OPPOSITION FOCUS | Enfield Town (H)

Back to the Focus it is then! After a long journey west to Bath, we're back home to face The Towners. The Tudors will be looking to add some more points to their final end of season tally and Enfield will have something to prove to try and stay in safety, just one spot above the relegation zone with only 3 points between them and 21st place, St Albans. Let's learn a little more about our visitors.

The Key Info

Founded: 2001

Nickname: The Towners

Manager: Gavin MacPherson

Stadium: Dave Bryant Stadium

Capacity: 2500

The History

Founded in 2001, Enfield Town were known for being the first fan-owned senior football club in the country, beginning their life as a football club in the Essex Senior League. This came after breaking away from Enfield FC, which saw great success as the Towners won two championships, two league cups, a Middlesex Charity Cup alongside wins in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and Capital Counties Feeder Leagues Trophy. The next seasons were stories of what could have been as Enfield Town missed out on three promotions by 2010, with defeats to Wivenhoe Town, AFC Sudbury and Concord Rangers. Eventually, their promotion was secured in 2013 to Step 3 of the non-league pyramid, with former Tudor Brad Quinton stepping into the role of manager in 2014. Enfield Town have gained a respectable reputation when it comes to providing a platform for young players to progress from, with Rian McLean, Josh Davison and Muhammadu Faal signed by EFL clubs in the period of just one year. Eventually, their promotion to the National League South was secured through winning the Playoffs in last season’s campaign. This season, the Towners will look to avoid relegation and begin to cement themselves in this division.

The Manager: Gavin MacPherson

Gavin MacPherson has been manager of Enfield Town since his appointment ahead of the 2023/24 season, following a lengthy period of playing and coaching at Met Police FC. MacPherson took the role of manager at Met Police ahead of the 2018/19 season, guiding his team to the Southern League Playoff Final, where they were defeated against Tonbridge Angels. However, MacPherson has gained a good reputation from his seasons as a manager, known for assembling a competitive squad and giving youth players a platform to impress.

Last 2:

0-0 vs Chippenham Town 29/3/25

1-1 vs Slough Town 22/3/25

Next 2:

Away vs Chelmsford City 12/4/25

Home vs St Albans City 18/4/25

Played for Both: Bayley Brown

Signing for Enfield Town during this season’s campaign, Bayley Brown had two stints as a Tudor. He started this season as a Hemel Hempstead Town player, scoring in the 3-3 draw at home to Farnborough, before moving to Enfield Town in search of regular playing time. Brown will look to use his height and strength to his advantage, of which Enfield can look to play off in this fixture.

Star Man: Sam Youngs

This season has proved to be one of huge success for Sam Youngs, who has contributed with 16 goals in 33 National League South Appearances - averaging almost a goal every two games. The experienced central midfielder has shown huge loyalty to the Towners, perhaps proving vital in Enfield’s quest to remain in the division.

Youngs has had an eventful career within the non-league system, representing just five teams throughout his time in senior football. His first taste of football came at Banbury United, before moving to join Rugby Town. After a spell at Redditch during the following season, Youngs returned to Rugby Town where he spent just one year before moving to Chesham United. He has played at Enfield Town since the beginning of the 2017/18 season and has grown with the club. Having made himself a mainstay in the Towners’ lineup, Youngs will be keen to inspire his team to victory in today’s game.

The Skipper: Mickey Parcell

Mickey Parcell is another player who has shown a great sense of loyalty towards Enfield Town, with the right back currently in his second spell at the club. Parcell made the step into senior football after progressing through the youth setup at Torquay United before transferring to the Towners at the beginning of the 2015/16 season. He spent four years at the club, before moving to Hornchurch for the beginning of the 2019/20 season. After spending another four years at the Urchins, Parcell moved back to Enfield at the beginning of last season’s campaign, which saw them gain promotion. His experience and no-nonsense approach will look to push the Towners closer towards survival, with Enfield sitting just three points ahead of the drop zone.

Last Time Out: Enfield 0-1 Hemel

The previous meeting between these two teams saw the Tudors secure a victory in dramatic circumstances, as Trae Cook-Appiah’s strike in injury time proved to be the difference. The first half proved to be a close battle between the two teams, with chances at either end but ultimately, lacking the end product required to win the game. The second half was very much the same, as both sides looked unable to be separated. However, a driving run from Innocent saw him cut the ball back to Cook-Appiah, who tucked home to secure three important points for the Tudors.