David Wolff, Jewish grassroots football figure, dies at 81

David Wolff, a towering figure in Jewish amateur football, has died at 81, leaving a legacy spanning more than seven decades.

Wolff served as chairman of the Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) from 1970 until his passing, having first become involved in the league in 1963. He is regarded as a key figure in Jewish football in the United Kingdom.

He is credited with expanding the MGBSFL from a single 12-team division to a peak of 66 teams with more than 1,700 registered players. Today, the league comprises three divisions totaling 22 teams.

Wolff also served on the National Maccabi Football Committee, first as secretary and later as chairman from 1976 to 2000.

His impact extended well beyond Jewish football. Wolff served the London FA from 1970 on multiple committees, earning the Bobby Moore Grassroots Heroes Award in 2004 and being named honorary president in 2022.

He supported Maccabi leagues, mentored young volunteers, and helped establish governance structures designed to last. His legacy continues through divisional trophies in the MGBSFL, the 2025 Maccabi GB Lifetime Achievement Award, and his 2026 appointment as Honorary Life President of Maccabi GB.

Maccabi GB expressed profound grief at his passing and honored his life.

“David lived the values he believed in. He used football as a vehicle for inclusion, identity, friendship, and continuity, and in doing so shaped not just leagues and competitions, but lives,” the statement read.

“Everyone at Maccabi GB extends its deepest condolences to David’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his memory be a blessing, and may his legacy continue wherever Jewish football is played, organized, or simply loved,” it added.

Source: The Jewish Chronicle