National League South, Saturday 5 October, Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, 15.00 BST
Back to the normalities of league football, Terras fans!
The last week has seen two games in the same round of the FA Cup, played between us and Winchester City, which saw us book our ticket to the final qualifying round with an emphatic 3-0 win on Tuesday’s replay.
That round appeared to be a tale of two matches; if Winchester were the stronger side last weekend, this replay saw us in the driving seat from start to finish.
On the back of our well-deserved victory, this afternoon we travel to North London to face Enfield Town.
The Towners’ season is a little similar to ours; they are struggling for wins in the league, with just two so far.
In The Gaffers view, they will be, much like us, “cursing their luck.”
Though, as Mark pointed out, in this league “anyone.…can beat anyone,” and, for now, today’s opponents sit ahead of us in the table with two more points.
HOW TO FOLLOW
We are sorry to announce that commentary will not be provided for this afternoon’s game.
Live updates will also be posted on our social media accounts; footage and reaction will also be uploaded after the final whistle.
THE MAKING OF ENFIELD TOWN
Unique compared to other clubs in this league, Enfield boasts being England’s “first fan-owned club.”
The story behind their claim to fame is certainly an interesting one…
It was 1999; Enfield Town at this point didn’t exist!
Instead there was Enfield FC, who had just seen their then-ground Southbury Road controversially sold for “housing and retail development.”
If that wasn’t traumatising enough for the North-London outfit, they then spent the next couple of years homeless, without a stadium.
This is where the Enfield Supporters Trust are crucial to the story; they acted as a mediator between the club and the local authority, their negotiation skills eventually allowing their beloved to return to their town.
Happy days for all, or so it would seem…
It was at this time when then-chairman Tony Lazarou vetoed those plans, and with the relationship with the club, in the trust’s eyes, completely gouged, another side was to be formed in 2001.
Enfield Town, on June 23rd.
With fans owning (well, 89% of it) this new team, it would be the first in this country to do so.
These fans may feel they have made a lucky escape; continuous problems ensured the liquidation of the original club’s company in 2007.
In that time, though, another (yes, another) Enfield-based club was set up by the original side’s board, under the name Enfield 1893 FC, a name that was rescinded in 2019, back to the usual “Enfield” name.
Confusing to anyone?
Whether or not this is still the original Enfield club, we will let readers decide!
However, during this time Enfield Town began making significant strides.
They were admitted into Essex Senior League, three tiers below the Isthmian League, ahead of the 2001-02 season, where their journey began.
They may have been promoted after just two seasons, had their achievements not been abolished due to “ground grading (don’t ask) issues.”
They finally got their wish two years later, earning a place in Southern League Division One East, a league the not-yet-liquidated Enfield were also a part of.
This did little to deter the new boys on the block, who were one result away from second successive promotion.
Their final-hurdle falters would continue for a while, though, only reaching England’s seventh tier after the fourth attempt at the end of the 2011-12 season.
Their stay in the Premier Division lasted a decade, taking them four attempts to slither up the Southern League, as they lost three times in the play-offs before a 3-0 win versus Chatham Town in the play-off final ensured their place in England’s sixth tier for the first time.
This puts them above the “original” club, by the way.
LIFE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
Swimming in new waters, one could be forgiven for cutting the Towners some slack in their new league.
Unsurprisingly, today’s opponents are still finding their feet amongst the big boys; their eight losses are the my most out of any team in the league so far this season.
They have, however, won twice, one more than us.
Today is their first home league fixture for nearly a month, their last being one to forget for the supporters after a resounding 4-1 loss to Maidstone United.
The result came courtesy of Aaron Blair’s hat-trick, in a game which also saw a 90th-minute red card from Enfield Town’s Harley Mills.
This hasn’t been the only hat-trick the Towners have conceded of late; just last week saw James Roberts inflict the same punishment, as Hampton & Richmond Borough ran out 4-0 winners.
These heavy defeats, though, have done little to deter today’s hosts, who announced their annual “Whole Club Day” occasion on their website.
This special day for the Towners faithful, taking place this afternoon, encourages supporters to invite friends and family to the ground, where they are greeted with “stalls, entertainment [and] a raffle.”
What does this mean for us?
Another bouncing atmosphere.
If it’s not the unveiling of a new stadium, it’s a club celebration day that greets us.
Teams must love the mighty Terras!
What we will hope, though, is that they love us just a little less after the full-time whistle…
