Are you a user of LinkedIn? 

LinkedIn is a free business and employment-oriented online service that operates via websites and mobile apps. 

The Club has recently updated its LinkedIn home page and will over the coming weeks and months further update the page with regular postings. 

Most of the postings you may have already seen on the website but, through LinkedIn, by your liking or sharing of the posts with your network, it will help towards the primary objective of increasing the Club’s profile for a much wider audience. 

Another key objective of our posts will be seeking to attract more advertisers and sponsors and increase vital revenue from which the club will benefit. 

We will also be promoting our fixtures in an attempt to entice new supporters who we hope will want to return once they have sampled the matchday experience at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.  

We are aware that, through just a handful of existing supporters using LinkedIn, shared postings can reach many thousands of potential contacts.

ETFC LinkedIn page followers have increased slightly in recent weeks and you can help increase our reach still further.  There is a LinkedIn icon on the top left hand corner of the home page of the Club website.

Your support would be greatly welcomed!

Billy, Marc, Lewis, Nathan and Ryan sign for 2020-21!

Five of last season’s Town squad put pen to paper yesterday, as manager Andy Leese’s plans in these unprecedented times continue to take shape.  Billy Bricknell (pictured with Chairman Paul Reed) and Marc Weatherstone signed one-year contracts while Lewis Taaffe, Nathan McDonald and Ryan Blackman all signed league forms.

Andy said “I’m delighted, particularly in the unique circumstances we are all in with the resumption of competitive football still a little way off, that the spine of the squad is coming together, and I am confident of additional players signing within the next week or so.  I am in constant dialogue with a number of potential recruits and, as well as more familiar names from last year, I am sure there will be some new, exciting names to announce in due course.

“We have used the first couple of behind-closed-doors friendlies as a chance to look at a wide spread of possibilities, as is always the case at this time of year.  From the third game onwards, against Chelmsford City, it is likely that there will be some more settled line-ups, substitutions etc as the management team look at individuals and permutations with a view to paring down to the squad we would like to put in place for the competitive resumption, whenever that may be.

“I’m delighted that Billy, Marc, Lewis, Nathan and Ryan have shown a commitment to stay with the club during a time when we are all hoping for a resumption in September but at the same time knowing that that sort of timeframe is far from certain.  In the meantime, as I mentioned in an earlier update, we have an extended number of friendlies to keep the guys match fit so that we are ready whenever we need to be.

“I have been pleased overall with the initial couple of games, which have been very much with enhanced fitness in mind as well as the chance to look at players who have shown an interest in the club. They have very much been a stepping-stone between our midweek training sessions and the additional strength and sharpness that only comes with playing matches.

“This year there is more time than usual to plan for the season ahead and, with a number of players returning from holidays and other commitments, we will not be rushing to assemble a squad until we are certain we have the best fit available – not least with budgets being tighter than ever in the wake of the pandemic.  Scott Thomas and Lyle Della-Verde were able to take part in the friendly against Brentwood Town – which was a good workout – and Jon Muleba should be available soon following work commitments.  As I’ve said before, on the injury recovery front Lewis Taaffe has made very good progress, while James Potton – recovering well after such a serious injury – is still undergoing rehab and is probably more likely to re-enter the fray around October time.

“I must admit, although the closed-doors and other precautions regime is something we are all still getting used to, the spread of pre-season games has probably made it a slightly less breathless exercise than usual assembling a squad for the new campaign.  I am grateful to supporters for their patience as ever at this time of year and very much hope that we can all see each other at matches in the not too distant future.

“I can confirm a new appointment at the club – that of Head of Football Operations.  Graham Dodd, who was part of the Under 23s management team last season, is taking up this role for 2020-21.  Graham and I go back a long way – we worked together at Broxbourne for a time – and he will be an invaluable asset going forward. With no U23s for the time being at least, Graham will be the focal point for linking the Under 18 teams, including the new academy, that we will be running this year, as well as being a conduit between the various managers.  He will work very closely with the management team to ensure that communication lines are optimised and so that we can preserve the pathway between youth and senior football. Graham will also do some scouting as part of his role.  I’m delighted Graham is on board; he is a very knowledgeable football man.

“In rather less-than-good news, our excellent goalkeeping coach Ed Thompson is moving on for personal and work related reasons.  Ed’s departure will be a big miss as he has been an integral part of the management team and is second to none as an innovative goalkeeping coach, following his successful time as a player.  Ed knows he is always welcome back at the club and it goes without saying that I am very grateful for all the great work he has done during his spell with us.  In the meantime, we are looking to replace him as soon as possible but he will be a difficult act to follow!  In the meantime, Alfie Bonfield, son of former Town keeper Darren will be working in tandem with Nathan so that they can keep each other on their toes.”

Following this on-field news, there are plans to issue an off-field update within the next couple of weeks, including the possibility of a further zoom link meeting for members.  Please watch this space!

In these strangest of times, Enfield Town are taking tentative steps this week towards a competitive 2020-21 season start with a friendly against QEII Stadium tenants St Panteleimon FC this Saturday (2pm).  Please note that spectators are not permitted at this match and there will be no gatherings at the stadium allowed.  There will be no programmes for home friendlies, but a team sheet should be available on social media, and a summary of each match will be made available on the website.

St Panteleimon were formed in 2015, initially competing in the KOPA League for two seasons before joining the Middlesex League. After winning Division One at the first attempt unbeaten, 2018-19 brought further success with the Saints claiming a Premier Division league and cup double and reaching the first round of the FA Vase. Last season the club were lying second in Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League before the pandemic suspension.

Town manager Andy Leese gave his thoughts earlier this week: “We’ve now had a handful of training sessions led by Mario – with all the necessary covid precautions, including temperature taking, track and trace procedures, coaching from distance, masks in evidence, and ball cleaning etc – and overall we are delighted with the shape the players are in.

“I must pay thanks the two Johns – Abbott and Dolan – for enabling us to operate in the safest possible environment during this uncertain period when the “dos” and “don’ts” of pandemic recovery guidance can change at very short notice.  As Mr Chairman mentioned in his latest update, we are working towards a potential league start of 19^th September, although the government’s postponement of a selection of designated sporting events to pilot the safe return of supporters, due to start on 1^st August, might have made this date less likely. 

“The FA have this week announced that the FA Cup will start on 1^st September and, with our own first qualifying round entry scheduled for Tuesday 22^nd September – maybe behind closed doors – it looks increasingly possible that that may be our first competitive game.  But we are assuming nothing and I’m sure there will be amendments to the various authorities’ guidance to take account of as we move forward towards the resumption that we’d all dearly like to see.

“I can confirm that the core of last season’s squad has returned for training and, as I say, it looks as though the enforced break has given various niggling injuries a chance to recover and the boys are all looking good.  The players have generally kept themselves very fit during lockdown and beyond and that is to their great credit.

“You will no doubt have read elsewhere that Ken Charles, Joe Payne and Glen Wilson have moved on for various reasons; close-season movements of course being part and parcel of football at this level.  I am also aware that, as always at this time each year, there is a keenness to know who has joined the club – particularly when other clubs  are making announcements.  As  I said this time last year (and probably the year before!), we have to be sure we are recruiting as wisely as possible, working within our tight playing budget and making sure that we are in the best shape to start the new season, whenever that may be.

“We will be looking at some trialists in the St Panteleimon game and beyond, and we have had discussions with a number of players we would like to add with a view to improving the squad in various positions for what promises to be a very challenging campaign with so many unknowns.  It will no doubt disappoint some supporters that I cannot yet name names, but I can assure all Town fans that I am confident of landing some very good players who will improve us. Most have played at a higher level and, as soon as pre-season progresses and I feel that the time is right to make announcements then rest assured I will do.   

“It’s been very pleasing to see the boys again after their enforced absence – including James Potton and Lewis Taaffe raring to go following injury.  James has made a remarkable recovery supported by John Abbott and I hope we can see him playing before the end of the year.  One or two of the boys have had work commitments, which is understandable given the circumstances, but there has otherwise been a decent turn-out for each session. The boys have returned looking trim and with real desire to get playing again. I am concerned that this pre-season will be longer than any other I have experienced in over twenty years of management and that a competitive start as soon as possible is vital.  We need to manage the next few weeks carefully and if we need to change our planning we will do so and make the best of it. We will try to play more games than usual in pre- season as playing is what the players have missed the most with the break.

“All clubs, particularly at our level, will be operating within similar resource and budget restrictions. It is to everyone’s credit off the field that we have stayed afloat during closure and I’d like to finish by thanking everyone involved in that hard work. I will  update you on incoming players as the squad takes shape as soon as I can”.

We today welcome a joint Declaration from the UK football family signifying its support for building a mentally healthy environment at every level of the game, as a lasting legacy of the Heads Up campaign.

The Mentally Healthy Football Declaration will see all of UK football recognising that mental health is as important as physical health, and pioneering a ‘team approach’ on this important issue. The UK football family will build on the important work that clubs and football organisations are already doing, working together to roll out these efforts across the football system, share best practice, and support the development of ‘mentally healthy clubs’ at every level of the game.

The landmark Declaration has been signed by senior figures from across the football system, including the FA, the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL), Scottish FA, Wales FA, Irish FA, League Managers Association (LMA), Professional Footballers Association (PFA), Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and League Football Education (LFE).

Following an unprecedented season for football, mental health issues are more relevant than ever.   Through the Declaration, football has committed to working together to embed an environment across all of UK football:

• Where players and staff are encouraged to look after their mental health just as they look after their physical health;
• where they feel able to spot the signs that they, a team-mate or colleague might be struggling and know where to access support;
• and where speaking out about mental health is seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness.

The Declaration will see us form a UK-wide mental health implementation group next season, working towards a collective ‘game plan’ for the first time to ensure the mental health of players, staff, managers, coaches and officials is prioritised across the game.

The Declaration has also been welcomed by Heads Up’s charity partners Mind, CALM and Sporting Chance, who will work with us all next season to take the Declaration forward.

You can find out more about the Heads Up campaign by visiting www.headstogether.org.uk/heads-up

Hi everyone,

It’s been a few weeks since you all had an update on what’s been happening at the club, so I thought I’d give you a flavour of some of the current issues. 

Firstly, many thanks to all of you who so kindly donated to our recent floodlight improvement and other groundworks appeal.  The final tally was £11,830 raised and, taking additional account of one or two very welcome donations from other sources, the Board will now be focusing on how to invest the money as efficiently and as effectively as possible, and we will outline our priority spending decisions (beyond the pre-planned floodlights work) in due course. In respect of the floodlights we are working with suppliers on a couple of options at the moment, the favourite currently being an additional light on each pylon and an upgrade of existing bulbs and reflectors. I appreciate times are hard for lots of us currently so to have over 200 individuals donate is absolutely fantastic and shows the extend of our wonderful support. 

Many of you will have seen the government’s recent announcement that a number of pilot sporting events take place over the next few weeks with a view to the reopening of sports venues, with social distancing measures in place, from October 2020.  The full statement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pilots-announced-for-return-of-spectators-to-elite-sports-events . The club has been undertaking an assessment of the risks associated with a return to football at the QEII Stadium, taking account of the FA’s guidelines on the return of outdoor competitive grassroots football (see http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/jul/17/grassroots-guidance-for-competitive-football-restart-in-england-170720 ).

Although the guidance suggests supporters will not be back in stadiums until October, the Isthmian League has a proposed provisional start date of 19^th September so we must plan for that date until we hear otherwise. Dialogue will also continue with the Isthmian League on the next steps, the league have been very clear that we will not commence until supporters are allowed back in to stadiums and I’m sure fixtures will not be announced until we have this clarity. We will continue to update you as and when we have more details.

In connection with a potential restart, the results of a survey that the Football Supporters Association and Non-League Paper had undertaken were announced at the weekend (see https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/vanarama/31126/the-non-league-paper-is-out-as-thousands-have-their-say-on-restart/ ), and 77.2% of those surveyed said that they would return from the first game back with a hypothetical October start date. A further 18% expect to be back within three months, while 4.8% said it would take more than six months for them to return, or that they possibly wouldn’t return at all.  All of this is encouraging news, but there is, of course, a long way to go and a lot of work behind the scenes to be completed before the club can make any sort of definitive announcements.

The first team squad are due to begin training on Saturday and a number of key precautions are in place to ensure government guidelines are adhered to, including appropriate social distancing and track and trace protocols. As ever at this time of year, there will be some squad comings and goings – the departure of striker Ken Charles has already been announced and Glenn Wilson will also be leaving to play closer to his home in Sussex.

Having spoken to Andy, I am confident there will be plenty of good news to report at the right time as the 2020-21 squad takes shape, and he will be aiming to bring you all up to date within the next week or two. We will, like many clubs, be operating with a smaller budget but I’m sure we can deliver a side to challenge at the right end of the table again.  It is planned to arrange a number of friendly matches behind closed doors in advance of any competitive resumption and match secretary John Dolan is working with the management team to secure a set of fixtures that set us up in the right way to start the season in the best possible shape.

You may have seen that we have decided not to field an Under 23 side during 2020-21. This decision was not taken lightly, and it followed careful consideration around important issues such as pitch use, associated finances and the strong likelihood of a much shorter season with fewer midweek date options available. I can reassure you all that the club is still very much committed to the development of young talent, and this has been demonstrated by our Academy being established this summer. Once our scholars move into their second year in 2021-22, we will review our set-up again in order to best provide optimum pathways into senior football.

In other news the Board (who have been meeting fortnightly during the lockdown), having worked within the constraints of a mothball budget for a number of months, have now approved a provisional budget for 2020-21, have approved a new-look website (through which you may be reading this message!) and are looking at ways in which it can help foster an improved environment to encourage greater diversity and inclusion around the club.

Finally, there is scheduled to be a drive-in cinema event on Enfield Playing Fields next month (the club are working with the council on this) – see https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Enfield/Enfield-Playing-Fields/Drive-in-Cinema/13802936/ for details; you can order non-medical Town facemasks via https://www.theamyverse.com/etfc ; and you can help Enfield Town FC Community Sports Development Ltd in resuming its work in encouraging sporting activity for all in the borough once it is safe to do by signing up to Amazon Smile.  The same products, prices and services as the Amazon you know, with 0.5% of the net costs of your order donated by Amazon to help with charitable work. Details of how to set up an account or amend your current account are here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/chpf/about?ie=UTF8&ref_=smi_ge_sr_learn_raas , and you can select Enfield Town FC Community Sports Development Ltd from a drop-down menu.

As soon as anything firm is agreed around what we all want to see – Town teams back out on the pitch – there will be announcements for members and other supporters about logistics. Following the success of the Zoom link with members in May, a date for a follow up event will be announced at an optimum time.

Thanks once again for your undiminished support and understanding and, as ever, a particular thank you to those of you who are continuing to perform background tasks to keep the club going in our current situation until such time as matches and other events can begin.

Although the club’s floodlight appeal timeframe has passed, supporters can still donate to help the club through these exceptionally difficult times, preferably via a BACS transfer to: ETFC Ltd, Barclays Bank, Sort Code 20-45-45, Account Number 43222942. Please mark any transfer with your name and the word ‘donation’. Memberships and season tickets are of course already available – please see: https://etfc.london/calling-all-town-supporters

Take care everyone, and I’ll be in touch as soon as there are any further updates.

Paul Reed

Chairman

* since the Chairman’s update, the constitution of the Isthmian League Premier Division has been announced as unchanged for 2020-21. For full national league system alloactions see https://www.isthmian.co.uk/national-league-system-allocations-2020-21-62746

Adventure Cinema were unable to have their outside cinema event in the stadium scheduled for May. But, thanks to Enfield Council, arrangements have been made for a drive in cinema on Enfield playing fields.

Please support this event and again we thank LBE for making it possible.

Tickets are now on sale at

https://www.adventuredrivein.co.uk/locations/enfield-tba

subject to final arrangements on the use of the playing fields.

After careful consideration, the club has decided not to run an Under 23 side next season.

The decision has been made with the uncertainty of the timing of the forthcoming campaign in mind, and has been based primarily around issues such as pitch use, associated finances and the strong likelihood of a shorter season with fewer midweek options available.

Chairman Paul Reed said “this was a tough decision to make and, on behalf of the club I’d like to thank manager Malik Yansaneh, his staff and all the squad for their efforts over the last couple of years. Malik reinvigorated the team when he took over, and very narrowly missed out on the league title in his first season. We would like to wish Malik all the very best for the future; he is a very talented young coach”.

“The club is still very much committed to the development of young talent, and this has been demonstrated by our Academy being established this summer. Once our scholars move in to their second year in 2021-22 we will review our set-up once again in order to best provide pathways into senior football”.

First team manager Andy Leese said “the decision is no reflection whatsoever on Malik and the job he and his management team have done. Running a reserve team is a tough job and, as a young coach, Malik has managed it well. I would also like to thank him and his team for their efforts in helping develop players within the club and I am sure our paths will cross again”.

The club understands that young striker Ken Charles has this afternoon joined another Isthmian League Premier Division club. Ken made a total of 40 appearances for the Town, scoring 13 goals. We would like to wish him all the best for the future.

As usual at this time of year, there will invariably be some player comings and goings to report over the summer months. As mentioned in previous news postings, there will be a general update about on and off field matters at the QEII in the next week or so.

Town’s recent floodlight and other ground works appeal has exceeded its £10,000 target with a couple of weeks of the Crowdfunder period to go. Many, many thanks to everyone who has contributed so generously in these very difficult times.  The appeal will remain open and supporters can still donate via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/shine-a-light-for-enfield-town-fc as the club looks to take the opportunity to maximise income and prioritise its spending carefully before football can resume again.

Chairman Paul Reed said “My board colleagues and I have been completely blown away by the achievement of this vital floodlight and other ground works income target. What an amazing set of supporters Enfield Town have been lucky enough to have had over the years – and this latest example of togetherness has again demonstrated that our club is heading in the right direction, with incredibly generous donations from overseas as well as in the UK. Thank you all so much. Once the appeal deadline of 21st July has passed we’ll be in touch again to outline how the income raised will be spent specifically, along with a more general club update around that time”.

WANT TO EXCEL IN FOOTBALL?

Outside of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, Enfield Town FC is North London’s Premier Club, based at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in Donkey Lane.

This season the club are running upto 4 U18s teams in various leagues and competitions.

Our Elite U18 Academy team will compete in the Midweek National Colleges League designed around the players College courses and education.We will also be running 3 teams which will compete in, the Southern Counties Floodlit Midweek, Eastern Junior Alliance and Watford Friendly Leagues.

A collective team from all our teams will represent Enfield Town FC in the prestigious FA Youth and Midweek County Cup Competitions.

The very best of our U18s will also benefit with First Team training sessions and given an opportunity to a  pathway to Senior Football.

All enquiries should be made via the clubs trial application form below 

APPLICATION FORM