We are delighted to announce an extremely exciting new sponsorship deal with WWE for the 2021-22 season!

For decades, WWE has been the byword for professional wrestling entertainment worldwide, and its United Kingdom-based arm, NXT UK, has gone from strength to strength since its launch. With WWE’s British Performance Center opening locally in 2019, it established Enfield as a base for wrestling entertainment in the UK.

Our match shirts for the 21-22 season will officially bear the NXT UK® crest, starting with our first home league match of the season against Brightlingsea Regent this Saturday, 21st August 2021.

Shirts are on sale here: https://shop.etfc.london/product/special-edition-20th-anniversary-commemorative-shirt-adults

LONDON, UK & STAMFORD, CT, USA – August 19, 2021 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) and Enfield Town Football Club today announced a one-year agreement that will see a first-of-its-kind partnership spanning the 2021/22 football season in the UK. 

Enfield Town Football Club, known to supporters of The Pitching In Isthmian Football League Premier Division as ‘The Towners’, will officially don the NXT UK® crest on their matchday shirts, starting with their first league home fixture against Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Enfield Town Football Club’s radical reputation within the football landscape was forged when in 2001 they became the first supporter-owned football club in the country – a move then widely adopted across the UK.

The 2021/22 Enfield Town Football Club 20^TH Anniversary Home shirts were first revealed online by EVP, Global Talent Strategy & Development, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, in a video which can be seen here. 

“The launch of WWE’s UK Performance Center in 2019 saw the roots of NXT UK firmly grounded in Enfield and through this partnership we are thrilled to continue supporting the Enfield community,” said Michael Levin, WWE Vice President, International. “Enfield Town FC and WWE share an intrinsic value of putting fans at the heart of everything we do, a vision of supporting the next generation of talent in sport and entertainment, and a goal of putting smiles on the faces of our fans.”

Paul Reed, Chairman at Enfield Town Football Club, said: “For a fan-owned club committed to delivering a sense of community and entertainment to the local area, to have a partner with the magnitude and ethos of WWE is truly special. Our vision is one of inclusivity and equality for all and to be a social centre for Enfield, and we welcome NXT UK as part of the family in our 20^thAnniversary year.”  

The NXT UK crest will appear on both the First Team’s Home shirts and the Women’s Reserve Team Home shirts, a fitting way to mark Enfield Town Football Club’s 20^th Anniversary this year.NXT UK will also be visible in branding around the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, various digital club properties, and in community events planned to take place throughout the season.

NXT UK showcases the brightest stars of WWE’s United Kingdom division including WALTER, Ilja Dragunov, Meiko Satomura, Trent Seven, and the youngest singles champion in WWE history, Tyler Bate. NXT UK also launched the WWE careers of former Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, SmackDown’s Toni Storm, plus NXT’s Pete Dunne and tag team Grizzled Young Veterans.

Weekly episodes of NXT UK air every Thursday at 8pm BST on WWE Network, repeated Friday at 10pm BST on BT Sport.

SummerSlam airs live from Las Vegas this Saturday, August 21, on WWE Network.

We are delighted to announce three more signings, two of whom took part in our 4-2 win over Carshalton on Saturday.

 Nathan Smith (formerly of Braintree)  is a Jamaican international with two caps to his name. Nathan can play either at leftback or centreback,  brings plenty of league experience from his time at Yeovil  and Chesterfield and showed his qualities when he came on as a sub against the Robins.

Andre Coker, who started for us on Saturday and can play anywhere along the forward line, joins from Kingstonian.

Andre was the player described as ‘Triallist A’ when he scored the only goal in our pre-season game at Chesham and has now been added to playing staff by the management team.

Tall forward Matt Walsh is the third player to join us.

 Welcome all three…

What a result! After a difficult and often frustrating pre-season, we got off to the best possible start when the new league season kicked off on Saturday with a terrific 4-2 win at Carshalton Athletic, writes Andrew Warshaw.   Despite a wobbly first half when we were outplayed, Andy Leese’s team showed commendable spirit with three second-half goals, two of them from the returning Mo Faal to follow up his hattrick in the final warm-up game against Grays.   We could not have asked for a better  start as Carshalton conceded after just 28 seconds, which surely had to be the quickest Step 3 goal of the day.   Rian Bray’s hopeful punt upfield caused total confusion and Robins’ fullback Bobby Price headed over advancing keeper Tyler McCarthy for the most farcical of own goals.   But we were soon brought down to earth by the hosts whose dangerous crosses from both flanks caused us constant problems and who turned things around by halftime.   On 22 minutes, one of our old favourites, Harry Ottaway, who spent four seasons with us, was allowed a free header which he buried in trademark style. We all know what Harry can do and he made us pay for a lack of concentration. On the stroke of halftime, Carshalton went in front when Luke Read lost his marker to head home a freekick, awarded for a foul by Emanuel Maja-Awesu.   In truth, Carshalton could have been out of sight by then but the way we regrouped, no doubt after some halftime words were spoken, showed fantastic character as we took the game to the opposition instead of backing off.   If our own defending in the first half was bad, Carshalton’s was catastrophic after the break and we took full advantage, spurred on by the indefatigable Scott Thomas and the equally excellent Percy Kiangebeni.   And cometh the hour – 50 minutes in fact — cometh the man as Mo pounced on a defender’s misplaced header to pull us level at 2-2.   As we upped the tempo, the goal of the game came right on the hour when a 25-yard screamer from Lewis Taafe put us back in front.   Four minutes later Mo was in the right place again, seizing on a calamitous collision between the Carshalton keeper and one of his defenders to make a topsy-turvy game safe.   Carshalton still had their moments, one of which resulted in a superb save by Nathan McDonald. Thankfully, a late flurry of Robins’  freekicks and corners came to nothing as we grew in confidence at the back and were determined not to give any more ground.   In a highly competitive encounter, seven players were booked – four from Enfield (including goalscorers Faal and Taafe) and three from Carshalton. We also saw the first appearances since officially registering for us from Andre Coker and substitute Nathan Smith. The main concern from an Enfield standpoint was when Josh Urquhart had to be helped off the pitch, forcing the management team to re-organise. We wish Josh well as we await news of his recovery ahead of next Saturday’s opening home fixture against Brightlingsea Regent.   Attendance: 385   Town: McDonald, Urquhart (Youngs), Guebi, Bray, Kirwan (Smith, 55) , Thomas (Sawaneh), Kiangebeni, Maja-Awesu, Taafe, Faal, Coker.

Andy Leese has expressed his excitement at having re-signed Mo Faal, one of a string of players who in the last few days have committed themselves to the club ahead of the big kick-off on Saturday, writes Andrew Warshaw.

Goalkeeper Adi Connolly, defenders Ryan Kirwan and Josh Urquhart and forwards Larry Asare and Ebrima Sawaneh have also signed on the dotted line.

These are in addition to Nathan McDonald, Rian Bray, Lee Chappell, Jerry Gyebi, Harold Joseph,  Manny Maja, Sam Youngs, Percy Kiangebeni,  Scott Thomas, Lewis Taffe, Adam Cunnington and Neville Nzembela. 

Charley O’Keefe, having originally agreed to join us, has now signed for Welling United instead.

“Mo has committed to us until Christmas and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Andy.

“It became evident over the last couple of weeks that Billy Bricknell would not be able to commit to us for a few weeks yet, and with Adam Cunnington injured we had to look again at our forward options.”

“Mo and I have always kept in touch since he moved away and I asked him to train when I knew he was back home. Things moved quickly and Mo needed to play football having not had many opportunities in the last few months. Signing Mo again has certainly lifted the dressing room and I hope it does the same for the fans.”

“I am sure Mo and Adam will form an exciting partnership in Bill’s absence. Adam could be fit for next weekend. The squad is almost there. It’s been a tough pre-season in many ways, the strangest I have known in my 24 years of management and coaching.”

Following the departure of  O’Keefe, who played a couple of pre-season games for the Town, Andy was quick to bring in Kirwan. “He’s a young versatile player who has played lower-league football but has impressed us with his performances in the last few games.”

COYT!

Mo Faal turned back the clock with a superb hat-trick  as we picked up the FSA Supporters’ Shield, awarded annually to fan-owned clubs in a one-off fixture, with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Step 4 Grays Athletic on Saturday, writes Andrew Warshaw.

One level above our opponents, we were good value for the win as we warmed up for the new season with a second straight clean sheet.

The game marked both teams’ final pre-season workout, with the Town  travelling to Carshalton on Saturday and Grays hosting Bury Town.

Following stints at Bolton and Barnet, Mo looked like his old self as he relished putting on an Enfield shirt again, having been a cult hero during his earlier spell with us.

Whilst his first goal on 13 minutes was unspectacular , taking advantage of a low cross that was pushed into his path by the Grays keeper, his second was a classic finish,  rifling the ball home from Gambian international Ebrimah Sawani’s sweet pass six minutes after the break.

In between, Percy Kiangebeni almost got on the scoresheet with a mazy run down the right and a fierce shot that was palmed away for a corner.

Grays had a couple of half-chances but in the main, Nathan McDonald was largely untroubled and on 56 minutes Mo made the game safe with another well-taken goal, bursting down the left before shooting low and hard into the corner, a welcome sight for Towners fans so close to the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

After the game, part of our 20^th anniversary celebrations, the trophy was presented on the pitch by the FSA’s Richard Irving before a party was held in the marquee to the sounds of 80s’ cover band Bazooka Joe, who we thank wholeheartedly for their time

Here’s how we lined up:

McDonald; Urquhart, Gyebi, Bray, Kirwan; Thomas, Sawani, Maja, Kiangebemi, Taaffe; Faal

Subs:

Joseph, Walsh, Nzembela, Asare

Attendance: 214

After a difficult few weeks, we finally tasted pre-season success on Tuesday night with a hard-fought and well deserved 1-0 victory at fellow Step 3 side Chesham United which is sure to boost confidence ahead of the new league campaign.

Andy Leese will have been especially pleased with a clean sheet against his former club following the crushing 7-1 defeat to Hayes and Yeading last Saturday – and with the individual performances of several players.

Town started with a different formation and kept their shape in an opening session that brought little threat to their own goal.

 Looking to catch Chesham on the break they almost succeeded after 11 minutes when Sam Youngs slipped a ball through to Mo Faal whose shot from an angle was saved by the feet of the Chesham  keeper.

Ryan Kirwan hit a powerful drive just wide as Town enjoyed large chunks of possession though Youngs had to be replaced by Lewis Taafe on 38 minutes with what looked like sore ribs. One can only hope it is a short-term setback.

Just before halftime Towners took the lead when another mazy run from Triallist A saw him turn the Chesham defence inside out and finish well from an angle with a low shot into the far corner.

H-T 1-0

No changes to start the second and Town carried on where they left off with a good run from Josh Urquhart down the right,  slipping a ball through to Faal whose first-time did not have enough pace and was cleared on the line.

Faal had another half-chance before Chesham upped the tempo and enjoyed  a period of sustained pressure. Thankfully all their crosses and corners were either saved by  Nathan McDonald or cleared by his defenders which was a welcome sight for the management team.

Harold Joseph replaced Rian Bray on 53 minutes and 15 minutes later Junior Mubiaiyi came on for  Josh Urquhart and Ebrimah Sawaneh for Scott Thomas. Neville Nzembela replaced Triallist A after 70 minutes.

There was still time for Faal to tuck a shot wide of the post before he too was replaced towards the end of a morale-boosting and encouraging display.

Line up:

1. Nathan McDonald
2. Josh Urquhart (Junior Mubaiyi)
3. Ryan Kirwan
4. Scott Thomas (Ebrimah Sawaneh)
5. Rian Bray (Harold Joseph)
6. Jerry Gyebi
7. Percy Kiangebeni
8. Sam Youngs (Lewis Taaffe)
9. Mo Faal (Larry Asari)
10. Manny Maja

Triallist A (Neville

Do come and support the club on Saturday when we take on Grays’ Athletic for the FSA Supporters Shield, our final home pre-season friendly

The game marks the latest event to celebrate our 20^th anniversary and will be followed by a special party featuring the fantastic Bazooka Joe playing all your favourite 80s songs.  It promises to be a terrific occasion so bring the family along.

Bazooka Joe will be “on stage”, so to speak, at around 5.30

For the game, tickets in advance from the shop or on the door.

Prices are: Adult £7, Concession £4, Child £1, Stand Transfer £2

Season ticket holders go free

The amazing work of NHS staff and Care Workers in our community has been highlighted on a daily basis, during the current COVID-19 pandemic and here at Enfield Town FC we would like to offer our thanks by offering those staff free 2021/22 season tickets.

To apply for free Season Tickets go to the club shop here.

When you collect your ticket at a home game, show your work ID at the turnstile and go to our Club Shop to collect your season ticket which allows you to attend all Enfield Town Home League games for free. Proof of status must be provided, these tickets are not transferable.

Thank you, NHS and Care workers

Advance tickets are now on sale online for our next two pre-season home friendlies against Boreham Wood on July 27 and Hayes and Yeading on July 31.

https://shop.etfc.london/event/enfield-town-enfield-town-fc-vs-boreham-wood-fc

https://shop.etfc.london/event/enfield-town-fc-vs-hayes-yeading-united

Please print or have available your e-ticket on arrival. Tickets will also be available at the turnstiles on the day.

We are delighted to announce the signings of three new players as Andy and his backroom team continue building the squad for the new season.

Central defender Rian Bray, who began his career at Millwall, has bags of experience despite still being only 22 years old. His most recent club was Tonbridge Angels.

Joining Rian in defence is leftback Charley O’Keefe, previously at Braintree, while Nigerian-born midfielder Emannuel Maja joins us from Welling.

Welcome Rian, Charley and Emmanuel!

As well as new club skipper Scott Thomas, we have also manager to retain the services of the core of last season’s squad.

These include Adam Cunnington, Sam Youngs, Lewis Taafe, Jeremiah Gyebi, Percy Kiangebeni and Neville Nzembela.

Further additions to the squad will be made in due course.