Many footballers will never play alongside a Jewish teammate, but those who have made the grade are doing all they can to show the next generation there is a path to the top
You might not have noticed it with everything else going on in the opening weekend of the season, but there was a unique moment in Fulham ‘s draw with Liverpool at Craven Cottage.
Midway through the second half, the home side introduced new signing Manor Solomon from the bench, handing a debut to the Israel international. Not only was the winger the first Jewish player to feature in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season, but he remains the only Jewish player to make it onto the pitch in the competition this term.
In recent years, we have seen attempts made to understand why so few footballers from certain demographics make it to the top of the game. While there’s one obvious obstacle, with the Jewish day of rest falling on a Saturday and clashing with matchdays in a number of leagues, there are still a handful of players who are providing representation on the pitch.
“I’ve been to watch friends or my brother play in some of the Jewish leagues in London and there are good players there, but for whatever reason, I don’t know why, scouts have not turned up to those games,” Joe Jacobson tells Mirror Football. “Because they’re as enthusiastic or as determined as any other young kid to play football around the country.”