Enfield Town’s pre-season fixtures kick off tomorrow (Wednesday) with the hosting of AFC Wimbledon  and the chance to mix established first-teamers with trialists trying to catch the eye of the management team.

The game marks the Dons’ first fixture back on English soil following their Marbella tour in Spain and for us the opportunity for players to stake an early claim with the season kicking off in a month’s time.

Indeed, by the time Wednesday’s game gets under way we will know who we’re facing when as the league fixtures are due to be released a few hours earlier at lunchtime.

In the meantime, as we face another fan-owned team, the game is a special occasion in more ways than one with the mayor of Enfield due to officially open our new 400-seater stand around 6-6.15pm, with kickoff scheduled for 7pm.

The stand was used for the first time at the back end of last season but tonight’s game has been designated as its formal inauguration and we are honoured to have invited several local dignatories.

No-one is more proud than Town vice-chairman Paul Millington who drove the project and you can read our interview with Paul in the match programme.

Enfield Town’s newly appointed No. 2 says the call to join the club came as something of a surprise but that he can’t wait to get started as an important part of Gavin Macpherson’s management team.

Assistant manager Jon “Unders” Underwood, former joint manager at Slough before taking over the reins at Beaconsfield and Bracknell, believes his management skills will ideally complement those of Gavin as we embark on our first pre-season friendly at home to AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday.

“I received an out of the blue call from Gav a few weeks back asking if I’d be interested. I’ve always got on well with Gav and the big attraction for me was getting back into this league after a couple of years,” Jon explained in his first interview since joining.

Also paramount to his decision was the way the club is structured.

“Everything I’ve heard has been really positive, obviously the way it’s run and the supporters. It’s never easy to go from Step 3 into Step 2.  There’s a lot to be excited about and lot of reasons to be here. I’m also a big Tottenham fan which of course is just around the corner!”

Town’s special fan-based ethos was a particular attraction. “I wanted to be at a club where everyone was pulling in the same direction, that’s the most important thing,” said Jon, known affectionately as ‘Unders’.

“From everything I hear, even in some of the tough times last season, everyone was behind Gav and the team. For me that’s massive because at a lot of clubs it’s not like that and the fans get on your back.”

At some clubs as well, said Jon, volunteers don’t always come forward willingly.  “My understanding at this place is that the fans want to get involved. I’m all for that. I’m an open, sociable person and am looking forward to meeting supporters in the bar!”

Unders believes his management skills will be put to good use in the dugout. It’s unlikely, for instance. you will see him charging up and down the touchline gesticulating!

“I know this league…I know the level and I’d to think I’m quite a calm person on the sidelines. Someone who can see things, spot things and come to Gavin with ideas and solutions. It can be a lonely place as a manager.”

“I won’t be a yes man but we’ve had a good discussion. Although we haven’t worked together before, I think it will work really well.”

Jon, who spent nine years at Slough, says he knew quite a few of the Town players before he arrived, having worked with one or two personally and come up against some others in matches. “So when I turned up for training for the first time, they knew me and I knew them. I’m  looking forward to putting everything into the role and continuing the good form from the end of last season.”

Similarities between Town and Slough in terms of part-time status could also work in Jon’s favour.

“They both do things right off the pitch.”

And on it? “Both of us and a few others are trying to compete against some big full-time sides. We shouldn’t be scared of that, we’ve got good players here and an experienced management team.  it’s going to be difficult but I can’t wait to get going.”

AW

Listen to the full interview on ETFC’s social media platforms