The Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup was originated in 1994 when Bushey Old Boys played 'Old Fortunians' at Bethune Park.

Temple Fortune Old Boys were officially formed at the end of the 1993/94 season as a result of three friendly matches played during that particular season. Two one-hour matches were arranged as part of the Club's Silver Anniversary commemoration, both held on the same day on Sunday 19th September 1993. Firstly, the Old Boys, named the 'TF 1995/96 XI' in the programme produced for the occasion, played the then current Temple Fortune First Team and won 5-2 with Evan Hay 2, Steve Levy 2 and Paul Corper scoring. In the second game, the First Team beat the 'TF 1981/82 XI' by 6-3. Dave Munns 2 (one penalty) and John Nitka netted for the Old Boys.

However, it was the third match that paved the way for the Old Boys Team to be formed later that summer. Under the guise of Old Fortunians, the Fortune team played Bushey Old Boys drawn from ex-players of Bushey United. Played at Bethune Park, the match was contested for the Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup, which long-serving Bushey United forward Murray Epstein had generously sponsored.

Thanks to goals by Steve Levy and Robbie Freedman, the Old Fortunians side – playing in the old Highgate Wanderers shirts of sky blue and navy diagonals (donated to the Club by Nick Waitsman) – won 2-1. Old Boys captain Nick Waitsman was presented with the new trophy by Murray (shown below). In the second image is shown one of Fortune's goals, netted by Steve Levy (hidden by the yellow-shirted Bushey player standing next to the goalkeeper).



During the next season, 1994/95, a late November rematch between Bushey Old Boys and Temple Fortune Old Boys brought a revenge win for Murray's team, 6-3 being the result. Although the annual Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy matches were by now being played between Bushey Old Boys and Temple Fortune Old Boys, there were no further 'friendlies' between the pair that could be used to keep the Murray Epstein series going.

Therefore, a mini-series against Apex Old Boys lasting two seasons was the next best thing. In both seasons 1995/96 and 1996/97, TF Old Boys played Apex twice, winning one and losing the other, but, for the purpose of having a Murray Epstein series winner, coming out on top on aggregate. Bushey Old Boys returned for the 1997/87 season, losing 6-3, whilst the two sides met the following season and played out a 2-2 draw.



Leaving aside season 2000/01 during which no match was played to register as a Murray Epstein Cup fixture, the Temple Fortune Old Boys played three of four 'friendlies' against Referees' teams, winning one, drawing one and losing one. For the sake of the Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup series, these results counted to add to the list you can see below. The first match against the Referees was in 1997, which was the very last game played by Temple Fortune at Bethune Park; this was not regarded as a Murray Epstein fixture since the Old Boys had already played Bushey Old Boys earlier that season.

In the Club records, the initial meeting played on Sunday 10th April 1994 went down as the 'MEOBCC' but all subsequent matches were recorded as friendlies.

The passing of Club photographer Jack Kyte in February 2003 resulted in the Jack Kyte Memorial Trophy being instigated by brothers Nigel and Peter Kyte, with the first match being played in May 2004. The event was renamed the Jack Kyte Challenge Cup when Nigel purchased a new gold-coloured metal cup for the second competition. The impact of having this new annual match meant that – with the Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy and the Founders' Shieid events still being run – the lesser Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup fixture no longer had a place in the calendar.



Wearing clash colours, this is the 'Old Fortunians' side (the original name for the Club's veterans team) which played Bushey Old Boys for the Murray Epstein Old Boys Challenge Cup in 1994. From left to right, back row: Peter Kyte, Nick Waitsman, Paul Corper, Stephen Bourne, Danny Espinoza and Tony Espinoza. Front row: Richard Carlowe, Ray Dinkin, Robbie Freedman, Russell Vroobel, Steve Levy and Paul Jordan.

THE MURRAY EPSTEIN OLD BOYS CHALLENGE CUP SERIES