Month: December 2020

Adam Cunnington joins Town

Experienced striker Adam Cunnington has signed forms for the club, and all the necessary clearances have taken place for him to be eligible for our Buildbase FA Trophy 1st round home tie against Maldon & Tiptree on Wednesday (9th December, 7.45pm).

In more recent seasons, following spells at clubs including Barwell, Solihull Moors and Kettering Town, he has enjoyed Conference experience at Tamworth and Cambridge United, Ebbsfleet and Bromley. He has also made EFL appearances for Dagenham & Redbridge as well as Cambridge.

He enjoyed the best part of three seasons at Billericay Town, and most recently wore the colours of both Hornchurch and Cheshunt. Enfield Town manager Andy Leese said “Adam is a player we have tried to sign on a number of occasions. With Shaun Okojie out injured, we felt we needed to bolster our attacking options.

“He’s already won the Isthmian Premier Division and will bring some more experience to the group. He’s played alongside Billy Bricknell before, he’s a good character and is keen to settle after a disrupted few months”.

Welcome Adam!

Trident Leagues update 4/12/20

A further statement has been issued by the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Football Leagues in relation to the voting following meetings held by the 3 Trident Leagues with their Member Clubs to discuss the impact of the raising of the lockdown on 2nd December.

The full statement can be found here: https://www.isthmian.co.uk/trident-leagues-statement-4th-december-2020-contin-64648

In summary, there will be no league fixtures until such time as progress is achieved at review points on 16 December and 30 December. Enfield Town supporters will be updated as soon as any additional information becomes available.

Trident Leagues statement

The Pitching In Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues have released a joint statement, with further information to follow:

The Clubs in membership of the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues (the Trident Leagues) met earlier this week to consider the challenges and issues brought about by the reintroduction of Tiers after the raising of the nationwide lockdown with effect from yesterday.

The clubs were asked to vote on a proposition that the pause in fixtures be continued with a regular review in light of changes to the Tiers and/or grants becoming available. The total votes cast by the 224 Clubs show a substantial number of Clubs in agreement with the proposition. The matter has been considered today by all concerned and a further statement will be issued in due course.

https://www.isthmian.co.uk/trident-leagues-statement-covid-and-the-restart-64633

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Chairman’s update

The Club’s board met last night and had a detailed discussion about the resumption of matches at Steps 3 and 4 level, including those of Enfield Town FC.  The previous evening, Isthmian League clubs had met with league officials, and the meeting concluded with a proposal for the Trident Leagues (ie Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern) to consider together, and vote upon, in favour of or against:

“That Steps 3 and 4 continue the current pause in the season with a regular review in the light of changes to the current tiers and/or grants becoming available” 

The Enfield Town board has voted in favour of this proposal.  It discussed at length a number of factors.  The overriding themes of the discussion were health, finance and the longer term benefits for the club, the Isthmian League and the Trident Leagues.  It was not an easy decision to make and, of course, we have no idea of the outcome of the overall voting on the proposal, which I understand will be announced before the end of this week.

I felt it important to let Enfield Town FC Supporters Society members and other supporters know which way the club had decided to vote.  The board were acutely aware that, as a member-owned club, it had a duty to take account of a variety of opinions on behalf of all members and supporters, and it came to a conclusion which had its primary focus on the longer term. 

I understand that a number of supporters will be disappointed with this vote which, as I say, is not the definitive way forward – that will become known sooner rather than later.  There were risks to be considered with both adopting this proposal or rejecting it (and thus paving the way for the league season to continue from 12th December).  But we had to come to a decision and I wanted you all to be aware of it openly before the outcome of the overall vote is known. If the proposal is adopted, I understand that it is likely that a series of review points will be triggered and that the current intention is that these review points could lead to a league resumption for clubs at Steps 3 and 4 in January 2021.

Separately, in a competition in which we were not offered a similar choice, the club will be continuing its participation in the Buildbase FA Trophy, and our next match in that competition – for which tickets are now on sale – will be at home to Maldon & Tiptree in the first round proper on Wednesday 9th December (7.45pm).

We have learned many lessons about staging matches this season, with Covid-19 precautions uppermost in our minds, and we will continue to take those precautions although the final decision on whether or not to attend this match (or indeed subsequent rounds if we are successful and are drawn at home again) rests with spectators themselves. 

The board will continue to update members and supporters as necessary as we continue to negotiate this most difficult of seasons. The ETFC Supporters Society Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 21st January (7.30pm, almost certainly via Zoom link) during which members can discuss these, and other, issues in an open forum. 

Paul Reed

Chairman

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Maldon & Tiptree match tickets

Match tickets for Town v Maldon & Tiptree (Buildbase FA Trophy, Wednesday 9th December 7.45pm)

Discussions are still ongoing about the resumption of league matches at Step 3 level, but our Buildbase FA Trophy first round match at home to Maldon & Tiptree on Wednesday 9th December, 7.45pm kick-off, is scheduled to go ahead as a limited capacity all-ticket match, taking account of the experience of staging recent matches and of government guidelines. There are some adjustments to previous matches, and further adjustments may continue to be made in the light of any further Covid-19 guidance.  General season tickets are not valid for this match, but Gold #GoToTown subscribers can gain entry via the gate next to the turnstiles by presenting their season card or, if not collected yet, by giving their details to the steward on the gate.

Tickets can be purchased via https://shop.etfc.london/events.

Adults: £11.00
Concessions: £7.00
Under-21s: £7.00
Under-16’s: £1.00

Ticket applicants will be issued with a digital quick response (QR) code e-ticket which can be swiped at the gate on a mobile phone or be printed out for entry.  Please note that an invoice will also be forwarded; this is not your ticket. If there are any issues with e-ticket delivery, please check your spam/junk folders before emailing webteam@etfc.london

There will be an opportunity to purchase a seat in the very limited accommodation in the main stand (an additional £4). Now that club shop arrangements are up and running, hard copy matchday programmes will be available on the day (£2.50 cash or contactless payment at the club shop), ie not reserved in advance. E-copies (£2) will be available in advance of the match at https://shop.etfc.london/product-category/match-day-programme

In line with government guidelines, the club is highly unlikely to be operating a bar service.  FA rules stipulate that alcohol cannot be brought into the stadium.  Any further changes for this match will be notified as soon as possible.

As announced previously, the club have taken a number of comprehensive precautions to make the QEII Stadium safe, particularly with regard to social distancing.  All spectators need to be fully aware that attendance at the match will be entirely at their own risk. You must follow government guidelines and self-diagnose before travelling to the QEII Stadium.  If you, or any of your household, are experiencing any symptoms which may be related to Covid-19, you should not travel and you should follow NHS advice. At the QEII Stadium you agree to respect others, abide with social distancing guidelines and measures that the club have put in place, and undertake to follow all advice given by ETFC stewards, officials and via tannoy announcements.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience whilst we adapt to constantly evolving ways of working, as the club looks to do the right thing, incrementally, with the safety of all in mind.  Certain facilities will remain closed or be limited. There will be signage in place, and parts of the ground will be subject to a one-way system for additional safety. Toilets will be subject to social distancing measures. Spectators should come prepared for inclement weather as there will be a strict adherence to maintaining social distancing under the limited cover at the ground. Umbrellas are permitted, although you should of course bear in mind the need to avoid blocking other spectators’ view. Please use the NHS Covid-19 app at the entrance if you have downloaded it.