 |
||||||
|
ISSUE 25 – WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2011
|
||||||
 |
||||||
|
TEMPLE FORTUNE FC: 28TH DECEMBER 1968 – 28TH DECEMBER 2011... raise a glass and toast our 43rd birthday!
THE HISTORY OF TEMPLE FORTUNE FC In the mid-sixties, a group of friends met every Sunday morning for kick-abouts at Princes Park, a small park in Temple Fortune, NW11. Around the autumn of 1968, a few members of the group split away to start up a team named Princes Park. On 28th December 1968, four other players, namely Michael Rook, Robert Silverstone and brothers Nigel and Peter Kyte, decided to form their own team. They sat on the low brick wall outside the Kyte family home in the descending gloom after another kickabout in the Park and discussed their idea. Unable to use the obvious name of Princes Park, the young foursome called the new side Temple Fortune Town. TFT, as the team was affectionally known, took part in small-sided matches to begin with. The first 11-a-side match was played on Sunday 25th October 1970 at Hampstead Heath, where TFT beat Princes Park Juniors 12-4. In 1971, the name was shortened to just Temple Fortune and a set of yellow shirts was bought from Pullens of Temple Fortune Parade for only £14! Temple Fortune continued to play the occasional friendly match but towards the end of the 1972/73 season, the idea was for the Club to progress into proper league football. In June 1973, founders Nigel and Peter Kyte, joined by brothers David and Jeremy Lobl, held a meeting to decide whether or not the team should join the Maccabi (Southern) Football League (MSFL) for season 1973/74. A split vote defeated the proposal just prior to the MSFL's Annual General Meeting. Because of this setback, Temple Fortune went into a decline which saw the Club stagnate for a couple of years, playing very few games. However, on 18th February 1976, the Club was revived by the forming of a new Management Committee. Temple Fortune completed the 1975/76 season by playing five friendlies, three of them against existing MSFL teams. Winning four and drawing one, this encouraging start paved the way towards a successful application being submitted to join the MSFL for the 1976/77 season. At the Club's first AGM at the Alyth Youth Club NW11 in June 1976, Nigel Kyte was elected as Chairman, an office he still holds to this day, whilst Peter Kyte took on the role of General Secretary in which he remained for the next 15 years. Affiliating to the London Football Association, Temple Fortune purchased a new green and white kit and were allocated Parliament Hill Playing Fields for home matches in the inaugural league season. The first historic MSFL match was played on Sunday 5th September 1976 against fellow-newcomers Bushey United. Fortune went on to finish the debutant season in 7th out of 13 teams. In the next season, the Club were allocated its first Barnet Council pitch at West Hendon Playing Fields where five seasons were spent. TFFC quickly progressed sufficiently enough to be able to form a Second XI which entered the MSFL in 1979/80. The First XI enjoyed two promotions and took part in the Premier Division for the first time in 1981/82, spending three seasons there. In 1982, the Club again moved to a new home venue, this time at Bethune Park in Friern Barnet where both teams had use of a large flat pitch within a fenced-off running track. Three years later, TFFC returned to yellow shirts – the Club's original shirt colours – and added red shorts; these colours have remained ever since and are now part of the Club's identity. Temple Fortune’s teams have had a rather yoyo experience in MSFL football, moving up and down the divisions with a fair degree of regularity. The Club won the Second Division championship in season 1985/86 and two years later the First XI were back in the Premier Division for another three-year stint. On three occasions, players of the Club have won MSFL Player of the Year awards, the most prominent accolade coming in 1982 when Gary Hyams was named Premier Division Footballer of the Year which is the League’s top individual player's award. Prior to the 1990/91 season, the Second XI were erroneously promoted – against the Club’s wishes – to Division One by the League's Committee after finishing 7th out of 9 teams in Division Two the previous season. The envisaged season of struggle became reality and the Club were forced to fold its Second side at the end of the 1990/91 season which saw both teams relegated. As part of TFFC's Silver Anniversary celebrations in 1993, the Club staged two 'past v present' matches at Bethune Park. Such was the success of these commemorative games, an Old Boys XI was set up in June 1994 which continued to play a series of friendlies for several years to follow. The Club also held a special invitation four-a-side game at Princes Park, played on the very same pitch which hosted so many kickabouts in the embryonic days. It was a sentimental occasion particularly for Nigel and Peter Kyte to be back playing on that famous pitch! The participants, mainly Honorary Members who had given long service to the Club, all wore old TF kits and received framed captioned photographs to mark the occasion. In 1997, Temple Fortune left Bethune Park after 15 years due to declining standards there. The Club were allocated Childs Hill Park and West Hendon Playing Fields for the 1997/98 season. Also in 1997, the Second XI was reformed after an absence of six years, playing friendlies during the 1997/98 season prior to rejoining the MSFL for the 1998/99 campaign. At the end of their first season back, the Seconds gained promotion and won the MSFL's prestigious Ron Saunders Sportsmanship/Turnout Memorial Trophy, a fitting testimony for the typical excellent organisation traditionally enjoyed by the Club in general. During the summer of 1999, Temple Fortune became founder members of the Maccabi Masters Football League, having run an Old Boys for six years. Temple Fortune Old Boys took part in MMFL football for the first time on 17th October 1999. For season 2005/06, the Club acquired a new home venue – at Whitchurch Playing Fields in Stanmore under Harrow Council – to replace Childs Hill Park. For the first time since 1977 the Club were staging home MSFL fixtures outside the London Borough of Barnet. A year later, another enforced move took the Club further afield to Hatch End Playing Fields on the Uxbridge Road in Pinner. A long running institution within TFFC is its own newsletter, The Fortune News, which has been produced on a regular basis every season since season 1976/77. The newsletter celebrated its Silver Anniversary in 2001 and has been distributed primarily to Club Members via email for the past few years, initially on a weekly basis under the guise of e-tffc! and then under the reknowned title of The Fortune News once again. The Club commemorated 35 years of existance in December 2003, by staging a second invitation small-sided game at Princes Park. September 5th 2006 marked exactly 30 years since Temple Fortune first entered the Maccabi (Southern) Football League, and to mark this splendid occasion, the Club ordered two new commemorative kits to reflect Temple Fortune's original MSFL colours back in 1976, wearing a modern adaptation of the green and white colours. The green and white kits were worn for two seasons, just as had been the case originally; now TFFC has returned to the traditional colours of yellow and red. Season 2008/09 saw three teams being run for the first time since 2004. A second Old Boys side (the 'A' team) was formed and entered the First Division of the Maccabi Masters Football League. Sadly it lasted just one season and the Club reverted back to two teams for season 2009/10. The Club celebrated its 40th birthday in December 2008, an achievement of continued longevity of which we are immensely proud. A third commemorative visit back to Princes Park on the exact 40th birthday saw a special football tournament being held to aptly mark the occasion. Such a marvellous milestone speaks volumes about TFFC’s excellent reputation and high ranking status within Maccabi sport. For the first time since 1987, a Temple Fortune player won a MSFL Player of the Year award, thanks to Rob Benson taking the Second Division accolate for season 2009/10. He also won the Susan Lion Memorial Trophy for being the League's overall Leading Goalscorer. Over the summer of 2010, the Second XI was reformed for the third time, taking part in the MSFL Fourth Division during the 2010/11 season. At the end of this campaign, the Club enjoyed its first championship success since 1985/86 – 25 years previously – when the First Team (shown below) won the M(S)FL Second Division title. Both the Second and Old Boys teams reached semi-finals in their respective league knock-out competitions for the first time. Scott Shindler emulated Rob Benson by winning the MSFL Second Division Player of the Year award, the Club's fifth such award in total. During the summer of 2011, the Club was allocated permits at both The Hive (3G), Barnet FC's training ground in Edgware, and Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City to host MSFL home pitches for the 2011/12 season. That meant saying farewell to Hatch End Playing Fields after 5 years there. See the full article including pictures by clicking here. "THE NEW CLUB: TFFC IS REVIVED AGAIN" Halfway through the 1975-76 season, Nigel and Peter Kyte decided to revive Temple Fortune Football Club with a view to joining the Maccabi (Southern) Football League for the 1976-77 season. On 18th February 1976, after several years of being in decline, the Club was revived by the formation of a new Management Committee at a General Club Meeting held at One Oakfields Road in Temple Fortune NW11. Below are the actual minutes of that important inaugural meeting. The handwritten heading recorded in the book that contained the minutes in February 1976 was: "The New Club: TFFC Is Revived Again" MINUTES General Club Meeting - February 18th 1976, 1 Oakfields Road Meeting attended by: N.D.Kyte, B.E.Melzack, P.D.Kyte, P.H.Rutland, M.C.Rook. 1. Membership. The Conditions of Membership, drawn up by the Chairman, were passed by the Committee and will come into effect as and when Club Members are signed up. Additions to the original Conditions of Membership are as follows: Rule 3. The Annual Club Subscription Fee for 1976/77 will be £5 per member. No reductions to students. Fees are to paid not later than when registration forms are submitted to the League. Rule 4. The Weekly Match Fee for 1976/77 will be 50p for non-students and 30p for students. Rule 6. Non-playing players will be fined the ordinary match fee if they fail to turn up for a match without reasonable explanation. 2. Subscriptions. As stated above. 3. Match Fees. As stated above. 4. Costs. (All amounts are approximations and mainly maximum fees). County Football Association affiliation fee: £4. League registration fee: £9. Home pitch fees @ £4 per match: £48 (over 12 Home matches). Referees' fees @ £3 per match (Home only): £36. Playing kit: £50. Match football: £12. First Aid kit: £6. Corner flags: £10. Two practice footballs: £10. TOTAL EXPENDITURE: Approximately £185. Annual subs @ £5 per member (18 members): £90. Weekly match fees @ 50p per player per match (over 24 matches @ £5 per match): £120. TOTAL INCOME: Approximately £210. 5. Registration. Letters were sent to the London FA and GLC for affliliation to LFA and pitch permit application respectively. Replies expected soon. 6. Pitch. As stated in item 5 above. 7. Team selection. As stated in Conditions of Membership, rule 8. 8. Playing kit. Sky blue shirts, red or black shorts, red or black socks. Alternative strips: second choice - green shirts, third choice - white shirts. Clash colours: Yellow shirts, red or black shorts. 9. Playing and match equipment. To be decided when London FA affiliation, pitch permit application and League registration are all completed. 10. Training facilities. To be discussed (as above). 11. Insurance. This matter will be discussed at a future meeting when various things have been sorted out (eg. LFA affiliation and League registration). 12. Club positions. The following positions have been filled as voted by the Management Committee on February 18th. General Manager: N.D.Kyte, Treasurer: B.E.Melzack, General Secretary: P.D.Kyte, Team Secretary: P.H.Rutland, Team Manager: M.C.Rook. The above listed topics were approved at the General Club Meeting on Wednesday February 18th 1976. Signed Nigel Kyte (Chairman) See the full article including pictures by clicking here.
|
THE 1968 DREAM THAT GREW INTO REALITY! By Nigel Kyte
In the year nineteen-sixty-eight, the sport of Association Football was enjoying good times in this country. Only two years earlier, England had won the World Cup. The national team also finished third in the European Nations Cup, as it was then called, having lost narrowly to Yugoslavia in the semi-final. A couple of months previously, Manchester United had defeated Benfica at Wembley to capture English football’s first European Cup prize. In 1968, we drooled over the talents of George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Jimmy Greaves and a whole host of great stars. Grounds attracted large attendances nationwide with 50,000 plus regularly flocking to Anfield, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane, amongst others. Yes, 1968 was a good year for our National Game. Which probably explains why the young kids of that era could not get enough of their favourite sport. As a typical eager 14-year-old, I lived for my football. In 1968 I was watching the emergence of Arsenal’s great double-winning side and tried to emulate my heroes in my local park. Together with my brother Peter and various friends, we looked forward with unwavering relish to our weekly kick-abouts at Princes Park, a smallish area of parkland in Oakfields Road, Temple Fortune, London NW11. If homework and day light permitted, we would meet midweek after school to slog it out amongst the trees on our sloping pitch by the tennis courts. Oh, those were the days! For quite some time we enjoyed our National Game in that Park before deciding to form a team. The day of reckoning was the 28th of December, nineteen-sixty-eight; after yet another bruising Princes Park encounter, with the light drastically fading, we walked wearily up Oakfields Road to the first house past the Park where the Kyte family resided, namely ‘Woodside’ at house No.1. On the low brick wall, four of us discussed the important issue at hand: what shall we call our New Team? Princes Park? Golders Green? Oakfields? Temple Fortune? Do we add United, Albion, Rovers, Wanderers, Hotspur (God forbid!) or Town? Well, the obvious name of Princes Park was taken by another group of players who formed their own separate team at around the same time. Golders Green was too large an area to be represented by our small rabble. As for Oakfields, “why should they have their road name and not mine… or his?” (Well, that’s what the others probably thought at the time!) So it just had to be Temple Fortune. Yes, our area. Small enough for us to use the name, we felt. As for a second name, the only one which sounded reasonable was “Town”. Temple Fortune Town Football Club. Or “TFT” as we fondly called our newly formed club during bursts of enthusiastic footy talk! Three days before the end of a great footballing year, the TFT was born to further unite our thriving, fanatical interest in Association Football. Who in their wildest dreams would have thought that, over 40 years later, that same little Club would still be in existance? Not its founders, that’s for sure! Since squabbling over the Club's name in 1968, Temple Fortune F.C. has come a long way. Out of the embryonic stage of friendlies came a new league team, adding the attraction of regular competition to a keen desire to gain rapid success. That was in 1976 when we joined the Maccabi (Southern) Football League which had been running for some seventeen years or so. And now, as we look back over the Club's many seasons, we ourselves have been competing in the M(S)FL for over 35 years, climbing from the lowest division to the top, and moving up and down the league with a fair degree of regularity. Different seasons have brought different eras of team composition: for instance, there was the ‘Andy Batten team’ in the early league days, the ‘Stephen Bourne team’ which successfully kept together for a good five or so years, and the ‘Tony Stock team’ which won two divisional medals during another five-year spell. All were influential captains who gave excellent service to the Club, together with their own regular group of team-mates. Temple Fortune has not been the most successful of clubs but for organisation, atmosphere, friendliness and overall enjoyment we have been second to none. Which says much for the level of loyalty shown by so many players. Yes, I’ve enjoyed my many years of involvement with Temple Fortune. Even after all these years, I still get a kick out of running the Club and seeing players enjoy the game as it should be enjoyed, in the name of the Temple Fortune FC. How long it all will continue I cannot say. Probably for as long as Peter and I stay dedicated to the Club’s cause, who knows? All I can say is that my love for our National Game, and this little Maccabi (Southern) Football League club continues. Maybe not as fervently as a starry-eyed, soccer-mad fourteen-year-old about to share in a team's founding in 1968, but nevertheless, my Temple Fortune Football Club love affair relentlessly drags on! By pulling on a Temple Fortune shirt in whichever era you were able to participate, you automatically became part of the original nineteen-sixty-eight dream. You are one of well over 600 players to have represented this Club during Temple Fortune's lengthy history and you should find your name listed as a permanent record of your involvement in the A to Z of Players. The Temple Fortune Football Club. One of Maccabi football’s longest established and best run Clubs. Unbelievably, we’ve survived four decades; that, to me, is a really excellent achievement indeed. Article adapted for season 2011/12. THE CLUB'S PRE-LEAGUE DAYS JANUARY 1966-DECEMBER 1968 PRINCES PARK: Football games take place every Sunday morning at Princes Park which is located in Oakfields Road, Temple Fortune NW11, and sometimes during the week after school. The players mainly use a sloping pitch behind one of the two tennis courts with conveniently placed trees as goalposts, known as the 'bottom pitch', as opposed to the 'top pitch' elsewhere in the Park. On one side of the 'bottom pitch' is a footpath which acts as the touchline. On the other side the pitch continues wider amongst quite a few trees, halting at the shelter and playground area lower down. Behind each goal is the footpath which bends perpendicular to the touchline. A regular bunch of friends turn up to play weekly, including schoolboys Michael Rook, Robert Silverstone, Nigel Kyte and his younger brother Peter. All live within short walking distance of Princes Park. THE 28TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1968 TFT IS BORN: After finishing a short game in the Park, as the light begins to fade on a cold and damp midweek afternoon, Rook, Silverstone and the Kyte brothers meet outside the Kyte family home at One Oakfields Road which is right next to the Park. The foursome sit on the low brick wall and decide to form the Temple Fortune Town Football Club; the name is immediately referred to as 'TFT' for short. JANUARY 1969 FIRST GAME: The first game of any kind to be played under the banner of TFT is held at Lyttleton Playing Fields just five days after formation. The game is only four-a-side and the TFT players walk from Oakfields Road to Lyttleton through Hampstead Garden Suburb. Pullovers are placed on the grass as 'goalposts' and TFT win easily against a Lyttleton IV by 24-8, Nigel Kyte scoring nine times! The Sunday morning games continue at Princes Park for most of 1969 and 1970, with the occasional 6, 7 or 8-a-side game being played on the larger "top" pitch. OCTOBER 1970 FIRST 11-A SIDE: TFT's first 11-a-side match takes place at Hampstead Heath against Princes Park Juniors (later to become Princes Park, the successful Borehamwood Youth League club and junior feeder club to Hendon FC). Against eleven players, TFT field only eight but win comfortably by 12-4 afte Ieading 8-1 at the interval. Without a proper kit, Town's players wear standard white school T-shirts with a mixture of navy or white shorts. Below is pictured the very area of the Heath alongside Wildwood Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb, where that first fixture was held. NOVEMBER 1970 LEAGUE OPPONENTS: TFT plays the first 11-a-side match against a league team, namely Northway Wanderers of the Hendon & District Sunday League green-shirted Northway lead 2-0 but are pegged back by their younger opponents to 2-2 by half-time. Black whiz-kid Sherman and Nigel Kyte are the scorers. But Northway grab two further goals in the second half to win 4-2. Northway later become Oak Wood who eventually move from the H&DSL to the Maccabi (Southern) League. JANUARY 1972 TOWN DELETED: The Club's name is shortened to just Temple Fortune as numerous games – 11-a-side and small-sided – continue to be played. JANUARY 1973 FIRST SHIRTS: The first set of shirts are purchased from Pullens in Temple Fortune Parade (on the Finchley Road, NW11). Nigel Kyte takes advantage of a sale of obsolete school kit to buy a dozen yellow jerseys with white collars and cuffs, as mentioned in the Club's very first newsletter of any kind – Fortune Review – which was produced in this month. The set costs £14 out of the Club's "Development Association Fund". The team wears the new shirts for the first time against Alyth Gardens Youth Club at Edgwarebury Park, although players still provide their own white shorts. The purchaser of the new shirts celebrates the acquisition by scoring a hat-trick as Temple Fortune win 8-1! MARCH 1973 M(S)FL OPPOSITION: Temple Fortune plays its first friendly against a Maccabi (Southern) Football League team. Fortune shock Mill Hill by leading 3-0 at Hampstead Heath Extention, co-Founders Michael Rook and Nigel Kyte scoring plus an opponent's own goal. However, Mill Hill storm back to grab a 3-3 draw by the end. JUNE 1973 SPLIT VOTE: At a meeting between brothers David and Jeremy Lobl - who helped run the Club at the time - and the Kyte brothers, a vote is taken to determine whether or not Temple Fortune should join the Maccabi (Southern) Football League (MSFL) for the 1973/74 season. The decision must be made just a few hours before the Club is due to be represented at the League's AGM. Such is the uncertainty of Fortune's immediate future, the foursome could not decide one way or the other prior to the day of the annual meeting. Finally, with time running out, a crucial vote is split and the proposal to enter the League has to be defeated. The reason given, in a handbook produced for season 1973/74, is "due to the lack of enthusiasm and co-operation from several players', much to the disappointment of the Lobl and Kyte brothers. JULY 1973-1975 TF STAGNATES: Following the last-minute failure to join the MSFL, Temple Fortune virtually stagnates for two seasons. Peter Kyte joins Athletico Neasden, an existing MSFL team, whilst older brother Nigel turns to refereeing and qualifies with the London Football Association in January 1975. Robert Silverstone goes to Portsmouth University and does not play another game for the Club he helped to form in 1968. However, Nigel keeps Fortune running on his own, although little happens apart from the occasional small-sided game at Princes Park and a couple of full 11-a-side friendliest Meanwhile, Peter goes on to collect a MSFL Second Division runners-up medal with Athletico Neasden's 'B' team at the end of the 1974/75 season, his first with the club. JANUARY 1976 FORTUNE REVIVES: Halfway through the 1975/76 season, the Kyte brothers decide to revive Temple Fortune with a view to joining the MSFL for the 1976/77 season. Peter leaves Athletico Neasden and rejoins the Club. A meeting is planned for 18 February. FEBRUARY 1976 NEW COMMITTEE: At the vital meeting held at One Oakfields Road, a new enthusiatic committee is formed. Nigel Kyte is elected General Manager and his brother becomes General Secretary, a position he is to hold for the next 15 years! Co-Founder Michael Rook takes on the role of Team Manager whilst Brian Melzack, another original player from 1968, acts as Treasurer. Two other newcomers complete the six-man committee. APRIL 1976 FIVE FRIENDLIES: The first of five important friendlies is held towards the end of the 1975/76 season. Mill Hill, originally Fortune's very first MSFL opponents three . years earlier, again send a team to face Temple Fortune at Wormwood Scrubs. Still wearing their original yellow shirts, Fortune win 5-0. Marc Lewis nets two. Paul Squires, who later records over a hundred appearances for the Club, makes his debut in goal. MAY 1976 UNBEATEN: The fifth friendly is completed with Temple Fortune remaining unbeaten. Of the three MSFL teams faced, only Marylebone Dynamo escape with a 3-3 draw, Nigel Kyte scoring twice. Danny Espinoza's hat-trick on his debut sees off Westway Dynamo, beaten 5-2 at Hackney Marshes. Hampstead Eagles of the AJY League are thrashed 6-0 with burly Frenchman Sam Benfreds scoring a couple. Then Kingsclere, also like Fortune hoping to join the Maccabi League, are hammered 9-0 at Hackney Marshes in the last match. David Wolff, MSFL Chairman, sees Fortune play for the first time during this easy victory. Danny Espinoza nets five goals and Nigel Kyte two. • JUNE 1976 LFA AFFILIATION: Thanks to the encouraging results, Temple Fortune are affiliated to the London Football Association and an application is submitted to enter the Maccabi (Southern) Football League for season 1976/77. No need to take a vote this time! The Club hires a hall at the Alyth Gardens Youth Centre, Finchley Road, NW11, where the first AGM is held. Nigel Kyte is elected Chairman – the office he still holds to this day – instead of General Manager. Peter Kyte continues as General Secretary and Michael Rook as Team Manager. Danny Espinoza becomes the new Treasurer. See the full article including pictures by clicking here. |
|||||
TFFC TIMELINE: A season-by-season summary of the Club's history 1965/66 The Club's history starts when a group of friends meet every Sunday morning for kick-abouts at Princes Park, a small area of parkland in Temple Fortune, NW11. The youngsters play on a sloping pitch behind one of the tennis courts, using conveniently placed trees as goal posts. Small-sided games continue well into 1968 right up to the Club's formation and beyond. 1968/69 Around the autumn of 1968, a few members of the group split away to start up a team named Princes Park. On 28th December 1968, on a cold winter's afternoon outside No.1 Oakfields Road, NW11, four other players, namely Michael Rook, Robert Silverstone and brothers Nigel and Peter Kyte, decide to form their own team. Unable to use the obvious name of Princes Park, the young foursome call the new side Temple Fortune Town. 1969/70 The first game of any kind under the banner of 'TFT', as the team was affectionally known, takes place at Lyttleton Playing Fields in 1969. The Kyte brothers (Peter left and Nigel right in this photo taken in 1970) play in the first game with pullovers as goal posts! TFT take part in more small-sided matches to begin with. Games continue at Princes Park, both on the sloping lower and larger upper 'pitches' there. 1970/71 The first 11-a-side match is played on Sunday 25th October 1970 at Hampstead Heath, where TFT beat Princes Park Juniors by 12-4. In 1971, the name is shortened to just Temple Fortune. A set of clearance school shirts – yellow with white collars and cuffs – are purchased from Pullens in Temple Fortune Parade for only £14! Tom Flynn becomes the first Temple Fortune player to be sent off. Flynn, one of the Club’s original players who took part during Temple Fortune’s pre-league days, is dismissed against Leeville Town at Hampstead Heath. 1972/73 Temple Fortune continue to play the occasional friendly match but towards the end of the 1972/73 season (which featured the very first newsletter), the idea is for the Club to progress into proper league football. In June 1973, teenage founders Nigel and Peter Kyte, joined by brothers David and Jeremy Lobl, hold a meeting to decide whether or not the team should join the Maccabi (Southern) Football League (MSFL) for season 1973/74. A split vote defeats the proposal just prior to the MSFL's Annual General Meeting. 1973/74 Because of this setback, Temple Fortune fall into a decline which sees the Club stagnate for a couple of years, playing very few proper matches. A special 24-page handbook (right) is produced for season 1973/74 by Nigel Kyte; it is a one-off copy circulated in turn to players! Peter Kyte leaves to play MSFL football for Athletico Neasden but his brother keeps the Club going, reverting to mainly small-sided games. 1975/76 On 18th February 1976, the Club is revived at a meeting by the forming of a new Management Committee. Peter Kyte returns to the Club after his spell with Athletico Neasden. Temple Fortune complete the 1975/76 season by playing five friendlies, three of them against existing MSFL teams. Winning four and drawing one, this encouraging start paves the way towards a successful application being submitted to join the MSFL for the 1976/77 season. At the Club's first AGM held at the Alyth Youth Club in Temple Fortune, Nigel Kyte is elected as Chairman, whilst Peter Kyte takes on the role of General Secretary. Affiliating to the London Football Association, Temple Fortune purchase a new green and white kit and are allocated Parliament Hill Playing Fields for home matches in the inaugural league season. 1976/77 The first historic MSFL match is played on Sunday 5th September 1976 against fellow-newcomers Bushey United, a Division Two fixture. Temple Fortune, managed by Michael Rook and sporting green and white vertical striped shirts, green shorts and green socks, lose narrowly by the odd goal in seven in Watford, a match watched by MSFL Chairman David Wolff. Temple Fortune go on to finish the debutant season in 7th out of 13 teams. 1977/78 In the next season, the Club are allocated its first Barnet Council home venue at West Hendon Playing Fields, staying there for five years. Despite a good start to the season, including the Club's record league win of 16-0 against Marylebone Dynamo in the first fixture, the First XI finish third in Division Two and just fail to go up at the second attempt of trying. Richard Batten becomes the first Temple Fortune player to win MSFL Representative honours, playing for the League's Senior XI. 1978/79 With most of the 'green and white' team leaving, a group of new players join the Club following a meeting with Richard Cohen, Andy Jaye and Martin Leigh at the Kyte family home. They represent a team that left it too late to join the MSFL so they agree to 'merge' with Temple Fortune instead. A new all-royal blue kit brings third time lucky for Temple Fortune as the Club gains its first promotion, going up from Division Two in fourth place due to expansion of the divisions above. Goalkeeper Len Wyse (pictured in the red shirt), plays for the MSFL Rep team in the Senior XI. 1979/80 TFFC quickly progress sufficiently enough to be able to form a Second XI which enters the MSFL. Kitted out in a new all-pale blue kit, the first match takes place on Sunday 2nd September 1979, a 4-0 defeat away to Glenthorne United. The Seconds lose the opening seven matches before finally defeating Basinghill Wanderers by 4-3 on 11th November, one of only two wins all season! 1980/81 Now playing in all-red, the First XI enjoy another promotion, this time climbing into the Premier Division for the first time, eventually spending three seasons there. The Firsts, captained by the influential Stephen Bourne (far right) also reach the semi-final of the Peter Morrison trophy Southern Zone, losing just 2-1 to Maccabi football 'giants' MAL, the evenual National winners. 1981/82 Further progress is made in the Peter Morrison Trophy as Temple Fortune's First XI go one better to reach the Southern Area Final, losing to Marshside at Wingate's Arkley ground. Playing in red and black stripes, red shorts, for Fortune it is a disappointing match after a really exciting cup run. In the semi-final, 'little' Fortune shock favourites Kenton Maccabi 2-1, one of the biggest surprise results in Maccabi football ever. "Like Lincoln beating Liverpool" exclaims Chairman Nigel Kyte at the time! Gary Hyams (far right, bottom row) is named MSFL Footballer of the Year (Premier Division), the League's top individual players' honour. He also plays for the MSFL Senior Rep team, Fortune's third player to be selected. 1982/83 The Club moves to a new home venue, this time at Bethune Park in Friern Barnet where both teams have use of a large flat pitch within a fenced-off running track. The pitch is graded A and is one of the best in the borough at the time. After three inauspicious seasons of league football, fortunes change for the Second XI as they gain promotion for the first time, elevating into the MSFL Division Two. Paul Squires represents the Maccabiah Games Representative XI in a trial match, whilst Nigel Kyte, who as an official on a football tour to Israel, plays for a Maccabi Union 'B' Rep XI (on as a late sub!) 1983/84 A Temple Fortune team (actually the Seconds) revert to yellow shirts for the first time since the original shirts were purchased in 1971. Between 1976 and 1983, various colours had been used by the Fortune sides. The Club goes on to adopt yellow shirts and red shorts as its traditional colours from the mid-eighties onwards, and has mainly kept up this identity to the present day. Farley Conway makes the MSFL Senior Rep side, Fortune's second goalkeeper achieving this feat. 1984/85 Most of the ageing First XI squad walk out midway through the season, leaving mainly Second XI players to complete both set of fixtures. On one particular Sunday, the predominently Second XI have to fulfil a First XI cup tie against MSFL Premier side Marshside and then rush to Cassiobury Park to represent the Seconds in a league fixture v Bushey! The games are lost by 17-1 and 10-2 respectively, the Club's worst pair of results on one day to the current time. However, both teams remain intact after an immensely arduous season of struggle but the Firsts and Seconds suffer relegation. Ralph Epstein sadly passes away and the first Memorial Trophy (pictured) fixture in his name is held between Temple Fortune and Bushey United. 1985/86 With the Club decimated by so many players leaving, there is a welcomed influx of new players including Dave Salamons (elected team secretary) and Tony Stock (captain) who will lead Fortune to a very successful season ahead. Temple Fortune enjoy a wonderful revival with the highlight being the winning of the MSFL Second Division championship (trophy depicted) after a record-breaking season by the new-look First XI, wearing yellow shirts and red shorts for the first time. The Firsts, captained by Tony Stock, score over 100 goals in 20 league fixtures, winning 17. Steve Levy smashes the individual goalscoring record in one season by netting 46 goals (previous best 34 by Steve Hyams in 1979/80). Steve Feiger is close behind on 43. The Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy is also won for the first time as Fortune beat Bushey United 7-6 at King George V Playing Fields in Watford. Henry Charles wins the MSFL Second Division Player of the Year award. 1986/87 The Club receive a sponsored playing kit for the first time – Clive Pollard, a First XI player, provides a yellow and red kit for the First Team. Tony Stock (right) wears one of the shirts in winning the Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy the season after. The 1987 REMT encounter against Bushey is played at QPR’s old astroturf pitch at Loftus Road, costing £250. Including printed programmes, the two teams share a bill of around £300 which remains the Club's most expensive fixture ever. 1987/88 The First XI return to the MSFL Premier Division for another three-year spell, by finishing runners-up in Division One. In the crucial last match against fellow-promotion challengers Bar Kochba, Fortune draw 0-0 (picture shows half-time during that very match) to pip BK for the medals. David Shone wins the MSFL First Division Player of the Year award. The Second XI's first sponsored kit comes from Kersens Hairdressers – maroon shirts and sky blue shorts! Not ideal but a sponsored kit all the same! 1988/89 The Second XI enjoy their best season since 1982/83 and gain promotion to the M(S)FL Second Division, the team's second promotion since formation. Alan Mattey becomes the Club's fifth player to be selected for the MSFL Representative Senior XI. 1989/90 The Second XI finish 7th out of nine teams in Division Two and are controversially promoted to the First Division by the League's Committee, a calamitous error against the Club's express wishes which eventually leads to the demise of the Seconds. 1990/91 Demotion from MSFL's top flight signals the start of another period of decline for the First XI. Worse is to follow as the Second XI's envisaged season of struggle becomes reality, ending in a predicted relegation from Division One. Temple Fortune travel to Cardiff to play a Peter Morrison Trophy tie, the only time the Club has played outside England! The picture shows the pre-match dressing room as Cardiff Maccabi are subsequently defeated 7-0. The only other highlight of an otherwise miserable season is a 22-0 victory by the First XI against Elstree Eagles, the Club's all-time record win. Mark Powell scores eight goals, the individual record in one match for Temple Fortune. With a severely weakened squad due to most First XI players leaving the Club, the Club are forced to fold its Second side in June 1991 season. 1991/92 Erring on the side of caution, the Club opts to have the remaining team compete in the MSFL Second Division rather than the division above. New players join the Club but the overall quality of the squad is below standard and Temple Fortune are relegated again. 1992/93 After several years in the doldrums, Temple Fortune's First XI recruit some better players including Danny Caro, Ashley Fine and Steven Hunt and at last enjoy quite a successful season, resulting in third place in MSFL Division Three. But although narrowly missing out on the runners-up spot, the promotion offered by the League is turned down by the Club, again a cautious approach after the difficulties of recent seasons. 1993/94 As part of TFFC's Silver Anniversary celebrations in 1993, the Club hold two 'past v present' matches at Bethune Park. Such is the success of these commemorative games, an Old Boys XI is set up in June 1994 with Tony Espinoza being elected to run the new side. The plan is for the Old Boys to play once a month, amounting to around 9 or 10 games a season – the concept is very successful for several years to follow. The Old Boys, under the name of Old Fortunians, beat Bushey Old Boys to win the Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup (Nick Waitsman is depicted holding the trophy with his victorious team). Jason Bookbinder is the sixth (and last) Temple Fortune player to make the MSFL Rep Senior side. Steven Hunt scores 54 goals in all matches, the existing Club record in one season. 1995/96 Expansion of the divisions above result in Temple Fortune gaining a surprise promotion back to MSFL Division Two, despite finishing 7th. Far from being cautious as was the stance previously, the Club boldly accepts the challenge with renewed optimism. A new sponsored kit sees the Club adopt navy as a third colour for the first time, complimenting the traditional yellow and red handsomely. 1997/98 The Second XI are revived after a six-year absence and spend the whole season playing friendlies with a view to entering the MSFL in the following season. The Club take onboard a new influx of First XI players following a crucial meeting with Simon Allen, Mus Kortach and Garry Simpson, held at the Load of Hay pub in Hendon. Childs Hill Park in Golders Green is allocated by Barnet Council as a new home venue and is used by the First XI. Apart from playing at Hampstead Heath, CHP is the nearest the Club has been to its original roots in Temple Fortune. The newly formed Seconds play at Bethune Park but are forced to leave midway through the season due to the dressing rooms being badly vandalised. The 2nd XI play out the rest of the season at West Hendon Playing Fields instead, a return there for the first time since 1982. 1998/99 Rejoining the MSFL for the first time since 1990/91, the Second XI win promotion from Division Five (which is the 2nd XI's third promotion and the Club's 9th promotion in all). To put the icing on the cake, the Second Team also win the MSFL's prestigious Ron Saunders Sportsmanship and Turnout Memorial Trophy (right), a fitting testimony for the typical excellent organisation traditionally enjoyed by the Club in general. 1999/00 During the summer of '99, Temple Fortune become founder members of the Maccabi Masters Football League, having been the pioneers of Jewish Old Boys football since 1993. Temple Fortune Old Boys take part in MMFL football for the first time on 17th October 1999. Peter Kyte, one of the original Founders, plays in his 500th match for the Club. With three teams in league football, TFFC enter the Millennium having never been bigger or better run. 2000/01 Temple Fortune celebrate 25 years as members of the Maccabi (Southern) Football League. The Club's very own newsletter, The Fortune News, also commemorates its Silver Anniversary – having been produced on a regular basis every season since 1976 – and is produced on the Club's first official internet website. The First XI return to the Second Division after a few years in the Third, thanks to the Club's 11th promotion since first joining the MSFL in 1976. 2001/02 The First XI reach a cup quarter-final for the first time since 1991 (in the MSFL Cyril Anekstein Cup), one of 15 appearances in the last 8 up to the current time, of which only 5 ties have been won. Initial work commences on the Club's website by Steven and Nigel Kyte, creating it from scratch in Adobe GoLive. The domain 'tffc.co.uk' is acquired and the process of building up an archive of TFFC information begins. 2002/03 The Second XI overcome seven straight defeats in the opening seven fixtures to finish 4th in MSFL Division Four, the Club's finest season of recovery yet. Jack Kyte, father of co-founders Nigel and Peter and the Club's photographer for many years (right), passes away on 16th February 2003, aged 83 years old. Temple Fortune Chairman Nigel Kyte wins the Maccabi GB Lifetime Achievement in Sport Award. TFFC's 20th annual Club Dinner is held in Whetstone. 2003/04 Just like 13 years previously in 1990/91, it's a deja vu feeling as both teams face relegation, with a decision taken to fold the Second XI (for the second time). The Club decides to enter the one remaining MSFL team into Division 4, Temple Fortune's lowest ever MSFL status for the First XI. West Hendon Playing Fields is dropped as a home venue, the Club opting to stay at Childs Hill Park. The Old Boys XI complete an arduous season for the Club by finishing as runners-up in the new Masters League Second Division. Peter Kyte (showing his commemorative salver) celebrates his 600th appearance for the Club. 2004/05 Temple Fortune's lone MSFL team – a mixture of former First XI and Second XI players – take third place in Division Four, and gain promotion to the Third Division. The team also reaches the Final of the MSFL Minor Invitation Cup, the Club's first cup final for 23 years, but lose to FC Heath at Wingate & Finchley FC. 2005/06 The Club hires a new venue at Whitchurch Playing Fields in Stanmore (under Harrow Council), moving out of the London Borough of Barnet for the first time since 1977. Season 2005/06 is Temple Fortune's 30th consecutive campaign in the Maccabi (Southern) Football League. 2006/07 TFFC commemorates 30 years since playing the inaugural league match by holding a Gala Morning at Hillingdon Borough FC. To mark the milestone, the Club reverts to the original league colours of green and white. Both teams are kitted out splendidly, with new navy training tops also being worn for the first time. The First XI move to Hatch End Playing Fields because Whitchurch Playing Fields is taken over for schools use. The Old Boys are runners-up in the Masters League Second Division whilst the Firsts miss out on second place in MSFL Division Three on goal difference but are promoted nevertheless (the Club's 13th elevation since joining Maccabi football). On behalf of the Club, Chairman Nigel Kyte wins the Jack Wolff Memorial Trophy for the M(S)FL Team Secretary of the Year. 2007/08 A move to introduce an Old Boys team to compete in the Masters First Division is turned down by the Club following a questionnaire sent to all club members. The 35 plus players decide to carry on for another season of MSFL football instead. Towards the end of the season the issue arises again and this time the Club decides to run three teams for the 2008/09 season and form the Old Boys 'A' team. The existing Old Boys side is renamed the 'B' team. The Club go into the next season with two teams competing in the Masters League for the first time. The Club return to yellow shirts and red shorts although the new Old Boys 'A' team adorn a red and yellow kit (pictured), a striking adaptation of the traditional Club colours! Steven Feiger, who originally joined in 1981 and played in three separate spells for the Club, passes 400 goals for Temple Fortune. 2008/09 Nick Waitsman becomes the Club's first Vice-Chairman to mark 20 years on the Management Committee and 10 seasons as Old Boys manager. The Club celebrates 40 years in existance by holding a special four-aside tournament at Princes Park on 28th December 2008, exactly 40 years to the day since the Club's formation! The Club decides to fold the Old Boys 'A' team at the close of the 2008/09 season and reverts back to running two teams in total rather than three – one in the MSFL and the other in the MMFL. The 25th Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy is played and is to be the last one in the long-running series between Bushey and Temple Fortune. 2009/10 Robert Benson wins the MSFL Second Division Player of the Year award, the Club's first divisional success since 1988. He becomes the second Temple Fortune player to take the Div.2 award – emulating Henry Charles 24 years previously. For good measure, Rob also captures the Susan Lion Memorial Trophy, as the overall MSFL's leading goalscorer, to cap a wonderful individual season inwhich he collected 5 awards in total. During the summer of 2010, the Second XI are reformed after a six-year absence and apply to join the MSFL to compete in Division Four for season 2010/11. This is the Second XI's third spell in existance and 20th season overall. 2010/11 TFFC celebrate the 35th season of participation in the MSFL. The First XI receive a new kit sponsored by Daniel Stewart & Co. The First XI win the MSFL Second Division championship, 25 years after the Club last enjoyed the same title success. Like their 1985/86 counterparts, they take the title by four points and are promoted to the First Division for the first time since season 1987/88. The Second XI and Old Boys XI both reach cup semi-finals for the first time. Scott Shindler wins the MSFL Second Division Player of the Year award, retaining the trophy for the Club for the second season in succession. 2011/12 After five seasons at Hatch End Playing Fields, the First XI and Second XI move home venues to The Hive, the Barnet FC training ground in Harrow, and Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City respectively. |
||||||
 |
||||||
|
Management Committee, 2011/12
|
||||||
|
Chairman: Nigel Kyte – mobile: 0777 323 0477
Email: info@tffc.co.uk Vice Chairman: Nicholas Waitsman Email: nicholas@timezoneseurope.co.uk General Secretary: Nigel Kyte Email: info@tffc.co.uk Treasurer: Peter Kyte Email: pdk@enablinguk.com First Team Secretary: Lee Fegan Email: lee.fegan@googlemail.com |
First Team Administration Secretary: Jack Morris
Email: jack.morris@dynamiclinks.co.uk Second Team Secretary: Terry Jeffries Email: terry@kingsland-lettings.com Second Team Administration Secretary: Adam Glekin Email: adamglekin@hotmail.com Old Boys Team Secretary: David Goldberg Email: David_Goldberg@eu.omron.com Old Boys Team Administration Secretary: Hilton Teper Email: hteper@ymail.com |
|||||
|
Website: www.tffc.co.uk
|
Email: info@tffc.co.uk
|
|||||
|
>>>>>> end of this issue <<<<<
|
||||||