By Andrew Warshaw

Enfield Town may not be able to match some other clubs in National League South when it comes to full-time status and daily training schedules which is why fitness levels could prove a key element throughout the campaign – starting at Torquay tomorrow.

At various intervals during pre-season on the training pitch, Town employed a strength and development expert in Leon Braithwaite, designed to get us up to speed for the long haul ahead.

Leon, brother of former Olympic sprinter Darren Braithwaite, is close friends with Jon Nurse, the pair having taken their coaching badges together. The rest, as they say, is history.

Leon, who played professionally as a striker with Exeter City but who has widespread non-league experience and a close affinity with ETFC having represented us in 2006-7, spent a number of training sessions in the build-up to Torquay fine-tuning fitness levels in order to improve our ability to compete with the so-called bigger teams in the division.

“If you haven’t got the biggest budget, one way you can compensate for that is fitness to give yourself a fighting chance,” said Leon who is also a qualified sports psychologist and first lent his expertise to Town back in February last season when fitness levels needed a boost for the tough run-in.

It proved such a success in helping Town achieve their goal of survival that he was invited back in pre-season to put the players through their paces.

 “I spoke to Gavin and Nursey earlier in the summer and we devised a plan. Small margins help in football. The fitter you are, the more concentrated you are and you don’t get drawn out of certain positions. Your mindset is stronger in terms of attention to detail and being more adaptable,” explained Leon.

“The players embraced me with open arms. Everyone is fitter and stronger by about 20 percent than when I arrived for my first training session. They might be under the cosh at times in certain games and of course natural ability helps. But I believe you can also accrue points simply through fitness levels, especially when you’re not full-time. They got better and better in pre-season. From what I’ve seen, I have no doubt the club can compete this season.”