There will be a familiar look about the London Lions team that manager Andrew Landesberg picks against Burnham Ramblers on Saturday for their first Buildbase FA Vase tie in two years.
That’s because two thirds of the squad have been together since they first learnt how to kick a ball in the muddy fields of north-west London 15 years ago.
Burnham Ramblers v London Lions
The Buildbase FA Vase
First round qualifying
3pm, Saturday 10 September 2016
Lesile Fields, Burnham-on-Crouch
Nowadays, they have state-of-the-art facilities they call home in Hertfordshire, boasting five pitches, a 200-seater stand and floodlights.
But Landesberg insists the long-term values of the club, which began playing Sunday-league football, only signs Jewish players and will not play on high holy days, remain.
“The roots of where we are now can be traced back 15 years,” explained Landesberg.
“The boys playing then at the age of seven and eight are now in their 20s and still with us.
“Of the squad of 16 likely to be involved on Saturday, 10 or 11 of them started in our youth teams.
“That’s how we have evolved as a club and we are now playing at one of the best facilities in Hertfordshire, good enough for us to be playing two or three levels higher.”
The Lions travel to Burnham for their first round qualifying clash with five wins from five games so far this term, while their hosts have lost all nine of their league matches so far.
But Landesberg hopes his players will not do too much research beforehand, with such a stat bringing with it the risk of complacency.
“I certainly won’t be sharing that with the boys,” added the 58-year-old, who played the bulk of his football at another club with Jewish roots, Wingate & Finchley.
“It might be that the FA Vase brings out the best in them.
“But we’ve got a long trip to make and I certainly don’t want to be making that journey home without a win.”
FA Vase history
Burnham Ramblers enjoyed their best run in the competition in 1988/89 when they reached the last-16.
They successfully navigated their way through six ties, before losing 2-1 at Bury Town.
The Lions have competed in the FA Vase three times previously, reaching the second round in 2012/13 where they were beaten 3-2 by Brightlingsea Regent.
Did you know?
Burnham have produced three players that have gone on to play professional football: Fred Wolfe at West Ham United, Gordon Brasted of Arsenal and, most recently, John Warner who joined Colchester United in 1988.
Though their first team play on Saturdays, London Lions retain their Sunday-league roots. The club boasts 43 teams, from under-7s through to Masters at the age of 45 years and over.
One to watch
Prolific striker Austin Lipman, with five goals in as many games so far this season, is likely to be the key man for London Lions – especially when you consider Burnham have conceded 33 times in nine Essex Senior League matches so far this term.
The prize
The winners will land a home tie with Harpenden Town or Ilford in second round qualifying, as well as £600 from the prize fund.
