Issam Khalidi
Sports
in Palestine was not limited to Arab and Jewish sports clubs and federations,
rather it included British Mandate's sports, departmental and companies league,
Scouts-athletic teams, schools' sports and others.
British civil administration in
Palestine operated from 1920 until 1948. The British established the Jerusalem
Sports Club in 1921. The Government Departmental League was founded in 1921, it
was the first league in Palestine. It only operated in Jerusalem, it was a
great success, but owing to the reduction in the staff of the various Departments
especially in regard to the British Personnel, the League fell into abeyance in
1925. The season 1924 can be considered to be the turning point of the game as
in this year, the Jerusalem Flower Cup and the Municipal Cup Competitions came
into existence.[1]
The Government Departmental included: Municipalities,
Railways Customs, Health, Lands, Immigration, Education, Public Affairs, Post
Office, Agriculture and Justice. While Companies
included Potash , Shell, Barclay’s Bank, Electric, Iraqi Oil, Electric. These departments
and companies included Arab, Jews, Armenians and British players. The Departments and
Companies Football League re-started in 1938. Some cities had its own league
such as Jerusalem. Palestine
Police had its own teams in most of the cities in Palestine. In 1932, Shell took part in a
tournament organized by the Jerusalem Municipality along with Arab Sports Club,
Orthodox Club, ha-Nowah, Hatzvi and
YMCA.
Palestine Bulletin brought
the following news about the Governmental League:
The League which was first formed in 1921 is entirely
confined to Government officials and as many of the Clubs have in their ranks
some of Palestine's Senior Footballers the standard of play is well up to the
average.
In a report titled (Palestine Football Prospect) in
October 1932, Palestine Bulletin PB described the Government Departmental League Jerusalem:
This the oldest League in Palestine after a lapse of
three years, was, last year revived and the good season experienced has given
an incentive to continue activities, the League will this year probably consist
of the following team:- Public Health, (last year’s Champions) Post Office,
Education, Law Courts, a combined tam from the Immigration and Lands Registry,
a combined team of Public Works and Agriculture and further team consisting of
the Government Departments who are not represented by a composite team.[2]
It also mentioned about the Municipal Cup Competition
Jerusalem :
Organised
in 1924 for minor teams, this League has provided the early training of the
Junior Player and has been of great service in bringing along young players for
the more senior Leagues, this season there will be 10 teams competing in this
League consisting of the reserve teams of the Flower League teams, some of whom
are entering two elevens.
The Municipal League, Governmental League and the
Flower (founded in 1923, it included
Rawdat al-Ma'arif, YMCA, Arab SC, Shell, Nordia,
Ofir and ha-Oar ha-Oved) League are not affiliated with any Association and are
open to any Club who cares to compete irrespective of creed or nationality they
therefore escape the political influence that are so predominant amongst
Association Leagues and Competitions and the games are played with perfect
goodwill and freedom. [3]
In November 1940 Palestine Post PP brought this
news: "The third week of the current season of the Departments and
Companies Football League went off like its predecessors without incident or
postponement of fixtures, and at the end at the end of the week, no less thank
there teams were bounced together at the top of the League table, level on
points. The Police clerical staff team take pride of place owing to their
superior goal average, their three games having produced ten goals and none
against. Second in the table come Barclays Bank with 12 goals to 2, and, they
in turn are followed by Secretariat with 11 goals to 7. At this premature stage
in the League activities it would be dangerous to predict the prospective
champion, and as the three teams at the top have not met the same opponents, a
comparison of form would be misleading, but there is little doubt that the
Bankers and Police will go a long way towards making the running. Last season’s
champions, Post Office, have started poorly, their two encounters having
produced but a solitary point. They were beaten on Thursday by the combined
Health-Law Courts side, a team that will shake up several of the championship
aspirants before long. "[4]
In one of its news PP reported about a meeting between the
Palestine Potash and Electric company that the Potash was too strong for the Electric "combine", winning by two goals to nil after having put up a two to nil lead
the interval. [5]
The season
of 1942 - 1943 of the Jerusalem Departments and Companies League was confined to one division, the following teams took
part:
Secretariat
Post Office, Palestine Potash, Shell Company, Barclay’s Bank, Controllers,
Jewish Settlement Police, Temporary Additional Police, Law-Health-District,
Administration-Municipality Combine. It is probable that the Post Office and
Police will amalgamate. The League games will be played in one round, while the
question of one round, while the question of a special "goal average"
League is under consideration for later in the season. The "Speed"
knockout played after the League fixtures have been completed. The new
Committee will consist of: W. Brady (Chairman), L. Keshishian (Secretary), M. Battato
(Asst. Secretary), V. Krikorian (Treasurer) and A. Major (Member). [6]
The Arab newspaper Filastin brought news about governmental teams, and meetings between Arab
clubs and governmental teams:
The second team of the Islamic Sports Club in Jaffa met with the team of
Lod train station, the latter was
defeated 0 to 7. [7]
A match between the municipality team and the Potas Company was held at the YMCA
field, the municipality team won 3 to 1. [8] Filastin stopped publishing news
about departmental and companies teams from 1932 until 1940. Under the title (Governmental
departments' Sports Committee) Filastin reported: The Governmental
departments' Sports Committee had a tea party at 6:30 p.m. at the YMCA hall. It
was attended by his honor Mustafa al-Khalidi and other official dignitaries.
The number of the attendees were about 150. [9]
Filastin also reported: "We were informed that the employees
of the Lod Airport established a club and formed a football team that included
great players such as Abdul Ghani al-Habbab (Palestine's goal keeper and a
member of Islamic Sports Club). This club will meet with many Arab teams in
Palestine. "[10]
Endnotes:
[1]This
is a part from an article (Football in Palestine: World’s Football) appeared in
the official Bulletin of the Federation Internationale De Football Association,
1931 28th January. It was written by Joseph Yekutieli (The President
of the Maccabi Sport Federation) and Percy C. Speed.
[2]
Palestine Football Prospects 1932-33. Palestine Bulletin, 26 October 1932.
[3]
Palestine Football Prospects 1932-33. Palestine Bulletin, 26 October 1932.
[7] Filastin,
24 December 1931.
[8] Filastin,
April 1940.
[9] Filastin
13 December 1940
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