Our Enterprise National League fixture at home to Hampton & Richmond, which was postponed earlier this month, has now been rescheduled.

The new fixture will take place on Tuesday 6th January 2026 (19:45 kickoff).

For the second Saturday running, Enfield Town have the rare experience of no fixture this weekend, allowing the players to enjoy a team-bonding Christmas excursion and the management to plot a strategy for the busy holiday period.

Last Saturday’s shock postponement of our league fixture against Hampton and Richmond, coupled with the Beavers hosting Maidenhead tomorrow and the fact that we are no longer in the FA Trophy, has thrown up the bizarre spectacle of no competitive game until we visit league leaders Hornchurch in a week’s time when, frustratingly, Xav Benjamin will now have to serve his one-match  suspension.

Playing catch-up is far less preferable to playing games especially when the teams in and around us are picking up points which is what happened last Saturday when we slipped back into the bottom four just at the time when we had been showing some really encouraging form.

“It’s a far from ideal situation but we will have a management meeting on Saturday and a few of us will go and watch games involving upcoming opponents,” said a somewhat throaty Gavin Macpherson who is dealing with a heavy cold.

Such a long break between games is of course totally beyond our control. As a result, a friendly against Arsenal’s academy side has been arranged for Tuesday but even then, it’s a delicate balancing act.

“That’s part of what the management team will be fine-tuning,” explained Gav. “The friendly is designed to help us go this long without a competitive game but we have to balance keeping the players on their toes with possible injuries.”

On the player front, Joe Kizzi’s loan deal runs out the day before Hornchurch and discussions are under way to see whether it’s viable for the club to try and extend it. As far as the goalkeeping situation is concerned, George Barrett can play at Hornchurch and thereafter, says Gavin, it’s a question of looking at options with Tom Norcott seemingly fit to return. Whatever happens, we’ll have a quality keeper on the books.

Gavin still can’t get his head round the decision to call off last Saturday’s game against Hampton and Richmond when both sets of players, and both managers, wanted to play. At the time of writing, a fresh date was being agreed with an official announcement imminent.

“I was as astonished as anyone and so were Hampton,” said Gav. “I’ve never seen a game called off under those circumstances. I feel for the club and for the supporters but we’ve done a mini-pre season this week and now we prepare for Arsenal which we’ll have to piece together quite carefully in terms of who plays and who doesn’t.”

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We are thrilled to announce that Alan Lovell and Robin Bibi will be playing at Butlers Bar on Thursday 29th January  for a special ETFC fundraiser, our first live gig of 2026.

Alan made his name with the iconic Swinging Blue Jeans, both as guitarist and vocalist, and has also toured and recorded over the years with many other famous acts including Marty Wilde, PJ Proby, Denny Laine and The New Vaudeville Band.

You might well have seen him perform locally as the lead singer and guitarist of the 60s All-Stars, a veritable super group that has wowed audiences across the country.

Alan will be teaming up on the night with Robin Bibi, widely recognised as one of the UK’s top blues/rock guitarists.

Having paid his dues working with such names as Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ben E. King, The Pretty Things and Helen Shapiro, Robin launched the Robin Bibi Band in the late 90s and has been nominated by the British Blues awards in several categories. Like Alan, he too has performed with the 60s All-Stars and blends elements of some of the great blues players, including BB King and Peter Green, into his own totally unique sound.

Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets priced £15 can either be purchased in advance by calling Christine Hamilton on 07949 071587 or by email ianchrisham@hotmail.com. Alternatively on the following link:

https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/ent2526concert1/alan-lovell-robin-bibi-live-.

Tickets on the door subject to availability. There will also be a bar and raffle.

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed an upcoming friendly match with an Arsenal Academy XI at the Dave Bryant Stadium.

The match will take place at home on Tuesday 16th December, with a 19:30 kickoff, and offers fans a chance to catch a glimpse of the Gunners’ next generation, while also providing Gavin Macpherson’s squad with valuable minutes during a break in their National League South schedule.

Ticket details will follow soon.

Today’s game against Hampton and Richmond has been postponed following a pitch inspection by the officials.

An update as to a rescheduled fixture will be announced as soon as possible

Enfield Town go into tomorrow’s crunch fixture with Hampton and Richmond buoyed by a resurgence in form and keen to make it 10 points out of a possible 12.

Having parted company with their manager, with skipper Alan Massey taking over temporarily, the Beavers broke their 13-match winless streak on Tuesday, beating AFC Totton 2-0 to secure their first league win since the end of August.

In the process they leapfrogged Town in the table, sending us down to 20th, but the roles will be reversed if we can secure another maximum haul.

We will have to do it without Sam Youngs who is just starting to recover from a midweek operation on a broken nose, his third unfortunate injury in a matter of weeks after being relatively unscathed for much of his career.

 Mickey Parcell has still not recovered either from a calf problem while Henry Hawkins remains on the sidelines. Xav Benjamin’s one-game suspension makes it four out but there is better news about Joe Kizzi who looks to have shrugged off a knock that kept him out at Bath while the extension of Cian Dillon’s loan spell is brilliant news at the other end of the pitch.

“Hampton have had a little bit of a bounce as often happens and we need to stop that. The important thing is to continue to pick up results  but obviously psychologically we’d jump back over them with another three points,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“Clearly having some players back the last couple of weeks has given us more to work with but we’ve also reset a few things as a management team if truth be told. I will never hide behind the fact that it’s my show and ultimately I’m accountable. We’re going to lose football matches, of that there’s no doubt given the reality of the division. But the important thing is to have a few of the mini-runs we’re on now over the season as a whole.”

With no game in a week’s time, the players are planning a team building day out while a midweek friendly is in the throes of being arranged for Dec 16.

“Two weeks without a competitive game is never good because you can lose momentum but we’ll be making sure they train hard and stay focussed for a very busy Christmas and new Year period,” said Gav.

Just a reminder that since this is our last home game before Christmas we are holding our annual winter collection for North Enfield Foodbank. If you can donate any item, however small, it will be gratefully received. 

Urgently needed items include Christmas food such mince pies, chocolate, biscuits, puddings, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy. Also any of the following:

• Christmas crackers (to pull)
• Sweet and Savoury snacks
• Long life nut roast
• Tinned meat and Fish
• Long life ready meals/ noodles
• Tinned rice pudding/ custard
• Sugar and cooking oil
• Coffee/ Hot chocolate
• Washing powder and cleaning products
• Toiletries (soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet roll etc)
•  

Your donation can be left either at the Turnstiles, Club Shop or in the Foyer in the main stand.

More information on North Enfield Foodbank can be found here:

https://northenfield.foodbank.org.uk/

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We are delighted to announce that on-loan QPR striker Cian Dillon has extended his stay with the Towners until 31st January 2026.

Ireland U21 international Cian has proven a valuable addition to Gavin Macpherson’s squad since re-joining on loan last month, providing four assists and a goal in four National League South starts.

He had previously notched two goals and two assists during his previous loan spell with us towards the end of the 2024/25 season.

Bath City 1 Enfield Town 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

Enfield Town made it seven points out of nine as Billy Leonard scored for the second year running at Twerton Park to give us a share of the spoils – the least we deserved on the day.

 Town had only won once in the league away while Bath have been struggling at home for large parts of the season. A draw therefore seemed a likely outcome and so it proved as we remained two places above the drop zone.

With Joe Kizzi ruled out with a groin strain along with Mickey Parcell, who celebrates his 30^th birthday on Tuesday, Ruaridh Donaldson was drafted into the back three.

Bath started the brighter and twice threatened our goal before Sam Youngs – again wearing protective headgear – struck the base of the post  following a corner.

As we gained a foothold, Xavier Benjamin went on a driving run before shooting well and Lemar Reynolds just failed to supply a strong enough finish to convert  Cian Dillon’s brilliant swivel and pass. At the other end, the Romans continued to keep us on our toes as dangerman Owen Windsor’s goalbound effort was luckily deflected wide.

Youngs should have hit the target with the final action of the half but in truth defences had been very much on top with clearcut chances few and far between.

H-T 0-0

A pot-marked pitch didn’t help either team  but desperate for a first home win since Oct 21, Bath flew out of the traps after the interval and for 15 minutes put us under severe pressure.

It was during this spell that they forged ahead.  A Joe Raynes’ 25-yard screamer had already been pushed over by George Barratt when Luke Russe’s pull-back in the area found Windsor who blasted the ball home before any Town defender could reach him.

Barratt was quickly called into action twice more, first tipping a Keiran Parcelle volley round the post, then saving from Matt Bowman after Tosh Gallimore was caught dithering.

But Town weathered the storm and just like in the first half came on strong, epitomised by Leonard’s superb equaliser as he played the ball up the line to Dillon before sprinting into the box to receive it back and sweep home.

Town, with renewed optimism and momentum, now looked the team likely to take all three points as we pegged Bath back. Reynolds would have scored had he shot either side of Charlie Binns instead of straight at him while Olle Davis, on as an impact sub, twice worked his way into dangerous positions without quite delivering the finish.

After our first league draw since the end of August, Gavin Macpherson was quietly content, all the more so with the news that Cian Dillon’s loan spell looks set to be extended after talks with QPR.

“They started better than us in each half but overall we’re slightly disappointed not to have nicked it,” said Gavin. “It’s a decent result given our reaction after they scored. The really important thing now is the week ahead of next Saturday against Hampton and Richmond because then you start to look at 10 points from 12 which is as good as most teams in the division.”

Town:

Barratt; Donaldson, Thompson, Benjamin; Adom-Malaki, Bullas, Gallimore, Youngs, Leonard; Dillon, Reynolds (Davis 70)

Can we make it three in a row? Enfield Town head to Somerset tomorrow buoyed by back to back wins as we take on a Bath City team whose five-match unbeaten run came to an end with a last-ditch midweek defeat at high-flying Weston Super Mare.

Last season’s 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture marked our first away success at Step 2 and a similar result would take us level  on points with the Romans and further away from the drop zone.

Despite our recent brace of victories, seven out of eight away defeats in all competitions tells its own story and both management team and players will be keen to put that right.

Still without Henry Hawkins and Mickey Parcell, Gavin Macpherson has injury doubts about two other key first-teamers battling to make it although he can welcome back Hayden Bullas.

“I wish I had everyone available but even now there are going to be disappointed players who don’t start games,” said Gavin. “Players want to play but they have to understand my reasons sometime. It’s a lot better than asking people to play out of position!”

“The last couple of weeks has certainly given the place a bit of a lift but I can’t express enough that even when we were losing regularly, I never saw players who were accepting their fate. From a group perspective I can’t really ask any more of them in what have been difficult circumstances.”

The league is so tough that as we see every week, anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“No disrespect to Bath but even if we were playing one of the so-called top teams, I’d be saying exactly the same thing,” said Gav. “And that is that we need to hit our levels to get anything at all from the game on Saturday because we all know what Bath can do.”

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Enfield Town 2 Maidstone United 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

First back-to-back wins of the season, first time we’ve come from behind to take all three points  – against a full-time team to boot – and out of the bottom four. Whisper it quietly but is the tide turning?

In one sense last night’s victory over Maidstone was even more impressive than Saturday’s demolition of Farnborough in terms of quality of opposition and the way the game unfolded.

Just shows you what squad depth can do even though we were missing Hayden Bullas (recalled for one night by Orient to captain their academy team), Mickey Parcell and the still absent Henry Hawkins.

On a bitterly cold evening, Sam Youngs, complete with protective headgear, returned to the starting line-up after his various setbacks to skipper the side,  only to suffer a potentially broken nose when he took an accidental bang in the face and needed lengthy treatment yet stayed on.

Bailey Brown also came into the side and we started on the front foot and took the game to the Stones, our best effort coming on 38 minutes when Youngs, with back to goal, expertly hooked the ball into the path of Lemar Reynolds who had two bites of the cherry, his first shot well parried by Nathan Harness, only to put the follow-up narrowly wide.

Three minutes later, slightly against the run of play, we were made to pay as Maidstone went in front with some neat transition play. A superb through ball  by Dajon Golding was collected in the channels by Jesphite Tanga who squared for Deon Moore to finish.

A flurry of Maidstone corners ensued and it was Town who were the team that needed halftime to regroup.

H-T 0-1

Maidstone continued to threaten straight afterwards, however, and it needed a double save by George Barratt to keep us in the game.

But that was pretty much the visitors’ last worthwhile threat.

On 63 minutes Nino Adom-Malaki, making up for being dispossesed in the move that led to Maidstone’s goal, drilled in a brilliant low cross and although Harness kept out Youngs’ first effort, Sam pounced on the rebound to equalise (pictured).

Five minutes later, Olly Davis, off the bench to replace Cian Dillon, helped turn the game on its head, skipping past two defenders before releasing Billy Leonard.

Billy’s low cross fell to Youngs whose shot on the turn was superbly palmed away by Harness, only for Reynolds – against his old club of course – to fire home the rebound for the winner.

Gavin admitted later that the substitution was anything but a canny managerial move. Cian had taken a knock in training at QPR and Gavin was instructed to only play him for 60 minutes.

Ironically, the switch made all the difference and a shellshocked Maidstone offered precious little in terms of a response despite another flurry of corners, dealt with comfortably by a defence in which Joe Kizzi again showed his class.

Indeed, in the dying moments, Reynolds should have made more of a half-chance presented to him by the direct running of the hugely impactful Davis, quickly becoming a fans’ favourite.

“A really good night against a full-time team,” said Gavin. “We’re normally a first-half team but we showed we can be a second half one as well.”

“The reaction after halftime, after the first 10 minutes or so when they span it, was largely what we wanted. We got further up the pitch and gained a foothold.  We’ve got some squad depth now after all the injuries.”

Town:  Barrett; Thompson, Benjamin, Kizzi; Adom-Malaki,  Gallimore, Youngs (Knight, 87), Brown, Leonard; Reynolds (Wood 87), Dillon (Davis 60)