Tommy's the talk of the Town

Tommy Avgoustidis picked up the latest ‘player of the month’ award after scoring two goals at Billericay in the FA Cup, writes Andrew Warshaw

Tommy Avgoustidis was previously on the books of Leyton Orient (credit Michael Michalia)

Talk about bad luck of the draw. If Enfield Town are finally to reach the ‘holy grail’ of the FA Cup first round they are going to have to “do it the hard way” according to manager Billy Holland.

Having pulled off one of the upsets of the second qualifying round with a stunning 3-1 win at step two club Billericay, while missing no fewer than seven first-team players, Town now have to negotiate an even taller order after being drawn to play Oxford City on Saturday, 3rd October.

At time of writing, City were lying second in National League North – making them the highest-placed team in the third qualifying round. As tough ties go, they don’t get much worse on paper.

To make matters worse this was, incredibly, the seventh successive away game for Town in all cup competitions. That’s some statistic and the conspiracy theorists among the Towners faithful are beginning to wonder, however fancifully, whether some kind of Machiavellian plot is at play.

There was certainly nothing lucky about Town’s display at Billericay, which ranked as one of their best cup wins in recent years. In the league as well, it’s fair to say that progress has perhaps surpassed expectations.

Town’s good form is due in no small part to a swathe of summer arrivals who have set pulses racing and quickly become fans’ favourites. Chief among them are Amrit Bansal-McNulty and Tommy Avgoustidis, the latter having picked up the latest ‘player of the month’ award and whose two goals at Billericay set Town on their way into the third qualifying round.

Speaking exclusively to the Dispatch after that game, Tommy explained the importance of honing his craft in his native Greece and why he decided to further his career at Enfield after moving from Royston Town, having also spent several years with Leyton Orient without being given a full-time deal,

“When I saw Billy stepping in as manager, I told myself there was nowhere better to be, cos of the way he likes to play,” said Tommy. “I came in for pre-season and it kind of spiralled from there.”

Before moving to the UK, Tommy played youth football at PAOK Thessaloniki. Plying his trade at a young age in his homeland was invaluable to Tommy’s development.

“PAOK has the best academy in the country. It’s mental, four sessions a week, two hours each session, two or three games a week. And that’s the eight-to-ten age group. It taught me how to use both feet, practising over and over again. We travelled to so many countries where you were expected to win. It made me the player I am today.”

Tommy, who celebrates his 21st birthday when Town meet Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday, 10th October, isn’t surprised how well the season has started, despite many of the summer recruits having arrived from a division lower.

“I knew instantly how it might go,” he said. “Some of the players who arrived from step four should never have been playing at that level. They are a lot better than that.”

Regarding the passion of Town’s fans, Tommy added: “I’ve never had to high-five so many supporters, even when we don’t win. It takes the pressure off because you can’t really lose. Billericay was a case in point.”

While it’s far too early to talk about promotion, there’s undoubtedly a buzz around the place. “If we manage to keep most of the squad fit, there won’t be many teams who can handle us,” said Tommy.

The biggest concern is that richer clubs might come snooping for any number of emerging Town players, but Tommy insists he’s staying put. “I’m enjoying my football, scoring and assisting, and in the main we’re winning. What’s the point of me jumping ship to somewhere I may not play as much?

“Unless something unbelievably life-changing comes around, I’m not going anywhere.”

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