COMMEMORATING THE CLUB'S 30TH SEASON IN MACCABI FOOTBALL
A SELECTION OF MEMORIES, ANECDOTES AND COMMENTS FROM TEMPLE FORTUNE PLAYERS AND GUESTS, PAST AND PRESENT
"Historically, there is a story that in our games in Princes Park behind the Kyte family's house in Oakfields Road, there was an occasion when we were playing between the trees and I was pushed into a tree when about to shoot and was shoved into this tree resulting in a broken bone in my foot. My 12-year old daughter has always loved this fact and falls around laughing at the thought that I was tackled by a tree!" JEREMY LOBL, former player

"I doesn't surprise me that Fortune are about to celebrate 30 years in MSFL football, something no other club can claim. My time at the club was fun, successful and I knew I was part of a special club that will always have a special place in my heart. At work the team's results are one of the first I look out for, and the behind-the-scenes work carried out by the likes of Nigel and Lynne Kyte, which often go unnoticed, deserve a special mention as without them there would be no Temple Fortune." DANNY CARO, Jewish Chronicle Sports Editor and former player and Totally plc JN and TJ.com Sports Editor

"It is to the great credit of those running the club and the team members that, whenever I have played for Temple Fortune, be it this season or in the past I have always been welcomed with open arms and felt part of more than just a team. There is a great deal of hard work and committment that goes in from a small number of people, namely yourself and Lynne, Peter, Simon Allen and Gary Simpson and often unrewarded but I want to thank you all for your dedication and hard work and making this season so enjoyable for me. I doubt very much that I will be playing for Temple Fortune next season as in all honesty I would like to play for a Premiership team next season (Maccabi Premiership that is!) However, I can't stress enough the amount of fun I've derived from playing for Temple Fortune, with friends and people who genuinely care about the club." MATTHEW KLEINMAN, former player

"As I remember it was our first league match ever, against Bushey United in 1976. It was one of those glorious moments which not only sticks in my mind 30 years later, but I also relive it in slow motion! I can't remember how I got the ball, but I picked it up on the right hand edge (looking at the goal from the front) of the box. I thought I had a chance so I whacked it to the far corner... I remember clearly how the ball zipped up above bar level very quickly and down again just under the bar and close to the post... WHAT A GOAL!!! I don't like to harp on about it, but for me it was a real beauty and a real memory!" PETER KYTE, Treasurer and the Club's longest serving player, who scored Temple Fortune's very first league goal on 5th September 1976

"I received a phone call from my brother Jonathan (you remember Jonny!) He told me that he had come across the Temple Fortune website and was amazed at the information on there. I then took a look at it and I found it incredible, the amount of diligence and passion that you must have shown over the years to keep this going! I then also took a look at the page relating to the 85/86 season and was amazed that all the pictures and script. Also saw a picture of a much slimmer version of me receiving the Chairman's Merit Award! There lies a story. That was the night that my first child, my daughter Melanie was born. She was born about 2 o'clock in the morning and in the evening my ex-wife Gill, suggested I left the hospital and went and got my trophy which I then did. You will not, I am sure, recall, that I was extremely tired that night and someone gave me a sip of wine or champagne and I fainted away for a few seconds! I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing for Temple Fortune and the thought has occurred to me that maybe it would be fun to play with the Old Boys or at least have a try-out with them. When is pre-season training?! I never thought I would be asking that question again!" DAVID SALAMONS, former First Team Secretary, leading the team to the historic MSFL Division 2 championship triumph in 1986.

"TFFC is a club which offers the opportunity to play football at all levels in a friendly/family environment, and on behalf of the squad, I would like to thank you and Lynne for all your hard work in making the last few seasons so enjoyable." GARRY SIMPSON, First Team Secretary (for a record seven seasons) and former First Team captain

"I just want to say thank you for all these years to have as a valuable member of the club that I am very much proud to belong to." ALEXANDER 'YALI' MAMOURI, current player

"One of the funniest things I ever saw during my Temple Fortune career happened in an inter-club friendly at Childs Hill Park, mid-nineties I think. The rain was teaming down and the pitch had become a quagmire, especially in the centre of the pitch. Club Chairman Nigel Kyte was refereeing and was sprinting through the middle trying to keep up with play. Suddenly, he slipped and went skidding on his arse for a good 10 yards, mud splattering everywhere, with his legs in the air. He came up caked in mud amidst howls of laughter from all around the pitch. His glasses were dripping with brown mud and his kit and whistle were pure mud! It was hilarious and we must have resumed some 10 minutes later after he had composed himself and cleaned his whistle! A referee in an all-brown uniform – unique!" STEVE FEIGER, Honorary Club Member, former Commiitte member and the Club's all-time leading goalscorer

"The friendship and comraderie within the Club has been tremendous. That's the main reason I've carried on playing for Temple Fortune for more seasons than I care to remember!" ANONYMOUS

"Thank you to you and your family for their support over the past couple of years which have been very enjoyable and playing for your club has been a pleasure." ANDY FRIDKIN, former player

"It has been a great pleasure to have been involved with Temple Fortune. Amidst the various setbacks and flashpoints , there prevailed a defiant, even noble sense of purpose. Although we did not stay-up, a deep-rooted espirit de corps was forged. It reflects highly on those running the club that they have been able to get together such a non-flashy but sound group of guys. It is fair to say, I will look back – hopefully not too much – over the last eight months with a certain fondness!" DAVID YOUNG, former player

"Thank you both again for all the wonderful work you do for the club and hope we stick together and the whole club has a good season. Cheers and up the Spurs and the TFFC!" SIMON ALLEN, current player

"One of my favourite memories was Steve Feiger telling the players how many women he'd slept with and how many jealous boyfriends he'd assaulted, in the changing room before a game. Steve also had a habit of telling everyone, both teammates in the changing room before a game and opponents on the pitch, what a good player he used to be. I also recall Bryan Silver telling Steve to shut up as he was giving everyone a headache!" DANNY CARO

"My position on the Committee of TFFC has been an enjoyable experience and an honour to have been part of such a dedicated group of individuals. The club, which in my opinion having played for 4 Maccabi clubs, is the best run club in the League with an excellent set of lads who make every effort to make all newcomers as welcome as possible." MUS KORTACH, former Management Committee member and player

"The best goal I ever scored was on a day when I played AGAINST Temple Fortune! We played a friendly against some team – Apex I think – and they were so short that the game was nearly cancelled. I offered to play for them and scored the best goal ever of the few I have netted in my playing career. The ball was crossed from the left side from at least 20 yards out... it was moving very quickly at about head height. I rushed in at full pelt and thumped it with my forehead – an opportunistic header from the edge of the box to say the least. I managed to head the ball perfectly – it went very fast and high and came down just under the bar in the corner! I don't know if that counts as an own goal but it looked good all the same!! To this day I mourn the fact that that it isn't in there in the TFFC records... AND I went on to net a second that day!" PETER KYTE

"Without question, the strength of TFFC has been its management set-up. One unit runs the behind the scenes admin whilst another looks after the playing side. This successful formula has served the Club well for many years." ANONYMOUS

"I brought several players to the club including goalkeeper James Kershen, defender Ashley Fine, plus strikers Steve Hunt, David Sharabani and Jason Bookbinder. Hunt went on to break the Club's goals-in-a-season record, while Bookbinder broke a few other things!" DANNY CARO

"Thanks for making the club a club worth playing for. All the best." ALAN DAVIDOFF, current player

"Whilst writing, I would like to thank Lynne and yourself for everything whilst I was a full time player. I thoroughly enjoyed my full time career and indeed my only regret was signing for Bushey and not Temple Fortune some 15 years ago. I am certainly looking to continue my part time roll in the future." PHIL 'LUCKY PANTS' ARNOLD, former player

"During my happy time with the Club, I can only remember seeing teammate Phil Friend middle the ball once. 99 per cent of the time it sliced off his boots made by Toblerone!" DANNY CARO

"I thank you for TFN. It is really a pleasure to receive it every month and go through it. I enjoy reading it. I find it very informative about different aspects, club or league. Thanking you again for TFN and I'm lost for words to say how you're managing the club – BRILLIANT!" ALEXANDER 'YALI' MAMOURI, current player

"Yeah, winning's nice but you've got to enjoy it as well. Maybe we haven't won as many games as I would've like to have done during my time with Fortune but I can tell you this… I've bloody well enjoyed it!" ANONYMOUS

"Mazel Tov to TFFC for 30 consecutive seasons in the Maccabi (Southern) Football League! Congratulations, too, to the Brothers for being at the helm for all this time – that's dedication for you! Sincerest thanks for giving me the opportunity to write in TFN over the years; it must be the longest running and best newsletter in Maccabi soccer. Keep it up, TFFC, a credit to Maccabi sport. ALFRED BOILER, former TFN guest writer
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD A CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL THE CLUB
info@tffc.co.uk
A small selection of Temple Fortune players past and present who have worn the Club's colours with pride over the years.