History

Formed on 23rd June 2001, Enfield Town FC were the first fully fans-owned, fans-run senior football club in the country when they broke away from the original Enfield FC. Following the sale of their Southbury Road home ground, and after chairman Tony Lazarou had withdrawn from an earlier agreement to transfer ownership of the club – and escrow funds from the ground sale – to the Enfield Supporters’ Trust, members voted overwhelmingly to start afresh, believing that the regime in charge of Enfield FC no longer had the club’s interests at heart.

The newly-formed Enfield Town FC started life in the Essex Senior League in 2001-02. The club finished runners-up in that first season before winning the league championship the following year. Their time spent in the ESL was successful, with two championships, two league cups, a Middlesex Charity Cup and wins in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and Capital Counties Feeder Leagues Trophy finals to show for their efforts.

After securing promotion to the Southern League (East) in 2005 under manager Jim Chandler, the Towners had a successful first season at that level, before eventually losing to Wivenhoe Town in the promotion play-offs. The following year, following a move into the Ryman League for 2006-07, the club again finished 3rd – this time losing out in the play-offs to AFC Sudbury. In 2009-10, the club yet again only just missed out on promotion, being beaten this time by Concord Rangers in the play-off final.

The club originally played at Goldsdown Road, the home of Brimsdown Rovers, in a ground share arrangement. But in October 2008, the London Borough of Enfield announced a deal with the club which paved the way for it to relocate to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. Realising a long-held dream, the club worked closely with the Council to see the old athletics arena restored and upgraded to be able to host Isthmian League football. The Stadium was formally opened in November 2011 with a match against a Tottenham Hotspur XI.

Following the move to the new ground, after finishing as Ryman League Division One (North) runners-up, Town overcame Grays Athletic and Needham Market in two very close play-off matches to secure promotion to Step 3. Subsequently, after aiming for a period of consolidation, safety was only guaranteed on the final day of the 2013-14 campaign with a 2-1 win at Cray Wanderers.

The following season, Town achieved a play-off place finish – only for three crucial points to be deducted in controversial circumstances towards the end of the campaign which consequently led to a final league placing of 7th. In 2015-16, the side embarked upon an impressive late run, but missed out on a play-off spot by two points. Then in 2016-17, the club’s Premier Division play-off dream was realised, but a 2-4 reverse at Dulwich Hamlet in the semi-final put paid to further progress.

After an initial squad rebuild the following season, the club progressed further in the FA Cup and FA Trophy than ever before and won the Velocity Trophy (Isthmian League Cup) for the first time.

Season 2021-22 was the club’s twentieth in existence. Enfield Town FC celebrated ten years at their current home, the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, marking the occasion by showcasing the club’s various teams at all age groups and abilities; a testament to its status as a footballing hub in the local area. The senior men’s side had one of its best in recent memory, reaching the Third Round of the FA Trophy – a stage never before achieved by the club – and finishing a highest-ever third place in the Isthmian Premier Division, before falling to two late Hornchurch goals in the play-off semi-final.

2022-23 proved to be another largely enjoyable one for ETFC fans, and for the vast majority of the league campaign, the Towners kept up the pace for at least a play-off spot – with an impressive mid-season purple patch taking them to the summit of the Isthmian Premier Division by the end of January 2023 – only for a collapse in form towards the end of the season resulting in Town missing out on the play-offs by five points.

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, the club parted company with first-team manager Andy Leese, and a new team led by former Met Police manager Gavin Macpherson spearheaded a sensational season. The Towners spent the majority of the season in the hunt for a play-off spot and saw a club-record attendance of 2,225 as they beat Wingate & Finchley 1-0 in the play-off semi-final. An impressive away crowd would also follow Enfield to Copenhagen in the Fenix Trophy; a non-league competition for clubs of special societal or historical value across Europe. The season ended in fairytale fashion as a 3-0 victory away to Chatham Town in the play-off final sealed promotion to the National League South for the very first time.

Form

After a difficult start to the season, the Towners have seen a bit of an upturn in form of late having picked up four points from their last two matches. Former Rebel Jake Hutchinson bagged a brace to help his new club beat Tonbridge Angels ten days ago and they followed that up by picking up a point on the road at high-flying Weston-super-Mare last Saturday.

They will play their fourth successive away match at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium tomorrow, before playing host to Boreham Wood on Boxing Day.

Gavin Macpherson’s side are currently 22nd in the league table and four points from safety.

Last Six
14/12 – Weston-super-Mare (A) – Drew 1-1
10/12 – Tonbridge Angels (A) – Won 1-3
07/12 – Sittingbourne (A) – Lost 4-2 (Isuzu FA Trophy)
30/11 – Torquay United (H) – Lost 1-4
26/11 – Hornchurch (H) – Lost 1-2
23/11 – Dorking Wanderers (A) – Drew 1-1

The Gaffer

Gavin Macpherson joined Enfield Town ahead of the 2023-24 campaign after parting company with Metropolitan Police FC, where he spent over twenty years as a player, assistant, and manager.

Following a playing career for Barnet and Carlisle, as well as spells at Wealdstone, Slough Town and Woking, Macpherson took the managerial reins at the Met for the 2018-19 season after the resignation of Jim Cooper, guiding them to victory in the Southern League play-offs – only to be denied promotion at the final hurdle against Tonbridge Angels in a ‘Super Play-off’.

A widely-regarded coach who has gained a reputation for moulding highly competitive squads, often with young players, he guided the Towners to the National League South in 2024 via the Isthmian League play-offs during his first season in charge.

The Skipper

Mickey Parcell rejoined Enfield Town from Hornchurch ahead of the 2023/24 season and was named as Club Captain.

A fans’ favourite at Enfield, club captain Mickey returned to the club last summer for a second spell, surpassing 200 appearances for the club in September 2023.

After signing a professional contract at Torquay United following a two-year scholarship, he then joined Enfield Town and featured on 193 occasions during his first spell in blue and white – participating in the 2016-17 Isthmian Premier play-offs and earning man-of-the-match in Town’s 2018-19 Velocity Trophy victory against Hornchurch.

He would then enjoy four hugely successful seasons with the Urchins, including a remarkable 2021 FA Trophy win and, individually, being named in the Isthmian Team of the Season for two years running.

Key Player

Sam Youngs has been with the Towners since the summer of 2017 and he is their top scorer this season with five goals to his name from midfield.

A hugely popular midfielder with over 300 appearances in Enfield Town colours, Sam was voted Manager’s Player for last season after notching 31 goals and 11 assists in 52 games.

He has also enjoyed three spells at Rugby Town (including scoring a dozen goals in 2012-13), two stints at Chesham United, and has also spent time at Redditch United, Hemel Hempstead Town, Banbury United, Ware and Halesowen Town.