As manager Gavin Macpherson’s squad begins to take shape, we are very happy to announce that we have retained defenders Joe Payne and James Richmond.

With nine man-of-the-match awards between them last season, both were key cogs in a defensive line which, until the final few fixtures of the season, remained one of the meanest in the division. Left-back Joe led the way with five last year, returning to EN1 last September for another stint at the club after originally joining in March 2019 from Barnet. Nailing down the left-back berth for the remainder of the season, he played a part in ten clean sheets in the league and ended the season with a total of 85 appearances and 5 goals from full-back in a Town shirt.

“Buzzing to have signed for this great club again, it was a no brainer”, said Joe. “Really looking forward to working with Gavin and his team and can’t wait to play in front of the Town fans again. Up the Town!”

“Joe is exactly the kind of player and person I want at this football club”, stated boss Gavin Macpherson. “Joe’s positivity shines through and it’s clear that he’s an excellent defender to match his personality. I’m delighted Joe has once again committed to the club and I look forward to working with him.”

Richmond Returns

Central defender ‘Jimbo’ was another mainstay at the back for the Town last term, joining during the 2022-23 off-season having been skipper at Merstham for the last three seasons. He notched 2 goals and 8 league clean sheets in 34 appearances last season and was pleased to commit to the club for the coming season: “I’m delighted on re-signing for Enfield. I really enjoyed my first season with the club and it was a no-brainer after speaking to the new gaffer and his plans for next season”, said James. “I can’t wait to get going and I’m looking forward to meeting the new signings and management staff.”

“I’m really happy to be finally working with James. He is a player I’ve admired and tried to sign before; I was unsuccessful which was Enfield’s gain”, added Gavin. “James is pivotal to what we want to achieve this season and it goes without saying I’m so pleased he’s back with us.”

We are delighted to announce that we have retained club captain Scott Thomas, and ETFC’s Young Player of the Season Marcus Wyllie for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.

Captain Scott

Skipper Scott joined the club from Royston in 2019, since which time he has proven a central figure at the base of the Town midfield, with 125 appearances and counting in a blue and white shirt.

“Scott has been great since I have come in and has been a positive influence on the group as well as being an excellent player”, stated boss Gavin Macpherson. “I met with him first and he understood he can be an excellent extension of me and the management team both on and off the pitch.”

Scott himself was equally pleased to commit to the club: “As we can see, Gavin’s team is now building nicely and I’m pleased to be a part of his plans to help take our club forward. We have some wrongs to right from last season and I’m excited by the challenge of another season as a Towner!”

Wyllie On The Ascent

Nippy forward Marcus is the next to commit to the Towners ahead of next term. Our Young Player of the 22-23 Season, he chipped in with 4 goals and 4 assists – as well as earning three man-of-the-match awards – in his first year with us.

“Marcus is a player I’ve been so impressed with, both with his on-pitch ability and when speaking to him privately”, said Gavin. “For me, he is essential to my squad as he demonstrates a hunger to succeed at Enfield Town; something I want within the foundations of this squad.”

“There is no better person to develop his game than Jon Nurse, so taking everything into account I’m delighted Marcus is an Enfield Town player.”

Marcus, likewise, was excited to return: “I’m delighted to be re-signing for Enfield. It’s a club I’ve really enjoyed being at, which made my decision easy. After speaking with Gavin and hearing his plans, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I’m looking forward to the season ahead and hopeful for success.”

By Andrew Warshaw

There was hardly a spare seat in Butler’s Bar on Tuesday night when our new manager Gavin Macpherson was introduced to fans and outlined his plans for taking the club forward.

Gavin spoke eloquently for over an hour, including taking several questions from the floor, and made a huge impression on everyone in the room with his positivity, insightfulness, technical knowledge, attention to detail, humour, realistic approach and engaging manner.

After the chairman explained the selection process and said Gavin was the unanimous first choice having “ticked all the boxes”, it was over to the new gaffer himself and his goalkeeping coach, Dean Hurlow, who he brought along with him.

Not able to be present but also part of Gavin’s management team will be his trusted No. 2 John Nurse, former St Albans first-team coach Steve Conroy and Carl Garstang, ex-assistant manager at Farnborough. Meanwhile our physio John Abbott is to remain at the club while Ian Hart will also continue to be involved.

“I’m bringing a really experienced management team with me,” said Gavin. “Deano is worth his weight in gold while John has been my right-hand man and is a fantastic coach and role model who works diligently to improve players whether they are 35 or 15.”

Gavin, whose track record speaks for itself at Met Police where he had tremendous success despite the lowest budget in the league, agreed with the chairman that that the Isthmian League Premier will probably be the strongest it has ever been next season but said he was determined to give us a team to be proud of.

Renowned for his attacking style of play, he has studied countless videos of our playing style and made it clear that everyone would be given a chance on merit, regardless of age. How we work as a team off as well as on the ball will be a crucial part of training sessions.

He admitted he was offered terms by another club but immediately got a feel for the Towners, not least our unique fan-owned ethos, and didn’t need any convincing.

“The fan base has massively invested in the club and I’m very humbled to be here,” he said. “I’m going to give it absolutely everything.”

Whilst being realistic about the strength of the division next season, Gavin said he would relish pitting his wits against the sides who are expected to have the most financial weight behind them.

“Potentially we need a bit of a reset but that is not a bad thing. I think we under-achieved last season but the players are a bunch I was keen to keep hold of, obviously with one or two tweaks.”

The eagerly awaited return of fans’ favourite Mickey Parcell from Hornchurch is one of those tweaks while incoming winger Ollie Knight was described by Gavin  as “the best deliverer of the ball I have ever seen at this level, with an engine to die for.”

Discussing the attributes of our new goalkeeper Rhys Forster, who replaces the departing Nathan McDonald having played at Step 2 Slough for the first part of last season before going on to the win the FA Vase with Ascot Town, Dean Hurlow told members: “Rhys is a very positive guy who plays very much on the front foot. He’s someone I hold in high regard and he’s a character. You will all like him, I’m sure.”

We are very pleased to welcome central midfielder Louis Birch to Enfield Town.

A solid, deep-lying midfielder, Louis has spent the past five years with Metropolitan Police and re-joins his former manager, as well as ex-teammates Ollie Knight and Rhys Forster, in joining the Towners. Prior to his time at the Met, he had spent time with Welling United.

“Louis is a strong competitive holding midfielder who goes about his business quietly”, said Gavin. “He is comfortable on the ball and is someone I trust implicitly to do his job consistently. Often an unsung hero, Louis is a model professional and a player, and I’m delighted he has agreed to sign for Enfield Town”.

We are extremely pleased to confirm that we have retained the services of Sam Youngs and Jake Cass.

Long-serving midfielder Sam is rapidly approaching 200 appearances for the club, and scooped ETFC’s Manager’s Player, Players’ Player and Goal of the Season in 2022 as we secured a highest-ever league finish. His 25 man-of-the-match awards are the fourth most in the club’s history.

“We have re-signed a fantastic player and a fantastic person”, said boss Gavin Macpherson.

“Like many of the players Sam is a player I’ve admired for a while and he’s one that you look to build round. Although Sam has been here for a while it’s still exciting news. As a new Manager these are exactly the type of signings you want to be announcing.”

“As soon as I met with Gavin I knew that I wanted to stay with the club”, said Sam. “After hearing his ideas I am very excited for the new season and challenge ahead”

Popular striker Jake, meanwhile, is the club’s Golden Boot holder, having hit 20 goals last term; 18 in the league, and was delighted to commit to the club: “Irrelevant of who was taking over as manager, as long as they wanted my services as a player, I was always only ever signing for Enfield”, Jake commented. “It’s the only club I even consider playing for, I love it here and wish to help bring us the success we deserve. Fortunately, I’m in Gavin’s plans, I’m hopeful and confident he’s going to do a very good job for us and I can be a big part of that. Up the Town.”

“Jake is a proven goal scorer. His qualities will suit the way we play, and the number of chances the team will create”, added Gavin. “He is a player who can link well with current players in the squad. I’m focused on creating an environment in which Jake can thrive, it’s massive and exciting news.”

We are very pleased to welcome wide midfielder Oliver Knight to Enfield Town.

Another familiar face to gaffer Gavin Macpherson, 26-year-old Ollie came through the academy at Forest Green Rovers before representing Cirencester Town and Frome Town. He has spent the last five seasons with Metropolitan Police; twice helping them into the play-offs – including chipping in with 14 assists in 31 appearances during the 2021-22 campaign. He also spent a brief stint at fellow Isthmian Premier side Horsham last year.

“I’m so pleased to bring Ollie to Enfield”, commented Gavin. “Ollie was one of my first signings as a manager and has been an instrumental player with my previous club. Ollie is a versatile player and is one of the best deliverers of a football I’ve worked with. He also brings quality, fitness and energy to the group and will give us another dimension to our playing style.”

Meanwhile, as you may have seen elsewhere, Andre Coker has parted company with the club. The popular forward man notched 18 goals and 6 man-of-the-match awards in his 66 ETFC appearances – we wish him all the best on his next steps.

This Tuesday 6th June, there is an opportunity for members/owners to meet our new manager Gavin and his management team at 7:30 PM in Butlers Bar at the QEII Stadium. 

Some of you may need to renew your membership before Tuesday; others may want to take the opportunity to sign up now – remember, membership means you own your share of the club, and earn voting rights & access to events such as these – without its members, there would be no Enfield Town FC!

You can sign up for ETFC Membership by clicking here.

We are delighted to announce the exciting signing of a new goalkeeper in 24-year-old Rhys Forster.

Rhys, who has bags of experience for someone of his age, played the first eight months of last season at Step 2 Slough Town before moving on loan in February to Ascot United where he went on to lift the prestigious FA Vase.

Among his various other clubs, Rhys played for 18 months at Met Police under our new manager Gavin Macpherson who is thrilled to have landed his man.

“Rhys is an excellent keeper. He has fantastic technical ability and most importantly, he’s someone who can make big saves at big moments,” said Gavin.

“He’s extremely hard working and someone who’se worked with us before at the Met. Having played at Slough Town last season he’s really looking forward to joining us at Enfield. Rhys is a good size for a keeper and a brilliant character. I am delighted to have him on board.”

Welcome Rhys.

In other news Andre Coker has announced his intention to move on. We wish him well. 

UPDATE: Our previously promoted First Team trials are now fully subscribed and we are not accepting any further applications.

The torrent of applications received over the weekend was immense – thank you to all who applied. The process of finalising squad sizes for the trials will now take place.

The club are delighted to announce that we have re-signed fan favourite Mickey Parcell.
Right-back Mickey needs no introduction to the Towner faithful; a local lad who featured on 193 occasions during his first spell with us, participating in the 2016-17 playoffs and playing a key role in our 2018-19 Velocity Trophy against Hornchurch. Since then, he has gone on to enjoy four hugely successful seasons with the Urchins, including a remarkable 2021 FA Trophy win and – individually – being named in the Isthmian Team of the Season for the last two years running.

Boss Gavin Macpherson commented: “To announce Mickey as my first Enfield signing is massively exciting. As we all know he is a quality, fully committed player who is excellent to have around the club. Mickey will drive standards within the group and, with him being one of the senior players, bring leadership qualities which any Manager will look for. I believe he will add heart and desire to what we are looking to achieve, it’s one of my best ever signings.”

Chairman Paul Reed was equally buoyant: “we’re thrilled to welcome Mickey back to the club. We all know what a fantastic player he was during his first spell with us and he has only improved during his successful time at Hornchurch. We know this news will be very well received by everyone at the club and we can’t wait to see Mickey in a Town shirt again.”