Andrew Warshaw on Enfield Town’s difficult start to life in National League South

Slough Town players and fans celebrate their fourth goal in a 6-1 defeat of Enfield Town

No-one was under any illusions about how challenging Enfield Town’s baptism in the lofty surroundings of National League South would be.

Without the financial resources of most teams in the division, the fan-owned club was always going to find step two of the non-league pyramid a vastly different proposition after gaining promotion. One win and four defeats in Town’s first five games represented a stark reminder.

Manager Gavin Macpherson warned the Towners were behind schedule when the season started, having lost both their main striker and centre-back – Marcus Wyllie sold to Gillingham, Taylor McKenzie having stepped back for work purposes. The management team is still trying to find the right balance on the field while, off it, overheads such as increased travel expenses, elevated player wages and higher payments to officials are eating into the budget.

Yet, it’s certainly not all doom and gloom. The two longest away trips – to Torquay and Truro – are already out of the way, while the four early losses were against teams around the top of the league. With the first month complete, Towners chairman Paul Reed said: “We all knew it was going to be hard in terms of football ability but I’ve been quite surprised by the physicality of the opposition and how relentless it is.

“We are coming up against players who are bigger, stronger and faster. All our boys have got [day] jobs but if they want to stay at this level, they are going to have get as fit as everyone else.”

It’s not the just the players who are having to adapt. The manager, who admits the 6-1 trouncing by Slough Town on 20^th August was the low point of his career, has never been in charge of a step two club.

“We are all learning, on and off the pitch, about what standards are expected,” explains Paul. “Some things we’ve got right so far, and some things wrong.”

Effectively replacing Wyllie and McKenzie has obviously been one unresolved issue. “Of course we’ve struggled to replace Marcus but if you can keep clean sheets at the other end you’re going to pick up points,” said Paul. “Realistically we are a team aiming to finish around the top of the bottom half of the division, but we won’t know until we’ve played the sides in and around that position exactly where we are.”

Paul makes no secret of how much infrastructural work needs doing away from the pitch to sustain National League South status – there are no wealthy investors. “It works both ways,” he explains.

“Obviously being fan-owned means you can’t just go right through the league. But equally, you don’t end up going out of business. Our task is finding out the best way to spend our budget.”

With both sponsorship and attendances way up on last term, there are plenty of positives to draw on. At the time of going to press, the response to a crowdfunding scheme was little short of magnificent, with over £17,000 pledged towards the £35,000 required for stadium improvements.

“We’re hugely grateful to those companies who have pledged their sponsorship support because it’s money guaranteed,” says Paul. “The more we get, the more goes into the budget. We are always of course looking for more!

“As for crowdfunding, the generosity has been amazing. We’ve had to go cap in hand to our supporters who are ultimately our owners. They understand we don’t waste money and, as a board, we are humbled by it.”

Find out more and contribute to the crowdfunder:
Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/etfc-home-improvements/backers#start

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