Maccabi London Lions B, North London Raiders C (the club have returned to being 'North' rather than 'Norstar'), Real Hendon (new team), Scrabble (new team) and, of course, Temple Fortune.
> That gives every team a large fixture list of 22 games, more than Fixtures Secretary Nigel Burns really wanted. "I think we will be hard pushed to get the season finished and I cannot see there being room for the Barry Goldstein Trophy," he said. "I am asking all teams to expect fixtures every Sunday since there will be little scope for postponements. Let's hope for a decent winter otherwise I can see double-headers being introduced. 12 teams is far from being ideal but there was little we could do given only 34 entries."

MMFL: AGM votes to keep Marshside
Controversy reared its ugly head at the Maccabi Masters Football League AGM held on Thursday 16th July. Amongst other business, the future of Zigzag Marshside, the scourge of the League's Management Committee for far too long, was discussed. Zigzag Marshside's numerous misdemeanours were listed by Chairman Stuart Lustigman (now a Temple Fortune Old Boys player) and the charge sheet showed how the club's behaviour had been appalling.
> Zigzag Marshside had the audacity to send a bill to the MMFL for £1,500 to cover their legal costs and also received undeserved publicity from the Jewish News who published their sob story for all and sundry to read, which was detrimental to Maccabi (and, of course, Jewish) football.
> Altogether, the antics of ZZM were a disgrace to the MMFL. Thankfully, the two main perpetrators stood down from managing the team and the company name 'Zigzag' was withdrawn, leaving a new manager in place, Barry Silkman, according to Marshside's secretary Ed Saleh.
> After a noisy discussion, the clubs voted to keep Marshside in the League who would be interviewing the 'new' management. No doubt they will be seeking assurances that both Farah Moghim and Danny Fenton would not be involved in running Marshside at any time during the forthcoming season. So, assuming that Marshside are given a chance to compete, the League appears to have the same numbers for the 2015/16 season, which, considering the MGBSFL's reduction in size, is no mean feat.
> Just to arguably complicate matters, Barry Silkman has agreed to sponsor the League, throwing £5,000 into the kitty. We would guess that this payment more or less guarantees Marshside another season!
>
The 11th 'TFN' Fantasy League starts 8th August
For the 11th season we will be running the TFN Fantasy League, once again through the fantasy.premierleague.com website. The TFN Fantasy League is open to Club Members and other invited individuals who are on the official Club email directory, plus any newcomers who have joined the Club this summer.
> The competition is free to enter and those who competed last season should be able to easily renew by logging in and rejoining the TFN Fantasy League. If your application asks for a code to join the League, or if you are a newcomer (click on the link above and sign up), here is the specific code you need: 380631-99372.
> Please choose a suitable name fitting for the competition. Do not slur other professional teams, such as 'Arsenal Haters FC' or you will be disqualified! And make sure you use UPPER and lowercase letters, as in a proper name; for example 'Chelsea Champions' is fine, whilst 'CHELSEA CHAMPIONS' or 'chelsea champions' are unacceptable. The use of ALL CAPS or all lowercase is STRICTLY prohibited.
> You can follow your fantasy team's progress each week via the Fantasy League website. There is also a link on the TFFC home page, in the bottom strip. Come on, give it a go!!! You've got until FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST (the Premier season starts the next day) so please enter YOUR team – it's so easy to do!

Encouraging words by Graham Meyer
Graham Meyer, Old Boys midfielder and four times a Player of the Year with Temple Fortune, sent a 'rallying cry' email which has been repeated here (cleaned up a bit to look nicer!)
> "Nice to see we won the Sportsmanship Trophy! I think now we need to be fighting more next season for a good cup run and a higher league place. If we all play as well as we did v Glenthorne in semi-final – week in and out – we could have a good season and challenge for things. We have to stay fit – the First Team do training on Sundays at 10.15 at Mill Hill Park, so try and get along next week. It's good for fitness and sharpness. We all need to get fit for next season; that's the key – we could have a good team and do well if we can stay fit. Try and attend training! We have not many more seasons left playing sunday football so let's put it in and do well in the league and cup."
> Thanks, Graham... stirring words which are enough to get the goosebumps going!

Results and fixtures
Bookmark the MGBSFL Team and Masters Team pages (clearly featured left and right on the home page) – where you can find all fixtures and results throughout the season – have been updated with pre-season fixtures for the 2015/16 season.
Did you know?
>>> Of the Club's 39 AGMs, only one was held in a hired synagogue hall (the very first one in June 1977!)
>>> The PizzaExpress in The Broadway, Mill Hill hosted no fewer than 10 AGMs.
>>> Jeremy Fess hosted the 1989 meeting which attracted 20 members, the highest attendance at any Club AGM.


Inviting new talent
Do YOU have a friend who is a good footballer and might wish to join us for the 2015/16 season? Email Nigel with details and he will send the potential player info about the Club and stuff about pre-season training. This applies to Old Boys players aged 43 and over... they could always do with more talented players as well!
David Walton retires
We received an email from David Walton of the Old Boys Team. He said: "I reach age 58 this October with my knees ankles and most other moving parts in reasonable working order and whilst I appreciate that compared to some in the squad I am still a child I have taken the decision to call it a day. Having started playing for SPEC under 9’s this is for me a big deal, albeit I am sure it will not make Sky Sports News, many thanks to all for an enjoyable few years and best of luck for the coming season."
> We thank David for playing for Temple Fortune FC.
> Meanwhile, Gary Burns, one of our ever-green Old Boys players, replied to David's email, with the heading "To David and others contemplating early retirement..."



> "At 54, Charlie Chaplin married an 18-year-old woman. Chaplin broke convention by not dropping dead due to the strain of keeping up with a woman whose grandmother would have been a contemporary – he lived to 88 – and having eight kids with her, the last one at 73. I suggest in the strongest terms, David, that you change your mind! Kind regards, and see you next season. Gary Burns"
> Whether or not this will have the desired effect, we will have to wait and see!
Your TFFC 'ManCom' team for 2015/16
It's pretty much more of the same regarding the dedicated people entrusted with running the Club throughout the new season!
> Everyone who served last season has stated that they are willing to continue which is good news since TFFC is in very capable hands again.
> You can find a list of the Officers making up the TFFC Management Committee here which includes profiles of the various individuals. Additionally, there is a list at the very bottom of this newsletter – and each edition throughout the season ahead – which includes email addresses should you need to contact anybody there.
> On the team management front, David Goldberg replaces Howard Wallis (who held a non-Management Committee position) as the Old Boys Team manager, whilst JC will start his third consecutive season in charge of the First Team.
New info publication: A Guide to TFFC, 2015/16
The Club has produced the new season's publication giving a general overview, entitled 'A Guide to TFFC 2015/16', which is in PDF format. The new issue includes a feature about the Club's 40th season in Maccabi football. If you would like to read it, contact Nigel who will send a copy by email.
TFFC AGM Minutes
The Minutes of this year's Annual General Meeting, which was held on Sunday 21st June in Hendon NW4, are available on request from Nigel as a PDF. If anyone would like to read them, please email him.
> On the TFFC website there is a page devoted to the AGM, listing every meeting held, and also the annual reports of the Chairman and General Secretary have been included going back to season 2000/01.
New '40' shirt theme for season 2015/16
The TFFC website tends to use a theme for the season which appears on other material produced. For the 2014/15 season, we adopted the yellow and red circle of light with orbs which has now been phased out.
> Replacing it is be the First Team's '40' shirt sponsored by Ellis & Co which is being used to celebrate the 40th season in Maccabi football. Various headings will display the '40' shirt and 'Celebrating the Club's 40th season in Maccabi football' concept, together with a new design for the website home page and the Club's Twitter page. Below is an example of the new design.
TFFC website navigation
With around 400 pages on the TFFC website, it might take a while for you to navigate around the site! If you click in the middle of the yellow shirt, you will go directly to the Site Contents page.
> No doubt you would have noticed the new home page design, including the smart navy blue info strip near the bottom which now includes links to the JC's MGBSFL page, the JN's Masters page and even a new link to Sky Sports!
> The MGBSFL Team and Masters Team pages (clearly featured left and right on the home page) – where you can find all fixtures and results throughout the season – have been updated for the 2015/16 season. Players' appearances (once the season gets underway) can be found via the Team pages which also give plenty of info about each respective team.
> On the red menu bar itself, you'll find categories which are sub-divided into loads of interesting features. For example, for our all-time leading scorers, go to Club Statistics/Leading Appearances & Goalscorers. Check out the Club Membership page (where you will find the link to this newsletter weekly) under Players' Section.
> Elsewhere on the site, the majority of statistical updates have been done throughout the website which is a comprehensive archive of all things TFFC and has been built up over ten years. So DO have a good look around it. As our familiar little ditty goes, info galore and a lot, lot more!
TFFC team photos
Did you know that you can find many Temple Fortune FC team photos on the website? If you click on The Complete TFFC Playing Record (which also is linked on the far right of the home page under the red menu bar), you will find team photos linked to the various seasons in the first column.
> Team photos for the 2014/15 season (taken at the JKCC match played on Sunday 7th June) have now been added.

Moving home? New phone number? New email acount?
Are you undergoing any of the changes listed above? Or are you getting engaged or married, is the wife's due or have you anything else important to announce? Do you want to submit a contribution for inclusion in TFN? Or have you found an error on the website?
> For anything you wish to tell us, please email the Club on info@tffc.co.uk

Did you know?
>>> When Temple Fortune were founder members of the Maccabi Masters League in 1999, there were only 4 teams competing in the first season!
>>> All games during the inaugural season of the Masters League – which amounted to 12 fixtures – were played at Gosling Sports Park.
>>> Joining Temple Fortune in that very first season were AMFM Blues, AMFM Reds and North West Neasden.

Membership: Don't delay – join today!
A reminder that if you haven't already done so, please can you return your membership forms and fees as soon as possible. Many thanks to those who have done so already.

• Website: www.tffc.co.uk • Twitter: @YellowsAndReds • Email: info@tffc.co.uk
Management Committee, 2015/16
Chairman: Nigel Kyte
Mobile: 0777 323 0477 Email: info@tffc.co.uk
Vice Chairman: Nicholas Waitsman
Email: nicholas@timezoneseurope.co.uk
General Secretary and Treasurer:
Nigel Kyte
Email: info@tffc.co.uk
Functions Secretary:
Peter Kyte
Email: pdk@enablinguk.com
MGBSFL (First Team) Secretary:
Jonathan Cohen
Email: jonathan.cohen@morganhunt.com
MGBSFL (First Team) Administration Secretary: None appointed
Masters (Old Boys Team) Secretary:
David Goldberg
Email: David_Goldberg@eu.omron.com
Masters (Old Boys Team)
Administration Secretary:
Hilton Teper
Email: hteper@ymail.com
>>>>>> Thank you for reading this edition of The Fortune News! <<<<<