Town travel to FC United on 24th July

As excitement builds towards what we hope will be the first uninterrupted campaign in three seasons, we are delighted to announce a landmark pre-season friendly on July 24 against FC United of Manchester for the Supporters Direct Trophy, otherwise known as the Brian Lomax Trophy.

We will be running a coach to the game at FCUM with details to follow. Entrance will be pay on the gate and prices are Adults £9, Concessions £5, U18’s £2, U5’s Free. Our hosts will be providing a widespread choice of food and beverages on the day.

Like us, FCUM are a fan-owned club and also play in Step 3, in their case the Northern Premier League. They famously set themselves up to protest against the take-over of Manchester United by the Glazer family. In 2019-20, they were lying in 2^nd place and were play-off bound before the first pandemic-induced  curtailment. In the ever so shortlived 20-21 season, they were 13^th when that campaign was halted too.

The core of their squad has been retained and the club, with their fantastic support base, are now fully focussed on a promotion push in 21/22.

Looking forward to the game, Towners chairman Paul Reed commented: “I’m delighted that we have been able to organise another fixture with FCUM, this being our 20^th year.”

“It’s great that we can mark the occasion with another incredible fan-owned club. The game at our own QE stadium two years ago was a brilliant night with good football coupled with fantastic camaraderie amongst supporters and I’m sure this fixture will equally as good.”

“Just as importantly is that chance to play for the Brian Lomax trophy. Brian was an incredible inspiration in the formation of our club and encouraged, guided and supported us and many other clubs through our early months and years. It’s a great honour to be able to play for a cup in his name.”

In welcoming Enfield Town FC, chair of the Board of FC United, Adrian Seddon, also expressed his enthusiasm towards this celebration of fan-owned football, saying: “After two Covid-hit seasons, our trip down to Enfield seems like a lifetime ago but our supporters won’t have forgotten the warm reception we received and we are delighted to finally get the opportunity to welcome them to Broadhurst Park.”

“It is particularly pleasing that this match – highlighting the 20th anniversary of Enfield, an inspiration for all of us who followed after they became the first fan-owned club in England – will be played for the Brian Lomax/Supporters Direct Trophy.

“After all football’s issues over the last couple of weeks we are very proud to be announcing what will be a real celebration of fan ownership and friendship with a club that blazed the trail for ourselves and others to follow.”

As you may have read, club captain Marc Weatherstone is leaving us to take up the managerial position at our local rivals, Wingate and Finchley.

Marc has been a loyal servant since joining us in December, 2018, and while we are sorry to see him go, we wish him all the luck at Wingate, one of his previous clubs with whom he has a special affinity having broken their club appearance record before he moved the short distance to play for us.

In all, Weathers made 65 appearances for the Towners and we are sure he will rise to the challenge in what is his first managerial position. Just not against us, please!

All the best Weathers

This weekend we are coming together with other sports and organisations, to boycott social media and demand change.

#StopOnlineAbuse

Dear Members

Pablo Triguero, a Spanish student and contributor to ”Afición Deportiva”, a sports website with a primary focus on football, approached our club a few weeks ago saying that he was very interested in our ethos and structure. Former director Ken Brazier provided Pablo with some background and when he said he was keen to interview a player, Sam Youngs kindly stepped up to the plate. Here is the link to Pablo’s fascinating Q and A session with Sam

By Andrew Warshaw

A lot more needs to be done to punish those who use social media to racially abuse footballers.

That was the message delivered by our own Jeremiah Gyebi who represented the club at the recent Enfield Stand Up to Racism meeting conducted via Zoom.

In a powerful address to delegates, Jeremiah said the growing problem of racism has to be stamped out and denounced those who use anonymous accounts to hurl racist comments on-line yet somehow get away with it.

“Anyone can create an account with a fake name and fake picture and go and abuse a player,” said Jeremiah. “There should definitely be something in place whereby if you sign up for a platform, you have to identify yourself properly, maybe with a passport or driving licence. That way the culprits could be tracked down and prosecuted.”

Jeremiah, thankfully, has not experienced any racism so far in his career but sympathises with professional players such as Wilfred Zaha of Crystal Palace who are getting tired of taking a knee without seeing any tangible results.

“I am still for taking a knee but it’s not enough to eradicate racism in football,” he told his audience. “I sometimes feel it has been put in place just for the sake of it. It’s the right thing to do but it’s not enough. If a fan is caught being racist there should be harsher penalties. Maybe even a lifetime ban, something that can scare others other into not being racist.”

Jeremiah would like to see organisations like Kick It Out do even more to get the anti-discrimination message across. “I remember when I was 17 attending a workshop given by Kick It Out.  Thinking about it now, four years later, I didn’t feel that they went deep enough into the subject in terms of how to stop it.”

“Enough is enough. Let’s be honest, if a white player has a bad game, he just gets told he’s not good enough. But when someone uses the colour of your skin to justify why you’ve had a bad game, for a young player to experience such a thing – perhaps a teenager making his debut – that’s beyond me. It’s time for black footballers, when they step out on the pitch, not to have fear about being racially abused.

“The same goes for players’ families who are also abused on social media. It’s unacceptable in 2021 and, believe me, it has a huge effect on the player. No-one wants to go out on the pitch if they think their family might be abused if they make a mistake.”

As all of you might have imagined, it has been a difficult period trying to establish the fairest mechanism for dealing with season tickets for both last and next season, given how few matches you have been able to attend in recent months due to the impact of Covid-19.

After much deliberation, the board have come up with three alternatives which we hope you will find acceptable.

During the 2020/21 season we played 5 home league games, so @25% of the games covered by your ticket/subscription. As such, the three options are as follows:

1. A 75% refund on your 2020/21 Season Ticket or GTT Subscription 
2. A credit of 75% against a Season Ticket or GTT Subscription for 2021/22
3. The balance of your 2020/21 Season Ticket or GTT Subscription is donated to the club. Also free entry for pre-season friendlies, League Cup and Middx Cup games

Whilst option three might sound a lot to ask, we can assure you that your generosity will be put to good use. The reality is that the playing budget faces a big strain given our inability to create any secondary income during the pandemic. Any additional revenue received from your donations will be used to put together the most competitive squad we can.

In terms of Go To Town, should you choose option three. we will honour all existing benefits, including merchandise rewards.

We totally understand that for many reasons you may not be able to commit to option three. However if you would like to take advantage of options one or two please can you let us know by 30^th April in order that we can take this information into account when setting the playing budget for next season. To register for your rebate or refund, please contact me at chairman@etfc.london

Many thanks for your understanding and continued support.

Paul Reed
Chairman

As part of our commitment to opposing racism, Enfield Town FC are pleased that Jeremiah Gyebi will be among the speakers at the Enfield Stand Up to Racism event at 1 PM on Saturday 20 March. This event is part an international event in support of UN Anti-Racism Day.

You can join the event via the link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84049590792?pwd=Nis4cmVMN1h0dG01TFBRVU5Qcy9GUT09

Meeting ID: 840 4959 0792
Passcode: 411899

It has now been confirmed by the Isthmian League, after months of uncertainty yet with an obvious air of inevitability, that this season has been officially curtailed, frustrating of course for all of us who have enjoyed precious little live football over the past two campaigns but undoubtedly the correct decision as far as the board is concerned.

We would like to thank all supporters for their continued support through exceptionally difficult times and can only hope the 2021-22 season kicks off as scheduled, preceded by the usual friendlies, and that we can carry on where we left off in terms of our league position.

The board is conscious of the fact that many of you are season ticket holders and/or Go To Town subscribers and have spent good money in the hope of seeing a return on your investment.

Sadly the pandemic has put paid to this but it is important to stress that we are fully aware of your commitment and will be contacting each of you very soon with three specific options which we hope will be acceptable.

Further communication will follow in due course but in the meantime please stay safe everyone and we hope to see as many of you in person in the not too distant future.

COYT!

All the best

Paul Reed, Chairman

“The FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees have now considered the large amount of data and information submitted by clubs across the National League System (NLS) Steps 3-6 as part of a survey to gather views on the continuation or conclusion of the 2020-21 league season, in addition to the information set out in the Government’s roadmap this week.

Submissions were made by 99.1% of clubs at Steps 3 and 4, and 95.8% of clubs at Steps 5 and 6. We would like to thank the clubs for submitting their views and the time taken in providing responses during what we appreciate is an incredibly challenging period for everyone.

The results of the survey showed that over 76% of all clubs across Steps 3-6 indicated a preference to curtail the 2020-21 league season if it could not be restarted with limited spectator numbers and hospitality before 1 April 2021.

During this process, taking into account views of clubs and leagues it was decided that extending the 2020-21 league season beyond the end of May 2021 would not be a viable option. This was due to various considerations, including the financial implications for many clubs, player contracts and the extent of the fixture scheduling issues caused by the national lockdown and various postponements which had resulted in there being 81% of matches left to complete for Steps 3 and 4, and 75% at Steps 5 and 6.

Taking into account the survey results and the ongoing impact of Covid-19, which continues to adversely affect incomes for clubs due to restrictions on both spectators and hospitality, The FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees have reached a consensus that subject to the approval of FA Council, the 2020-21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the NLS should be curtailed with immediate effect, with no further league matches taking place this season.
The Committees will now present their collective recommendations to The FA Council for ratification.

It has also been decided that subject to FA Council’s decision regarding the curtailment of the season at Steps 3 to 6, both committees will revisit discussions around a potential restructure at Steps 4-6 of the NLS, which was previously agreed and has been on hold since the 2019-20 season. A further update on this will be provided in due course.”

Enfield Town supporters will be updated on the impact of this FA statement in due course.

Kick It Out is English football’s equality and inclusion organisation. Working throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and campaign for positive change, Kick It Out is at the heart of the fight against discrimination for everyone who plays, watches or works in football.

A small independent charity, the ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football’ campaign was established in 1993 in response to widespread calls from clubs, players and fans to tackle racist attitudes existing within the game. Kick It Out was then established as a body in 1997 as it widened out its objectives to cover all aspects of discrimination, inequality and exclusion.

As part of our commitment to tacking discrimination in all its forms and as a club that seeks to represent all communities in Enfield we have added a link to Kick It Out to our Website.

More information on Kick it Out can be found at  https://www.kickitout.org/