Andrew Warshaw speaks to Sam Youngs after the Enfield Town club legend reached his 300-game milestone

Sam Youngs has been playing with Enfield Town for seven seasons (credit Enfield Town FC)

The rarity of remaining with a single club for most of your footballing career does not just apply to the professional game.

If anything, in non-league football it is even more unusual, given the fact that fewer players are on contract and therefore are able to move from club to club far more frequently.

This makes Sam Youngs’ dedication to Enfield Town all the more impressive. At 33, Sam, regarded by Town fans as ‘Mr Enfield’ because of his loyalty over seven years and often jokingly compared in looks to Jack Grealish, recently completed 300 games for the club.

Although he has had spells at other clubs, Enfield has been very much a home from home, with his 23 league goals from midfield last season (31 in all competitions) playing a major role in helping the club gain promotion to National League South for the first time in its history.

Sam admits he has had several opportunities to move on during his time as a Towner but always had that nagging feeling the grass might not necessarily be greener elsewhere.

“I moved to Enfield [from Chesham United] at a time in my life when it suited me but I’ve never really looked back,” he explained. “There are many factors involved.”

One of them is the fan-owned ethos. “There’s a rapport between players, fans, management and directors that is infectious. The fans are the heartbeat of any club but it rings truer when they are also part-owners. It’s very important to feel wanted.”

He also enjoys being in a close professional environment, exemplified at Enfield by kitman Neil Butterfield who is as much part of the club’s furniture as Sam himself.

“I could be at a work meeting in the city before a Tuesday game, come straight to the ground and know I won’t have to worry about getting anything because it’s all there laid out neatly,” he explains.

“In that respect there’s no stress whatsoever getting prepared for a game. Neil is insanely professional in the way he works.”

While non-league football may not have quite the same high-profile pressures as the pro game, it comes with its own challenges. Apart from a handful of full-time players, most rely on day jobs to earn their livelihoods outside of football. But the sense of responsibility is just as great, if not more so.

“For me, non-league is an added bonus in terms of supplementary income,” says Sam. “It’s more about personal pride and wanting to do well for your teammates. I’ve met some of my closest friends at Enfield.”

Third in the all-time list of Town appearances behind Rudi Hall with 351 and Mark Kirby on 319, Sam isn’t intending to hang up his boots quite yet. “I look after myself and touch wood, I’ve been lucky with injuries, so I’ll go on for as long as I can.”

A former Town captain and very much part of the core group of experienced leaders at the club, it’s no surprise that the highlight of Sam’s career was promotion with the Towners at the end of last season.

“It’s very rare you get such a great group of players and personalities. Everyone was connecting, there were no toxic traits you often find in the changing room when people are not being selected. It’s a big reason why we went up.”

It’s a different story of course so far this season, with a raft of players coming and going as the club search for the right blend and affordable additions. Competing at a higher level was always going to be a challenge but Sam, ironically sent off (harshly!) in a recent home game with Chesham, is looking at the bigger picture.

“It’s never nice losing games but [manager] Gavin [Macpherson] has been working non-stop trying to find ways to make us improve. I feel confident we will soon be heading in the right direction.”

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