The 1927–28 season was the first season of competitive football in the British Mandate for Palestine under the Eretz Israel Football Association, which was established during the season, on 18 July 1928, and thus it can also be considered to be the first season of competitive football in Israel.
IFA Competitions
1928 People's Cup
The first State Cup, then called People's Cup was held during early 1928, with Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Hasmonean Jerusalem reaching the final. Hapoel won the cup by beating their opponents 2–0 in the final. However, the cup was later shared, as Maccabi Hasmonean appealed the result to the EIFA.
Mond Cup During a visit to Palestine, Sir Alfred Mond suggested a forming a Jewish unified team to tour The UK. In order to set the squad of the team which will be sent abroad, a competition, named "Mond Cup", in honor of Sir Mond, was organized between the four top Jewish teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Hasmonean Jerusalem in which The four teams would play each other in a league format, after which the best players would be selected to the team.Competition for Mond Cup Do'ar HaYom, 14 June 1928, Historical Jewish Press Eventually, after the competition, due to disagreements between the clubs no team was composed and the tour did not take place.The Lord Establishes a Hebrew Football Team Haim Kaufman, Yad Ben Zvi Tour of England Postponed Do'ar HaYom, 13 September 1928, Historical Jewish Press The competition included the first ever competitive Tel Aviv derby match, which was played at Maccabi ground on 24 June 1928 and resulted in a 1–1 draw. The return fixture, played on 21 July 1928 was won 3–1 by Hapoel.
Results
Notable events The first known match played by Hapoel Kfar Saba was held against Hapoel Magdiel in autumn 1927, and resulted in a 4–1 victory.In Hapoel Branches Davar, 19 October 1927, Historical Jewish Press On 13 October 1927, Maccabi Tiberias celebrated the inauguration of its stadium in the presence of several dignitaries, including the president of the World Zionist Organization, and later President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann, with several sport events, including a match against Maccabi HaGibor Haifa, which ended with a 1–0 loss to the hosts.Inauguration of Maccabi ground in Tiberias Do'ar HaYom, 10 October 1927, Historical Jewish Press Tiberias - Inauguration of Maccabi ground Davar, 23 October 1927, Historical Jewish Press Inauguration of Maccabi ground in Tiberias Celebration Do'ar HaYom, 23 October 1927, Historical Jewish Press On 12 November 1927, Hapoel Tel Aviv ground was opened with a match between the hosts and Wireless Company from Sarafand, resulting in a 2–1 to Hapoel.In Hapoel Branches The Palestine Bulletin, 14 November 1927, Historical Jewish PressTel Aviv - Opening of Hapoel Ground Davar, 13 November 1927, Historical Jewish Press During the second half of November 1927 Maccabi Hasmonean Jerusalem took a brief tour in Egypt, playing against two teams, International of Cairo, losing 2–5, on 20 November 1927,The First Competition of Hasmonean In Egypt, the Scores 2:5 to the Egyptians Do'ar HaYom, 21 November 1927, Historical Jewish Press Maccabii Hasmonean Match in Cairo Do'ar HaYom, 27 November 1927, Historical Jewish Press and Athos club of Alexandria on 27 November 1927, drawing 1–1.The Second Competition of Hasmonean in Egypt, One vs. One Do'ar HaYom, 28 November 1927, Historical Jewish Press Palestine Footballers V. Greeks at Alexandria Do'ar HaYom, 29 November 1927, Historical Jewish Press On 25 February 1928, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Hapoel Tel Aviv on Maccabi ground for the first ever Tel Aviv derby. Maccabi won the match 3–0,Tel Aviv - In Sport Davar, 24 February 1928, Historical Jewish PressTel Aviv - In Sport Davar, 26 February 1928, Historical Jewish PressJaffa Tel Aviv - Between Maccabi and Hapoel Do'ar HaYom, 28 February 1928, Historical Jewish PressIn Sport Davar, 29 February 1928, Historical Jewish Press A week later Hapoel hosted a rematch, this time Maccabi won 2–1.Tel Aviv - In Sport Davar, 4 March 1928, Historical Jewish PressIn Sport Davar, 8 March 1928, Historical Jewish Press In mid-March Hapoel Haifa went to Beirut upon invitation of the American College. The planned match between the teams did not take place, and Hapoel played only one match, against a Beirut XI, winning 4–1.Haifa - In Hapoel Davar, 21 March 1928, Historical Jewish PressIn Towns and Settlements - International Competition Do'ar HaYom, 22 March 1928, Historical Jewish Press On 7 April 1928 and 11 April 1928 Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv met for a double set of matches, the first was won by Maccabi 4–0,In Sport Davar, 10 April 1928, Historical Jewish Press while Hapoel recorded its first ever derby win on the second match, 1–0.Tel Aviv - In Sport Davar, 12 April 1928, Historical Jewish Press Hapoel Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv met in a two-legged tie for the Po'alei Mahane HaYarden Cup (, lit. Jordan Camp Workers Cup). On 31 March 1928 Hapoel Tel Aviv won the first match in Haifa 2–0.Haifa - In Sport Davar, 1 April 1928, Historical Jewish Press The second match, played on 14 April 1928, and kicked off by noted Belgian statesman Emile Vandervelde, was abandoned with a score of 1–1 after a Hapoel Haifa player was sent off and the team left the field in protest.Tel Aviv - In Sport Davar, 15 April 1928, Historical Jewish Press In Sport Davar, 18 April 1928, Historical Jewish Press
References