By Andrew Warshaw

At a packed pre-season members’ meeting on Thursday, chairman Paul Reed and manager Gavin Macpherson laid out plans for the coming season on and off the pitch as we build towards our second campaign in National League South.

During a wide-ranging discussion, which included a question and answer session, Paul gave an update on the club’s finances and board restructuring while Gavin discussed recent player ins and outs.

At the start the meeting, Gavin and the management team received a well-deserved round of applause for the achievements last season  before Paul began by revealing the club was slightly ahead of budget at the end of the season due in large part to increased attendances.

Paul disclosed that matchday income was up last season by 40 percent on the preceding one and that there would be a modest budget increase for the coming campaign without endangering club finances.

Total cost of the ground improvements was £146,131 – paid for by grants, crowdfunding and club funds.

Because of greater crowds, next season is going to require more stewarding while the three-year vision for the future is to create a football and social centre for the entire community.

The plan is for revenue to increase by 25 percent by the end of 27/28 by which time it hoped average attendances can top 1,000. A new bar facility is also being planned while external investment will also be sought to grow the club.

After Paul had outlined the club’s mission, it was over to Gavin to give an appraisal of last season and a reading of the coming one. But not before members were informed that there will be a new food franchise next season following the expiry of the Cooking Champions contract.

Gavin made a point of thanking the fans for their support and helping to get the club through “some dark moments” before our mid-season resurgence.

The away trouncing at Hampton and Richmond in late September was “about as low as it got” in the dressing room, said Gavin. “It caused me and my team to have a massive rethink. If I needed a punch on the nose, that was it. We had to make some drastic changes.”

“Seven months later, while I was highly displeased with the Worthing result, we achieved what we needed to in the end.”

Admitting with trademark honesty that he had “gambled and probably lost” vis-à-vis Joe Wright, Gavin explained that both Joe and Rhys Forster deserved a chance to impress but that he couldn’t give either one a cast-iron guarantee.

Gavin, who will be assisted next season by a new No. 2 in John Underwood, believes National League South will be harder than ever.

 “It’s gone up several notches with the likes of Dagenham and Redbridge now in the division but I’m looking to embrace the magnitude of the task ahead. I believe we’ve made some really good signings and we’re aiming to make a few more including hopefully another forward but I’ve said it before, we’re battling against full-time teams.”

“Having said that I’m very pleased with who we’ve got so far. If you google Lemar Reynolds, you will doubtless get his goal for Maidstone against Ipswich in the FA Cup. That’s generally what he is — quick, direct and strong.”

Gavin revealed he was planning to play Lemar down the middle rather than on the wing where he had been playing with Greenock Morton. That, remember, is precisely what Gav did positionally with Marcus Wyllie – and we all know the outcome. So let’s hope for another masterstroke.

“We made the biggest step this club ever has last season by staying up and success for us now is improve on that,” said Gavin. “I liken it a bit to Premier League and Championship. More often than not the team that gets promoted goes down but we didn’t. We’re in a good place and have a nucleus of players now who understand how hard they have to work and the quality they have to bring.”

On the eve of our annual pre-season members’ meeting, Gavin Macpherson has provided some valuable insight into the various arrivals and departures ahead of the new season.

Gavin has already expressed his views both on the club website and social media on the recruitment of new forwards Lamar Reynolds and Tommy Wood and the respective qualities both offer, as well as defenders Avan Jones and Ruaridh Donaldson.

Several of last season’s squad, as we know, have departed, most notably Lennon Peake who has opted for full-time football at Ebbsfleet and Joe Wright who has dropped down a division to sign for Aveley.

Gavin admits the situation regarding Joe was not ideal.

“I would like to thank Joe for everything he’s done, not only last season but in previous years,” said Gav. “Joe came in at a difficult time when we really needed a keeper and like Rhys (Forster) was a massive part in helping maintain our status at step two and I’m thankful for that. For this coming season I had tried to keep the goalkeeping situation at the club in a strong position. I realise now with the lack of guarantees that this was an ambitious challenge and I totally realise why Joe has made the decision to sign elsewhere.”

At the other end of the pitch, to put the difficulty of signing quality strikers into perspective, the management team have spoken to over 40 forward players since the end of last season.

“It’s very simple, we don’t have the pulling power of some clubs but I’m very pleased with what we’ve got,” said Gav. “The sorts of figures I have met with is way out of our comfort zone but I believe we’re in a good place with  those we’ve recruited.”

While we are saying goodbye to the likes of Lennon, Joe, Hisham Kasimu, Jack Smith, Anointed Chukwa and John Oyenuga, we are certainly in a better place than this time last year, a raft of players having re-signed for the new campaign including Sam Youngs, Mickey Parcell and the whole of last season’s back three who played such a huge part in our survival.

“It’s so important to have retained the defensive backbone since they were largely responsible for the form table in the second half of the season,” said Gavin.

“We know we have a foundation to compete and now we also have competition for places. One of the reasons we signed Ruaridh was that he’s a leader and also versatile. Plus he fits the ethics of this football club.”

AW

Note to members: Gavin will be attending Thursday’s meeting and will be conducting a Q and A session

We are thrilled to announce the statement signing of  ex-professional forward Lamar Reynolds whose superb goal for Maidstone against Ipswich Town 18 months ago – live on terrestrial tv – helped pull off one of the great shocks in recent FA Cup history.

Lamar, 29, joins us from Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton where he made 22 appearances and is a veritable coup by the board and management team in boosting our attacking options.

“I’m delighted to get Lamar on board,” said Gavin Macpherson. “It took some working through but I was very happy to see this one over the line.”

“I had some early conversations where Lamar wanted to know about the club and supporters which was easy to talk about.”

“Lamar is a forward with pace and power, he was used as a wide player last season but with the right partner I believe he is just what we have been missing through the middle.”

Welcome Lamar

The new recruits keep coming, the latest being specialist right-back Avan Jones as the management team look to cover all possible defensive formations.

Avan joins us from fellow Step 2 club Chesham United where he was part of the Southern League-winning squad in 2023-24.

At 23, he followed that up by winning the young player of the season award in the latest league campaign and in all made 56 appearances the Generals.

Avan promises to be another shrewd signing and we can’t wait to see him in a Towners shirt.

Welcome Avan!

We are pleased to confirm that our annual home pre-season fixture against Tottenham Hotspur’s under-21 squad will take place on Tuesday, Aug 5 (ko 7.45).

With the Spurs training ground a stone’s throw away, this game, which has taken place since 2018, always generates huge local interest and a bumper crowd is expected as part of our build-up to the new season.

Tickets are available online on the following link:

https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/etfc2526ps4/enfield-town-vs-tottenham-hotspur-u21

A number of changes have been made to the club’s management structure to drive us forward into the next National League South campaign.

Assistant Manager Jon Nurse has been appointed as Enfield Town’s Head of Football Operations, a new role that will help the club meet the challenges of what is fast becoming a full-time league.

 Jon joined Enfield Town in 2023 moving from Met Police FC with Gavin Macpherson and was a huge part of our history-making promotion season.

“Jon very much remains a fundamental part of the team,” said Gavin. “I believe the role brings us into line with many of the clubs at this level. He will be drawing on his experience to help enhance the analytics department, recruitment and longer term strategy amongst other key initiatives.

“I absolutely feel this gives us greater resilience and definitely enhances the structure of the club. The league has strengthened considerably in my opinion, we can’t afford to stand still, we are already trying to bridge gaps to many of the other clubs in the league so I believe this role enhances our ability to look forward with optimism. Although he will be missed as a coach, the role suits Jon’s skill set and current domestic situation”.

We are also pleased to announce than joining the club as Assistant Manager is Jon Underwood.

Jon is the ex-joint Manager of Slough Town Fc, instrumental in guiding them to National League South football. What followed was one of the most successful periods in the club’s history under his tenure.

Gavin commented: “ I’ve known Jon for a while. He is an excellent fit for the team and the club. Like Nursey he shares the morals and ethics of the club and will add hugely in both experience and as a coach. I’m sure we will all give him a warm welcome as we strive to move forward once again this season”.

As many of you will know Dean Hurlow has stepped down as Lead Goalkeeping Coach.

“I’m sure we all join in wishing Deano a happy retirement and more importantly thank him for being a crucial part of the management team that gained promotion in 2024. I’m told we’ll still see Dean around so please say hello,” said Gavin.

“With a busy business Dean felt it was time to hang up his gloves. Dean has been a huge part of the team and will be missed. On behalf of the club I would like to thank Deano for his massive contribution whilst at Enfield Town”.

Ed Thompson will now carry on the good work. Both Steve Conroy and Carl Garstang remain in their roles.

As the management team’s search for fresh firepower intensifies, we are pleased to announce that striker Tommy Wood has joined Town from Hornchurch for the new season.

Tommy, 26, played one game for us as a triallist in pre-season last year before moving on to Cheshunt and then Hornchurch.

“I am delighted to have a player of Tommy’s ability on board,” said Gavin Macpherson. “As we know Tommy came in last pre-season for a very brief period and I think at that stage he will admit that having had no pre-season it probably wasn’t right for him to come in.”

“But as we know when we played Hornchurch away, a fit Tommy Wood was an absolute thorn in our side, his physicality and experience difficult to contain.”

Welcome Tommy!

Watch this space for more breaking transfer news in the days ahead

It has been confirmed that our first pre-season outing will be at home to AFC Wimbledon on July 9 (ko 7pm).

It is anticipated that the game will mark the official opening of our new stand so the more fans who can turn up to join in the celebrations as well as supporting the boys, the better.

Johnnie Jackson’s Dons have gained promotion back to League One and it promises to be an intriguing test of our ability as pre-season gets under way.

We are delighted to announce the signing of hugely experienced Scottish defender Ruaridh Donaldson from Chelmsford City.

Ruaridh, 31,  joined the Clarets a year ago and before that played for Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Back home, he has represented Stenhousemuir in Scotland, obtaining promotion from Scottish League 2.

Naturally left-footed, he has played at Step 2 for several seasons and can also fit seamlessly into midfield. His versatility promises to be a huge asset next season.

Welcome Ruaridh!

There will once again be healthy competition for the No. 1 shirt next season with Joe Wright and Rhys Forster both retained for 2025-6.

We are delighted Joe and Rhys have agreed to stay and can also announce that Joe Payne, who spent part of last season at Potters Bar on a dual registration, is also remaining with Town.

Onwards and upwards