Players come and players go but Andy Leese believes the squad being gathered for the new season will be just as competitive as during the last campaign.

“We’ve lost some players we didn’t really want to lose but it’s that time of the year,” Andy told last week’s  members meeting when giving a frank and honest appraisal of the current situation.

Andy, like the chairman, has spoken several times to Mo Faal in recent weeks but while Mo decides where his future lies with his contract having expired, the focus is on those who back in training and playing pre-season games including new signings Juevan Spencer, Scott Shulton, Marcus Wyllie, James Dayton and Ben Frempah.

“Whilst we are sorry to lose certain players the key is to focus on what you’ve got,” said Andy. “So far, so good. I’m really pleased with the attitude. I of course understand Mo wants to move up a level and try and become a full-time professional. I’ve invited him into training and will try and work my magic again by persuading him he belongs here but you have to respect the guy. He did what he said he would last season with his goals and I’m a bit surprised no-one has taken a chance on him yet.”

Andy made the point that there are goals all over the pitch in terms of the players who have already committed themselves including Adam Cunnington, Sam Youngs, Jake Cass and Lyle Della-Verde.

In response to a question about Andre Coker, who has been out of the game for disciplinary reasons, Andy said Andre was keen to right the wrongs of the past when he becomes available again.

“He’s been very humbled by events and really wants to come back. He’s pretty remorseful and I’ve seen a change in him and am prepared to give him another go,” said Andy.

The manager made a point of praising everyone responsible for maintaining  our pitch during the summer. “The work that’s gone on is first class, nothing short of incredible.”

He also gave an insight into how the state of the pitch determines selection. “There is no way back in February, say, that we could play football from the back. That’s why we played more directly when it suited us. All the players felt the same way.”

Reflecting on our playoff defeat to Hornchurch, Andy believes being shorn of crucial players so late in the day, including Scott Thomas, Lee Chappell and Nathan Smith, affected proceedings

“I’ve done a lot of soul searching and I genuinely thought we were in a winning position. With some extra experience on the pitch  we might have made some different calls.”

But onwards and upwards with the following message to the supporters.

“The support we get wherever we’ve been has been nothing short of fantastic. The players love it and so do I. I always tell the players about us being owned by the supporters and what that means. They all have a stake in us. I remember when we got battered at Eastleigh in the cup. We had a torrid time and were all doing Covid tests  before we even got on the coach. We took a side that was nowhere near full strength but the support  that day sticks in my memory. It’s the sense of belonging.”

And the ambitions for the season? “We want to do at least as well and try and go one better. We’ve got the nucleus of players and are again a top five team. Which of those places we take, I don’t know. We also want to go deep into the cups competitions which brings both prestige and revenue.”

Andy was joined at the meeting by Sam Youngs and Adam Cunnington, both of whom expressed the same sentiments about the fans and the work that has been done on the pitch.

“The increase in fan numbers really helps us a lot,” said Adam. “It’s all set up to realistically go to the next level. There is absolutely no reason why we can’t match last season. That’s why we re-signed, not just so we can have a chat with our mates and be a mid-table side.”

“There are teams who spend a lot more money,” added Sam. “But player for player, every time we go on the pitch we think we can win. We may not necessarily always be favourites on paper but we have kept the core of the team. And the biggest thing we’ve got in our favour  is our togetherness.”

This year’s annual pre-season members meeting was conducted both in person at Butler’s Bar and on Zoom.

It was in two sections, with the chairman and vice-chairman taking the floor for the first part, reflecting on last season and looking ahead, followed by the manager and two players, Sam Youngs and Adam Cunnington

Part One (Paul Reed and Paul Millington)

Paul Reed

The chairman began by pointing out that gates were up last season by 40 percent on our previous completed season. This meant we were able to maintain a strong playing budget and allowed us to be financially stable despite the impact of Covid and enabled us to bring in the likes of Jake Cass. Paul recalled we achieved our highest ever points position and points per game at Step 3.

As regards stewarding we will be utilising the professional stewards who were employed towards the end of last season and who are all first-aid trained.

We are looking at making a profit for the 2^nd season running, said PR, a rarity in itself. Improved gates means additional revenue from the bar, shop etc and less reliability on one individual source of income.

The academy remains an important source of income whilst our debt position is much improved. On the field, the academy won their regional league to compete in the Champion of Champions and lost narrowly to Chelmsford who went on to win the entire competition.

Despite the women’s first team getting relegated, the women’s section is in good health especially at youth level.

As far as the community section is concerned, the Saturday morning soccer schools still attract over 100 kids while the disability section continues to grow. Our social media presence is much improved, giving us extra profile.

On the technical side, the first team players are now equipped with GPS tracking systems to ascertain how fast they run, heartbeats etc. This is used extensively for analysis by the coaching staff and represents an important innovation.

A colour promotional brochure showcasing the club and at no cost to ETFC is almost at the printing stage and will be distributed throughout the local area in the build-up to the new season. 

Paul Millington

Paul focussed on an extensive outline plan for a new 700 sq metre single storey facility, prompted by the need to expand the academy. To increase the intake, we need more accommodation. At present classrooms are restricted to the bar area and portacabins.

Planning permission has been submitted for an additional couple of cabins. Not yet formally granted but likely on condition that it would only be a temporary situation for 3 years, with a permanent solution in place by then.

The unused grassed area behind the portacabins has been identified as the most likely possibility since Butlers Bar itself is a listed building. It will include a bigger bar and the club shop and provide classrooms for the academy during the day. It will also be available for functions. Discussions are underway with the Football Foundation to see what funds might be available as well as with the LBE.

Paul Reed

All players from last season were invited back for pre-season. Some decided not to take up the offer and the coaching staff have been working hard to identify how the gaps can be filled. PR mentioned James Dayton, Marcus Wyllie and Scott Shulton as new arrivals and later in the meeting the signing of centrehalf Ben Frempah was announced.

Team spirit last season was the best PR had ever seen and the same togetherness will be important. PR disclosed that players’ personalities were just as important a factor as playing ability when brought to the club in order to foster team spirit.

PR said there was a deliberate plan to get quality pre-season opposition and heaped praise on those who have been tending our pitch. Season ticket sales going strong, with over 100 already, while NHS season ticket offer and Go To Town has been extended.

In terms of sponsorship, WWE was always a one-season deal. Negotiations are at an advanced stage to announce a new main sponsor.

Finally, Paul introduced the concept of potentially replacing the playing surface with an artificial pitch and outlined the pros and cons.

The pros include a strong driver of revenue, potential success on the pitch (Aveley, Worthing, Dorking etc), providing a consistent playing style, saving money on hiring outside facilities and dealing with extreme weather conditions, whether winter or summer.

The risks include the need for commercial borrowing, whether supporters may be disenchanted, potential long-term injury risks, conflict with athletics at peak times and the need for more on-site presence .

In terms of costings, PR laid out the following estimates:

Installation – £600,000-700,000

Equipment/booking management system – £10,000

Extra staff – £10,000 pa

Need to save £250,000 over 10 years in order to replace the artificial pitch with another one at that point.

Total cost over 10 years would be approx £1m and PR estimates that we would need to hire the pitch out for 10 to 12 hours a week to break even.

The proposal is to engage with relevant stakeholders and then, at the agm  in January, put a business plan in front of the members ahead of a potential vote.

(Part 2 of the meeting will be published tomorrow)

Because of the unseasonally hot weather, we are pushing kick-off against St Albans City in our pre-season friendly tomorrow (Tuesday) back to 8pm.

The temperature by then is likely to be lower than when we played in at Cockfosters or Maidstone.

We advise supporters not to attend if they have any health conditions that may be impacted by the heat (we can refund any tickets already purchased if they contact the club).  We are also stress to our volunteers that they have no obligation to attend.

Maidstone United inflicted Enfield Town’s first defeat of pre-season with a comfortable 6-1 win on a sweltering afternoon at the Gallagher Stadium.

In truth this was a very useful test for our gradually-developing squad against National League opposition, and while the hosts demonstrated their quality throughout, Town did fashion a number of chances which on another day might have seen them leave with more than the single goal for their efforts.

Both sides attempted to build during the opening exchanges, though the hosts had the first real chance as James Alabi spun his marker well but was denied by the legs of the returning Nathan McDonald. The Town ‘keeper was powerless a couple of minutes later, as Sol Wanjau-Smith found room along the left-hand channel and squared to Sam Corne who had time and space to pick out the bottom corner.

Not that this appeared to dent the visitors’ confidence, as Jake Cass lined up an effort from 20 yards and was only denied an instant equaliser by the crossbar. Just as Town looked to grow into the game, however, Maidstone hit a second as Roarie Deacon was released down the right and pulled back for Henry Woods to steer home. Again Town broke beyond the halfway line and tried in vain to create – often lacking a clinical final pass – and again Stones were ruthless in their response by adding goals three and four within eight minutes. Summer addition Alabi skipped past two defenders to curl one in from the edge of the area, before he played a role in the fourth; drawing in a Town defender and allowing Wanjau-Smith freedom to latch onto a looping pass and finish across McDonald for four.

To their credit, Town recovered and began to work some clearer opportunities towards the end of the half; Jake Cass played in behind and narrowly denied while attempting to round goalie Yusuf Mersin, before Enfield did pull one back on 36 minutes. Cass was put through for a carbon-copy chance, this time opted to shoot, and while his effort was well repelled by Mersin’s feet, Marcus Wyllie was on hand to knock in the rebound for his first Enfield Town goal.

Ryan Kirwan, playing in a more advanced role down the left, met a header from a free-kick before two huge chances for each side on half-time as Alabi rattled the post with an audacious scissor kick; at the other end, Marcus Wyllie’s persistent pressing on the edge of the Stones box allowed him to dig out a low cross towards Cass, whose shot on the slide bobbled agonisingly wide of the mark from close-range.

HT: Maidstone United 4-1 Enfield Town

Town introduced Adam Cunnington for Wyllie, Wynford Marfo for Lewis Taaffe and academy product Lucas Jordan for Ryan Kirwan in the second period as McDonald was again pressed into action to deny a Maidstone trialist and then Regan Booty with two good stops. Cunnington miscued a header and Jordan showed some promising involvements, including an impressive solo run along the left flank; the resulting corner met by a combination of Nathan Smith and another academy graduate, Kian Wilkes. The two-step difference between the sides would eventually tell twice more in the final six minutes, as substitutes Dominic Odusanya and Perri Iandolo each produced terrific long-range efforts to put the gloss on the home side’s victory.

“I’m not keeping count; I never have done in a pre-season game”, said Andy Leese.

“Some real positives, one or two little negatives… some good lessons for us as well today.”

“We’re playing against a very good outfit today who have all the momentum having come out of the division below and then added some players. You can see the difference in the levels.”

Quality centre halves are hard to come by so we are delighted to have signed Ben Frempah from Hayes & Yeading United.

Italian-born Ben, a 27-year-old ex-professional,  was virtually ever-present in the United side which finished runners up in the Southern South Premier last season before falling to defeat in the Play-Off Final against Farnborough, just failing to gain promotion to Step 2.

Early on in his career Ben jumped seven tiers to join Leicester City and made his professional debut with Ross County north of the border.

Other clubs he has played for include Hendon, Guiseley and Solihull Moors before getting another professional chance with Wycombe Wanderers. He has also turned out  briefly for Wingate & Finchley.

“He fits the profile of what I think we need,” said Towners manager Andy Leese. “I think we’re quite fortunate to get him to be honest. He had some other options but I managed to convince him this was the place to play his football.”

Welcome Ben

Enfield Town 3 Tottenham Hotspur under-21s 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

A fantastic crowd of 841 saw us overcome a strong Tottenham Hotspur development squad – supplemented by the surprise appearance of a former Spurs household name – with an excellent display that augers well for the upcoming weeks and months.

You only have to look at last season’s dire pre-season form, followed by a memorable campaign,  to know that nothing can be taken for granted one way or the other.

But there was a sense of optimism and positivity as we gave a tremendous account of ourselves despite still being without a string of players who are still unavailable through various commitments.

On a balmy evening, it was fitting that our player of the season Sam Youngs revelled in the occasion, opening the score after just three minutes by sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after excellent build-up play from Adam Cunnington and new signing Marcus Wyliie who might well have had a hattrick on the night.

Adi Connolly kept us in the lead with a superb stop from Max Robson following a left-wing cross from a certain Danny Rose — training again at Spurs after apparently seeking to leave Watford, and allowed to appear as an over-age player.

The sight of Rose lining up against Town certainly added extra interest and only served to galvanise us more even though right on the half-hour Spurs were back in the game, Roshaun Mathurin converting from the spot after being fouled by the returning Scott Shulton.

Halftime brought a wave of substitutions by both sides and just after the restart Wyllie almost put us back in front – not once but twice. First his snap shot was brilliantly saved by Aaron Maguire, then Mcguire somehow got a hand to Marcus’ goalbound looping header.

But it wasn’t much longer before we restored our lead. Youngs was fouled on the edge of the box and when his freekick was pushed away, Cunnington supplied the finish (pictured).

It was a far cry from last season’s 4-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture. Although Spurs understandably had plenty of the ball, they didn’t manage to hurt us too often and on the hour we extended our lead.

Wyllie was alleged to have been barged over by Kallum Cesay inside the box and Youngs sent the keeper the wrong way with the penalty.

As we tired, it was inevitable that our fully professional under-21 opponents, a couple of whom had represented the senior Tottenham side, would finish the stronger.

After a number of the more experienced members of Wayne Burnett’s squad came off the bench, a 20-yard  thunderbolt from Nile John reduced the arrears and set up a close finale.

But we did superbly to hold out and next up Maidstone on Saturday followed by St Albans City at home on Tuesday.

Town starting line-up: Connolly, Muleba, Bray, Trialist, Marko, Dayton, Shulton, Youngs (c), Kirwan, Cunnington, Wyllie.

We’re very pleased to announce two retained players and a new (if somewhat familiar) addition to the squad for the 2022-23 campaign.

Goalie Nathan McDonald (pictured) and full-back Ryan Kirwan – two key members of last season’s playoff side – have committed to the club for next season. Welcome back, lads!

We’re also delighted to welcome back midfielder Scott Shulton, who rejoins Enfield Town having most recently been with Hayes & Yeading United.

Scott chipped in with 34 appearances and six goals during our playoff run in 2016-17, and brings with him a wealth of experience having represented St Albans City, Braintree, Wingate & Finchley, and Hemel Hempstead Town among others. He was part of the squad for yesterday’s  pre-season win over Cockfosters and came on in the 2^nd half.

Cockfosters 0 Enfield Town 1

Lyle Della-Verde’s sweet first-half strike (pictured) earned us a 1-0 win over neighbours Cockfosters on Saturday in the first of our pre-season fixtures, writes Andrew Warshaw.

On a glorious afternoon, we fielded a mixture of familiar names, new signings and young triallists as the squad begins to take shape ahead of the new season.

We have only had a couple of training sessions and a number of players were unavailable through either work or social commitments – not unusual at this time of the summer.

But it was a highly useful workout just the same and there were several eye-catching performances, not least from our new rightback Juevan Spencer  who, like many of those selected, played one half as manager Andy Leese rung the changes at halftime to have a look at as many players as he could.

It may have been a narrow victory against our Step 5 opponents on a tricky, sun-scorched pitch but it was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests with plenty of positives to take away ahead of Tuesday’s high-profile home game against a Tottenham Hotspur development squad which is likely to represent a far tougher but eagerly anticipated challenge.

We are extremely pleased to welcome Juevan Spencer to Enfield Town FC.

Right-back Juevan joins Town having spent time last season with fellow Isthmian Premier sides Kingstonian and – most recently – Lewes. He started his footballing career in the ranks at AFC Wimbledon; going on to represent Salisbury City, Whyteleafe, Corinthian-Casuals – where he notched up almost 300 appearances – and Chipstead.

Town boss Andy Leese said: “We are pleased to get Juevan on board. He’s a player who has always done well against us, especially last season. He’s another winner who will strengthen us defensively and he also brings an attacking threat, which we will need if we are to be stronger and have more options this year. Welcome Juevan.”