When Gavin Macpherson eventually settled down to look at his inbox around midnight Monday, he had over 120 messages of congratulations from the non-league fraternity, including a host of fellow managers, as well as approaches from potential players.

Twenty-four hours later that number had doubled, proving if proof was needed just how momentous an achievement it was for the club to reach Step 2 of the non-league pyramid.

More of that, of course, in the days, weeks and months to come but right now Gavin and his backroom team turn their attention to trying to achieve a fantastic “double” by bringing home the Fenix Trophy from Italy.

Players and management alike have hardly had time to catch their breath since our promotion to National League South but the focus has already switched to Lake Garda and the Fenix Final Four, starting with our semifinal on Friday (kickoff 9pm local time) against Prague Raptors who won all four of their group games.

“We’re trying to do our usual homework as best we can but it’s not easy,” said Gav.  “They are obviously a very good side. The other two teams, Lewes and FC United of Manchester, are obviously easier for homework and I’ll probably go and watch their game before ours.”

With promotion in the bag, there is an argument to suggest that Fenix is simply a bonus, an extension of our promotion party but Gavin isn’t looking at it that way.

“I’m fully focussed on going out there and trying to win this competition. Obviously if you’d offered me one or the other, I’d have taken promotion. But I want to be successful as a manager and so do the players. We all want things like this on our CVs. Plus, the exposure we’ve had in the media over this competition has been incredible.”

After Monday’s exertions at Chatham, the luckless Jake Cass is unable to take part while a few others have knocks or are away for  personal reasons, at least for Friday.

But Gavin will still take a competitive squad as we bid to win a second trophy in a matter of days, with the final taking place on Sunday.

“Of course there will be some social time because the boys have worked incredibly hard and deserve it,” said Gav. “But we’ve embraced the competition and we have a hell of lot of supporters travelling out to Italy. I want to do them proud by trying to do the double.”

AW

Chatham Town 0 Enfield Town 3

Report by Andrew Warshaw

It was one of those “I was there” occasions, still feels like a dream but really happened.

Twenty-three years after being founded, Enfield Town will play Step 2 football next season, a fantastic achievement by the players and management of our unique club. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Playoff games are unpredictable, nervy affairs and for 45 minutes at Chatham, in front of a passionate 3,000 sellout crowd, it was anyone’s guess who would reach the Promised Land of National League South.

But in yet another coaching masterclass by Gavin Macpherson and his staff, it was a case of “we’ve taken your best shot, now here’s what we’ve got” as Town produced a second-half goal blitz that sent the 400-plus travelling fans – squeezed into a totally inadequate standing section behind the goal and only provided with 32 seats — into utter delirium and prompted a pitch invasion at the final whistle.

Wind the clock back and shortly before kickoff, Gavin made a point of walking over to applaud the Town fans, a class act which only added to the bond of togetherness generated throughout the campaign.

Missing the presence of Jake Cass through injury, Town started with the team that ended the semifinal against Wingate and Finchley but the opening half, despite being goalless, was edged by the hosts whose passing was crisper and team play more composed, driven on by the dangerous, green-booted Jamie Yila whose pace and crosses into the box were a constant threat.

Town had to wait until past the half-hour mark for our first decent effort on target, a curling Ollie Knight effort that called home keeper Mitchell Beeney into action. Shortly before that, Rhys Forster, the busier of the two keepers, had to race off his line to save smartly.

H-T 0-0

Town may have had less of the ball and fewer clearcut openings but it was — of course it was — all part of the masterplan.

On the way to Chatham, the players’ coach had stopped for 90 minutes for a detailed presentation of Chatham’s strengths and weaknesses. And now, as the second half got under way, came our chance to exploit the latter.

Three minutes after the break, the Chats failed to clear a Joe Payne long throw and when the ball fell to Bernie Tanner, the “Enfield Maldini” as he is nicknamed rifled a low shot from 20 yards into the far corner of the net.

It was so nearly 2-0 when Marcus Wyllie bundled the ball over the line, only to be ruled narrowly offside.

As the Town faithful pondered how costly the decision might be, we were indebted to Forster for a sensational tip-over save to thwart Kareem Isiaka.

But the greater threat was now coming from Town and on 70 minutes, Beeney parried but couldn’t hold another Ollie Knight effort and Marcus was first on hand to double our lead with his 31^st league goal as the division’s leading marksman.

Sam Youngs headed straight at Beeney when either side of the keeper would surely have made it three while at the other end  Yila continued to work his magic as he twinkle-toed his way past three challenges, only to shoot over.

With the clock ticking and the Town diehards in full voice, outsinging their counterparts as they had for most of the game, there was still time for substitute Lewis Taaffe, gutted to have missed the semifinal through injury, to complete a breathtaking second half with a side-foot finish into the roof of the net from Marcus’ assist.

Cue a mass celebration before the official trophy presentation to the winners to round off the most memorable day in the club’s history. Inevitably it was followed, when the team bus returned to the Dave Bryant stadium, by the mother of all promotion parties back home.

“The greatest day of my footballing life for sure, it’s the best way to go up but hasn’t really sunk in,” said Gavin. “But this is for everyone at the club and especially for Dave Bryant. When  I woke up this morning, my thoughts immediately turned to Dave and his family, some of whom were here of course. I’m so pleased to have piloted this for them.”

“The supporters may have wondered at halftime where that second half would come from but there’s invariably a plan. We felt that at 0-0 we’d got over a hurdle away from home on a plastic pitch. But it wasn’t really working for us so we tweaked a couple of things and came strong again.”

“I guess the really hard work starts now if I’m honest. We’ll enjoy this, of course we will. But when we come back down to earth, what this has moved us into is a task of huge magnitude. I’ve never managed at Step 2 and will need to start planning straight away in terms of where we’re at and how we move forward.”

Town:

Forster; Parcell, McKenzie, Tanner; Adjei-Hersey, Thomas, Youngs, Knight (Taaffe, 86), Harvest, Payne; Wyllie

Given tomorrow’s final is segregated, away supporters will enter the stadium via Gate C, and exit using Gate D at the opposite end of the Palmerston Road End (above, highlighted yellow). The stadium car park will be first come, first served, as will our 80 away seats.

It is expected that searches will take place on entry to the ground. Toilet facilities will be provided within our segregated area plus a bar and a dedicated refreshment stand. 

In the event of the home car park closing, it may be worth seeking parking on Palmerston Road, or on surrounding streets.

There is a frequent train service to Chatham from both St Pancras International and Victoria. Turn right from the station then right again onto Maidstone Road. The ground can be found on the left hand side after the cemetery.

Win or lose, Butlers Bar will be open from around 6pm to give players and management a deserved send-off after a terrific season.

Preview by Andrew Warshaw

Eight months of hard work, 42 league games and a playoff semifinal all done and dusted. Now comes the final countdown in what is, quite simply, the biggest game in the club’s history.

Unexpected though many thought this might be back in August, Enfield Town go into their first ever Step 3 playoff final tomorrow knowing that every other team in the division, many of them with vastly bigger budgets and playing squads, will be looking on enviously as we make the ultimate push to get us up to National League South.

With our ticket allocation at Chatham slashed from 600 to 400 for apparent safety reasons, it hasn’t been the kindest of buildups off the pitch.

Given the 3,000 all-ticket sellout, there is a palpable feeling of injustice at how we have been treated, just as there was a couple of weeks ago with that phantom whistle in the away end that aided Chatham’s equaliser in our final league game of the regular season and ensured they, rather than us, got two home playoff fixtures.

All this has added extra piquancy to a game that was already  spicy enough but Gavin Macpherson and his backroom staff are focussing entirely on the job at hand.

With Chatham, who have been in second place for long periods of the season, finishing two points and one place above us, on paper we start as underdogs on their artificial surface.

But that, says Gavin, could work in our favour. “In playoffs it isn’t always about the side that finishes higher, it’s all about doing what you need to do on the day,” said Gavin.

Which Horsham so nearly did in their semifinal at Chatham, ultimately losing on penalties – and in the process preventing us gaining a home draw tomorrow.

“My message to players before kickoff will be just to be us,” said Gavin. “We’re underdogs, make no mistake, away from home on a plastic pitch. But this group will relish that tag.”

The possibility of Step 2 football is a mouth-watering prospect for everyone involved but Gavin is at pains not to take too much of the credit in his first season at the club.

“It’s not about me, I’m just trying to pilot this club. It will be for the supporters and those who have seen the club resurrected. As the founder chairman, it’s very sad that Dave Bryant is no longer here and there’s an element of wanting to do it for Dave, of course there is.”

“We look at Dave as a focal point because of his recent departure, and rightly so. Then there are a lot of others who have done a huge amount of work.”

Gavin is under no illusions that the heavyweight sides who have under-achieved will be back stronger next season.

“People may find this unrealistic but the first thing I said to my backroom staff in the close season when I met them for the first time as Enfield’s manager was ‘how are we going to win this league’ .

“When that didn’t happen, it was then about making sure we could get to the playoffs.  We understood the magnitude of the other teams and knew that if they got it right it would reduce our own chances.  Some havn’t which makes it all the more important to grab the opportunity now because you never know how things will pan out in the future.”

Gavin understandably won’t divulge team news but it’s no secret that having come off with a hamstring injury in our semifinal, Jake Cass will be a doubt though it was an encouraging sight to see him in training yesterday.

The air of quiet confidence Gavin and his team have exuded all season will be no different tomorrow.

“We’ve all worked very hard and now it’s down to making a few tweaks as we do with most opposition, and getting the preparation right. Then it’s down to the players to carry it out.

“I said all along  that this season would be the hardest ever in this league. If we come up short, next season will be even harder when you look at who’se coming down and who’se already there. But that doesn’t mean we won’t go again because we certainly will.”

As expected with the high level of demand, we have sold out of tickets for Monday’s final within minutes of general release. Thank you all for your support. We apologise that several of you haven’t been able to secure a ticket.

The memo sent overnight saying that membership with Enfield Town FC Supporters Society Ltd is due for renewal before Fri 31 May 2024 was generated automatically in error

Please ignore this. A fresh update will be sent when technical issues have been resolved. Apologies for any confusion or inconvenience.

On safety advice provided by Chatham Town, the Isthmian League have decided our ticket allocation for Monday’s final will be capped at 400. Online sales will initially be offered to our members and season ticket holders. Any remaining tickets will then be offered for general sale to our supporters.

The club recognises that this will be hugely disappointing news to our fans. We have sought clarification on the decision, but it is a matter that is out of our control and we have to respect the advice and decision made.

Enfield Town 1 Wingate and Finchley 0

Report by Andrew Warshaw

This time there was no last-gasp setback like two years ago, no sense of gut-wrenching disappointment.

Instead, it was high-fives and euphoria all round in front of a record crowd of 2,225 as Enfield Town reached the playoff final on an unforgettable night of tension and excitement.

Of course the job’s not done yet, with a visit to divisional runners-up Chatham – with whom we recently drew 2-2 in our final league game of the season — on Bank Holiday Monday for the right to reach the Promised Land of Step 2 football.

The Chats squeezed through on penalties against Horsham in the other semifinal, perhaps the only frustration for Town as it meant we gave up the chance of a possible home final with the Hornets and instead have to travel to Kent.

But that should not detract from a hard-fought win over Wingate and Finchley who pushed us all the way, especially in the first half when the weight of expectation seemed to rest heavily on our shoulders before we threw off the shackles and went for it after the break.

With the huge attendance taking up all corners of the ground, we had the first big chance of the game just two minutes in as Jake Cass saw his shot pushed away by Ben Goode. Wingate went straight up the other end and we were indebted to Mickey Parcell for a timely block.

Thereafter the visitors made most of the first-half running but without producing too many clearcut openings. Anointed Chukwu flashed a low cross into the six-yard box but fortunately for Town, no teammate was on hand to convert.

The sight of Jake limping off didn’t help our cause, Joe Payne coming off the bench and Ollie Knight pushed into an inside left position.

It was a change that ultimately paid off but not for the remainder of the first half. Just before the break, Elliot Long brought an acrobatic save from Rhys Forster while Town went in without having produced much of a goal threat since the opening foray.

H-T 0-0

Our visitors might have enjoyed large swathes of possession but invariably score the majority of their goals in the first half.

It  was the perfect platform therefore to respond — and respond we did. Suddenly it was a different game as our front-foot football, helped by Payne’s long throws, changed the momentum.

Right on the hour, Marcus Wyllie’s cross found Scott Thomas who, instead of shooting himself, passed inside to Dylan Adjei-Hersey. With the goal at his mercy, Dylan somehow missed the target from three yards, albeit on one knee as he was getting up off the floor.

Playoff games can be won and lost in such moments but seven minutes later, a match of few clearcut chances was settled in our favour.

Another Payne long throw was launched into the area and met by  Taylor McKenzie, whose header looped beyond Goode, sending the  Dave Bryant Stadium into raptures (pictured).

Marcus missed a golden chance for 2-0 as Goode saved with his feet in a one-on-one before momentum switched back to the Blues who had another decent spell late on as they fought to restore parity but failed to capitalise on their strong running, invariably over-hitting their final pass.

Seven minutes of added time for a couple of lengthy stoppages seemed like an eternity but all that mattered was getting the line, prompting wild celebrations at the finish in contrast to the Wingate players who lay flat on their backs in desperate dejection.

“We knew that Wingate tend to fly out the blocks and when they normally score their goals so we worked on a system to be able to counter that,” said Gavin Macpherson. “Yet I wasn’t that happy because we should have got ourselves further up the pitch whenever we had the ball.”

“But I said to the players at halftime, ‘this is exactly when you go at it’ and that’s what they did. I have huge respect for how Wingate move the ball around but we trust in our process. We weren’t at our best with the football, let’s be honest, but for the boys to keep coming with me is a testament to them all.”

 Gavin explained why he wasn’t his usual self on the touchline where he is normally pacing up and down gesticulating to the players.

 “The playoffs are not an easy experience. I had to remain very focussed on certain aspects. I’ve learned a few lessons from playoff games before.  We’ve beaten a very good team and I certainly spare a thought for them. I know how it feels.”

Now to on to Chatham with memories still very raw about ‘that’ phantom whistle in the crowd last Saturday which played such a huge part in the Chats’ equaliser and suddenly takes on renewed significance.

“It matters because of course I’d rather be at home in the final,” sad Gavin. “But you don’t win the playoffs easily and we’re going to have to beat two very good sides to get promoted. We’ll prepare the boys in the best possible way and see what happens.”

Footnote: There will be a supporters coach to Chatham, to be advised

Town

Forster: Parcell, McKenzie, Tanner; Adjei-Hersey, Thomas, Youngs, Harvest, Knight; Cass (Payne, 43), Wyllie

We have been drawn against Prague Raptors in the semifinal of the Fenix Trophy in Desenzano, Lake Garda, with the other tie between FC United of Manchester and Lewes

Our game will be the second semi on May 10 at 9pm, with the final and third-place playoff two days later.

 The Raptors, who support a number of children’s charities, had a highly impressive Fenix group phase, winning all four ties and scoring 12 goals in the process.

Their website says the club is “hugely diverse – players, coaches & staff from 50 nationalities – including expats and Czechs.”

“We welcome staff and support from all ethnicities, beliefs, genders and sexual orientations. Both our Men’s and Women’s Amateur Football teams play in the Official Czech Republic Football pyramid.”

“We respect the beautiful game, and will play with pride and passion in the shirt, with high energy.”

The anticipation is mounting, the nerves jangling, the excitement almost touchable.

Eight months after our league campaign got under way, Wingate and Finchley (badge pictured) stand between Town and a place in the Isthmian League Premier division playoff final.

 Tomorrow’s semifinal clash with our near-neighbours at the Dave Bryant stadium for the right to contest the final on Bank Holiday Monday represents the culmination of a fantastic season after finishing third ahead of a string of so-called big hitters.

Now it’s all about taking one defeat in 15 games into the playoffs as we try to avoid a repetition of the heartbreak of two years ago and continue our quest for Step 2 football.

For manager Gavin Macpherson, tomorrow represents his fifth appearance in the playoffs, potentially hugely important when he sends his troops out to meet the Blues who finished one place and one point behind us.

“As long as we’re ourselves, I’m confident we’ll be okay,” said Gavin. “Of course you have to plan and prepare but that’s no different to any league game.

“The difference between this game and any since August is that you don’t have a chance to put it right in the next match if you don’t play well.”

Gavin’s totally understandable decision to rest certain players against Chatham appears to have led to a clean bill of health despite one or two still carrying knocks.

Training on Monday was all about tactics and how to impose ourselves on Wingate, a dangerous, pacey counter-attacking team.

“You don’t fluke getting in the playoffs. They’re a team that deserves respect and we have to be mindful of their strengths. They will probably be confident of beating us too but also wary of the threat we pose,” said Gav.

“Managing the situation over the last week has been difficult and a bit of jigsaw but it looks like it’s paid off. Having said that, I’m going to have to make some very, very tough decisions.”

“I can’t have any sentiment about what the players have done for me all season. That might sound awful but there’s a game to be won. What I will say is that the bench has to be in a position to help carry out a plan B or even C if plan A doesn’t work.”

“The fact is nothing is done even if we get through tomorrow. People might view where we are already  as a great achievement given the magnitude of the sides we we’ve been up against.”

“But to me winning tomorrow basically means we’ve got ourselves through to a cup final. Will I be nervous? I have a responsibility to remain focussed and level-headed because playoffs can be emotional affairs.”

**Important footnote. No alcohol, glass containers or pyrotechnics can be brought into the ground. There will be bag and body searches on entry so supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible.**

AW