Strong start to season for Enfield Town as boss Billy beds in

New Towners boss Billy Holland praises players after three wins from four to start the campaign, writes Andrew Warshaw

Billy Holland in the dugout at The Dave Bryant Stadium for the opening home game of the season

When new Enfield Town manager Billy Holland last month described the club’s first four games of the season as being “thrown in the deep end” and asked for patience, he was being understandably cautious.

Nobody is getting carried away, but Town’s opening weeks of the campaign have laid down a marker going into the autumn. The club collected nine points out of twelve from the first four fixtures – their one loss coming against St. Albans when they played 45 minutes with nine men.

Canny recruitment has been at the heart of Town’s positive start, with players like Tommy Avgoustidis and Amrit Bansal-McNulty proving instant crowd-pleasers. But the one-touch passing style, allied to players able to adapt to different circumstances, has got fans purring.

“The boys have been brilliant at times and maybe I don’t give them enough credit,” Billy told the Dispatch following the 3-1 win at promotion favourites Brentwood.

“Those first four teams all had decent managers and decent squads, and finances. That was my worry, whether we could stand up and be counted amongst them. Even when we’ve not been at our best, like at Brentwood, we have won football matches, which is a great look because we can only improve.

“The more games we win early in the season, the more everyone buys in to what we’re trying to do. We’re going to come up against different teams and different formations. It’s a question of how quick we learn.”

One intriguing question doing the rounds is whether Town’s highly watchable style will be able to withstand heavy, rain-sodden pitches when the winter sets in and pass and move becomes trickier. Bristling at the notion it can’t, Billy is unequivocal. “I’ve worked this way throughout my managerial career. Last season, albeit at step four, we went to certain pitches where you wouldn’t let your dog on it and managed to play our way. Yes, we may change things slightly, but it will all be from the same base.”

Whilst the new players at the club are gradually bedding in, the stalwarts who remained from last season – captain Mickey Parcell, record appearance holder Sam Youngs and ex-Northern Ireland international Adam Thompson – are relishing the latest phase of their respective careers.

Keeping hold of all three of them, plus Billy Leonard, was a major coup. But ‘Tommo’, as Adam is affectionately known, was perhaps the least expected to stay given his obvious pedigree. Explaining his decision to continue as the club’s defensive lynchpin, he told the Dispatch: “To be honest initially I just came in to keep fit but the staff and the players blew me away with their technical ability. So many of them are still young but trust me, some will go a lot higher.

“The manager and his staff are happy to let the players make mistakes if they play the way they’ve been asked to. Once you’ve seen the knowledge of the management team, it’s infectious. We feel like we’re being coached.

“Even myself at 33, I feel I’m learning again which I haven’t felt in a long time. They really go into detail how we can improve as individuals and as a team.

“Did I have a couple of offers? Yes, but I don’t consider this as a comedown. At this point in my career, I’m looking for enjoyment.”

Adam acknowledges Town’s front-foot, enterprising style won’t always achieve its objective. “It’s high-risk and sometimes won’t go to plan. The last couple of seasons we’ve played low risk. There’s no right and wrong, but despite the huge turnover during the summer, there’s no better club and fan base to have patience. They are real supporters.

“Even when we conceded eight at Maidstone last season, they were still clapping. That doesn’t happen at any other club. It’s hugely important for the young players who have come in, especially when they make mistakes which they will learn from.”

Lending a guiding hand to those novice recruits, many of whom have arrived from step four despite their undoubted ability, is another plus point for Tommo, particularly given his day job as a youth mentor.

“I think myself, Youngy and Mickey are the kind of people who like helping young players. There are no cliques despite the age gap. There’s a youthful exuberance and no-one is above their station. Everyone’s down to earth and listens. If you have that as a group, you can’t go far wrong.”

Enfield Town’s next league game is at home to Whitehawk tomorrow (Saturday 29th) at 3pm:
Visit etfc.london/matches

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