Derry City sign Israeli defender
Alon Netzer joins League of Ireland side, days before start of the domestic season.
Andrew Sherwood is the Jewish News Sport and Community Editor
Israeli defender Alon Netzer has joined Irish Premier Division side Derry City.
The 23-year-old put pen to paper just days ahead of the start of the Irish season, and says he’s looking forward to playing in an “exciting league.”
Having started his career in Israel, Netzer spent last season in Romania with ASA Târgu Mureș in Romania. Speaking after watching City complete their pre-season with a 3-1 win against Dergview, he said: “I’m excited to be here and want to get started as soon as possible. I saw some players with good potential. I haven’t seen much of the League of Ireland, but I have heard it is an exciting league with lots of young players.”
Manager Kenny Shiels said: “We’re pleased to get him because we were low (in options) at the back. He’s played in Romania and in his native country Israel. I want to see him develop with us.”
The move wasn’t though welcomed by all, after one supporter took to social media where he called the signing “disgraceful”. Sending a tweet to the club’s official account, he said: “Absolutely disgraceful signing an Israeli”.
However, that view was in the minority, with other fans attacking the offensive remark. One read: “Welcome to Derry City F.C. Shouldn’t matter where he is from. If he’s good enough then that’s all that counts.”
A Celtic fan tweeted: “Over here Celtic had two Israelis who gave their all for the club and were much respected for their footballing skills and it didn’t matter where they come from”, while another, referring to problems encountered in Ireland, said: “Anger over an individual’s place of birth (something he had no control over) is narrow minded, just like the narrow mindedness that has divided our country”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
