New boss arrives at Enfield Town FC

Billy Holland has takes on the top job at The Dave Bryant Stadium following Gavin Macpherson’s departure last month, writes Andrew Warshaw

Billy Holland previously managed Waltham Abbey FC

New Enfield Town manager Billy Holland admits that Gavin Macpherson will be a hard act to follow – but is keen to put his own stamp on the club as soon as possible.

Billy was appointed earlier this month to take over the hot seat at The Dave Bryant Stadium after Town were relegated back to the Isthmian League Premier Division in April, leading to the resignation of his hugely popular predecessor.

With pre-season due to get under way in early July, the new man at the helm, who arrived from nearby Waltham Abbey FC after a 23-year association as a player and then manager, recognises that expectations will be far greater than last season.

Billy is not fazed by the challenge, however, even though he has never managed as high as step three of the non-league pyramid.

“I get entirely that more people are going to judge me than I’m used to and put pressure on me if we are not winning,” said Billy. “But I want to challenge myself out of my comfort zone and let my work do the talking.”

Not surprisingly perhaps, having tasted two seasons of National League South, many of last season’s Enfield Town squad have decided to move on. But at time of going to press, some key figures were on the verge of being retained, not least club captain Mickey Parcell and all-time appearance record holder Sam Youngs – the club’s two main stalwarts.

“It was really important for me to try and keep them both,” Billy told the Dispatch. “They’ve played at a higher level, are aligned with my own ambitions and know how the club works from the inside.”

Before turning to management, Billy faced Enfield as a player (he remains Waltham Abbey’s all-time record goalscorer and appearance maker) and later kept tabs on the club’s rise through the divisions over the years, culminating in Town’s promotion to step two in 2024.

“Everyone I spoke to, inside and outside the club, could not have been more complimentary,” said Billy, who will be assisted by his former backroom team and is also bringing across a number of Waltham Abbey players.

“I’ll have several weeks in pre-season to see who is good enough at this level and who isn’t, who can adapt and who can’t. I like to try and find young gems and see people in person before I sign them.

“What they are like as people and how they behave is as important to me as how they play. I will not bring in anyone and offer them ridiculous money. If they want to be on contract, they have to earn it.”

But surely the downside, as Town have experienced many times, is that non-contract players can leave whenever they like. “That’s true but I never lost a single one of my top players at Waltham Abbey,” Billy responds. “They liked playing for us.”

The straight-talking 41-year-old, who took his previous club to three successive play-offs without quite managing to get them over the line, is as ambitious as anyone. But Billy is also realistic. “There are some massive clubs we won’t be able to compete with financially, even at step three, but we will have an ambitious target in mind and work our socks off to hit that target.”

As far as playing style is concerned, he hopes the Town fans will buy into his attacking, possession-based 4-3-3 philosophy. “I guess I’m something of a risk-taker but that doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t adapt if necessary. Believe me, I don’t just want to look pretty, I want to win football matches.”

In the dugout, fans are unlikely to see Billy quite as animated as Gavin Macpherson was. “I’m pretty calm but I know Gavin will be a hard act to follow given what he achieved. I don’t know anyone who has said a bad word about him but we are two totally different models with two different styles.

“Hopefully the fans will like what they see.”

A number of pre-season friendlies are being lined up before the real business begins in early August, with fixtures to be confirmed.

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