Supported by John Moncur snr, a former Head of Recruitment and Youth Development at Tottenham, and the youngest of the Moncurs, Timmy, a UEFA B level coach and county golfer with a handicap of scratch, it’s a business run by five generations.
Freddie Moncur who Heads up Sales at the company believe that one of the key things he learnt from football is how to interact with people, and that hard work and graft also are key traits in both professions.
His father John Moncur had a chequered career, he openly admits that he would binge drink as a young man, and got into trouble off the pitch. Yet this led him to to find God, and is a self confessed born again Christian.
There have been some cracking stories both on and off the pitch.
Rio Ferdinand once said of Moncur “He is one of the funniest men I have ever met in football” He recalled a story from one freezing morning at Chadwell Heath training ground, “For training kit is was first come first served, and inevitably everyone wanted a jacket, a jumper and tracksuit bottoms so after about twenty minutes if you hadn’t got in there you had to go out in a t- shirt or tight skinned jumper that didn’t fit you. Monc’s has flown out the changing room onto the training pitch with a pair of football boots, a pair of socks and nothing else : “Where’s the kit all gone, I’ve got no kit!”
Harry Redknapp was manager at the time and ensured ‘Eddie the kitman’ always had a spare track suit for Moncur after that.
Training was always interesting as another time a decorator was painting the dressing rooms on a day of training, and “Monc’s” asked him to paint his head white and then went out to train. Needless to say the club never hired a decorator on the same day of training ever again!
Another well publicised story, was when Paulo Futre joining West Ham. The Portugese international, widely recognised as one of the best players of his generation wanted the number ten squad number that Moncur held. As such he offered up his holiday villa for the shirt which Monc’s gleefully accepted, and used several times. Sunbed, cigar and a number 16 squad number – not a bad deal!
Something of a cult hero at West Ham, Moncur always gave 100% on the pitch, and was known for the “Cruyff turn”.
He is proud to say that he found God through Alan Comfort, himself an ex footballer from Leyton Orient. During 2003 Moncur in an interview said “I’m definitely a better person for finding God. I am more compassionate, less angry and get less worried about things.”
His eldest son George did start off at West Ham yet sadly never made a first team appearance and after a number of loan moves, carved out a career in the lower leagues at Colchester United, Barnsley, Peterborough, Luton Town, Hull City, and Leyton Orient. He is currently on a season long loan at Southend United in the National League. He carries a tattoo of his former West Ham team mate Dylan Tombides who died of testicular cancer in April 2014.
Younger brother Freddy Moncur who similarly began at West Ham, has largely played as a semi-professional for non league clubs and is now at Hertfordshire club, Ware.
So if you’re looking for a new motor, JFM cars may be worth a visit!