newcomers'guidetotffc
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Temple Fortune Football Club – the longest running club in Maccabi football competing continuously since 1976– will be running three teams during the 2023/24 season. The First Team and Second Team will be competing in the Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL, formerly the MSFL), whilst the Old Boys will participate in the Maccabi Masters Football League (MMFL), an over 50s competition set up in 1999 with Temple Fortune being founder members.

The administration of TFFC is run primarily by the Management Committee which looks after the general behind-the-scenes welfare of the Club, whilst the team managers will be supervising the playing side. This format has served the Club very successfully over the years. Together the serving officers represent a very experienced Management Committee which will strive to maintain Temple Fortune’s reputation of being a friendly, well run Club during the coming season, whilst the managers do what they do best – manage – and have other aspects taken care of, such as pitches, referees, kits and equipment, membership and registrations etc.

HOME VENUES
Temple Fortune's First Team and Second Team will be playing the majority of home matches at Silver Jubilee Park, Townsend Lane, Kingsbury NW9, which is a Pitching In Southern League Premier South stadium (home of Hendon FC), where we have use of the top-quality 4G pitch and clubhouse. The kick-off time at SJP is 9.15am – we have a two-hour slot between 9am and 11am and must vacate the pitch no later than 11am. Moulded boots must ALWAYS be worn on the playing surface – before, during and after the match. Please do not walk across the pitch, or inside the surrounds of the pitch, without wearing your moulded boots. Flat-soled shoes, trainers, plimsols and flip-flops are strictly forbidden on the pitch at any time. Multi-studded astro boots are also banned – they are NOT moulded boots.

The Old Boys Team will be playing at venues hired by the Maccabi Masters Football League, mainly the Thomas Parmiter Sports Centre in Garston and the Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Membership is important within the Club and we offer two different types for the majority of players who wish to join. Full Membership and Casual Membership details can be found by clicking on the Membership link. A weekly match subscription fee is payable by each player prior to each game to help with the general Club expenses such as pitch and referee fees. Reductions are available for students and the unemployed.

A major requirement for all players joining the Club is that they must sign the Membership Declaration Form agreeing to abide by the Rules & Regulations and Code of Conduct of the Club. Through this important obligatory membership requirement, the Management Committee is able to generally control discipline at a reasonable level. The authority is in place for them to 'wield the axe', so to speak, if necessary in compliance with the Code of Conduct especially. Members are asked to read the Advice to Players section and also the Six of the Best page.

DISCIPLINE
Discipline really goes hand in hand with the Code of Conduct which members are expected to adhere to throughout the season. Players causing fines to be imposed on the Club must cover the cost, including surcharges, themselves.

TEAM SELECTION
Team selection is undertaken by the Team Manager, who is assisted by the Team Secretary where applicable, for both teams. The elevens are normally selected primarily on merit, although a rotational system can apply if thought appropriate due to the size of the squad of players. As a general rule, particularly applicable once the traditional membership deadline expires in October, priority will be given to Full Members, whilst Casual Members will be used as 'fill-ins' when required rather than when available, particularly when either team is short.

CLUB EQUIPMENT
Temple Fortune’s good standing as a long-running Maccabi club has attracted sponsorship over many years – and this season is no exception. This means that our teams will be using superb playing kits during the current season. Players may wear their own individual socks for the 2023/24 season, as long as they match the colour of the respective team socks. Other items must be provided by individual players, such as protective cycling or thermal pants which MUST match the colour of the appropriate team’s shorts. Shinpads too must be brought along and worn during all matches. Players MUST wear moulded boots at Silver Jubilee Park.

COMPETITIONS
Apart from competing in the MGBSFL and MMFL, Temple Fortune's First and Second Teams will take part in various cup competitions, namely the Cyril Anekstein Cup and possibly the MGBSFL Barry Goldstein Trophy or other supplementary competitions if held or if we are invited to participate. The Old Boys Team will compete in the Masters League Cup followed by the Nathan Horwitz Cup or Jack Morgan Memorial Trophy.

Additional competitions include the TFFC Founders’ Shield, an inter-Club event which has been contested for over 30 years, and the Jack Kyte Challenge Cup match which has been held since 2004.

TFFC ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Club has a Facebook page which players are invited to join, and also a Twitter (X) page which is used infrequently for major 'breaking news'. WhatsApp has also become useful for more casual communication – there is a TFFC WhatsApp group for MGBSFL players (First Team) and one of the MMFL players (Old Boys Team), which, as forums for players to enjoy, carries entertaining banter and often info which players may need to know – such as a postponement or change of venue etc.

CLUB WELFARE
The role of the Welfare Officer (Kerry Higham) is to be a point of contact for issues relating to the well-being of Club Members, with the aim of fostering positive experiences and relationships within the Club. This includes financial concerns, mental health issues, reporting another Member's behaviour, a change of personal circumstances, or the Personal Accident Insurance scheme. Kerry will be a confident, empathetic, sympathetic and supportive listener. Check out the Club Welfare page.

COMMUNICATION, QUERIES AND HELP
Should you have any queries or footballing problems, please feel free to contact any member of the Management Committee who have been elected to serve the Club and help you. See the Advice To TFFC Players page for contact details.

For team selection matters, including unavailability, injury, travel issues etc, contact the appropriate Team Secretary. For more general TFFC-related issues, such as Club information, the website or social media, contact Nigel Kyte (main Club contact), via the Club email on temple.fortune.fc@gmail.com.