JAMIE’S GOT THE PERFECT CURE FOR E’S
Cureton lured to lead the Enfield revolution
ENFIELD FC are back – and now with a five-year plan to return to the isthmian League Premier.
The E’s have begun a new era by dropping 1893 and reverting back to their original name as the club bids for a return to their former glories.
When controversial ex-chairman Tony Lazarou sold their Southbury Road stadium in 1999 it sparked a downward spiral which ended with liquidation 13 years ago.
The club reformed and joined the Essex Senior League but still remains there having been surpassed by Enfield Town, the supporter-led breakaway club formed in 2001, who have reached Step 3.
But the original Enfield, two-time FA Trophy winners, believe things are changing and have signed evergreen striker Jamie Cureton and added former Liverpool and West Ham hardman Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock to the board.
“I can honestly say for the first time in two or three seasons there is a spark back,” chairman Steve Whittington told The NLP. “I think our hearts had dropped a bit to be truthful.”
Fussy
Enfield’s nomadic existence has made life hard and 24 points from 26 games saw them struggling near the bottom of the Step 5 division last season.
Ground sharing at Bishop’s Stortford has had its bonuses, though, with Cureton, the former Stortford player-manager, joining the E’s temporarily last season and now they’ve secured him permanently, at the age of 44, as player-coach.
“To have someone of his experience and ability is just fantastic,” said manager Matt Hanning, who is staying on for another season having been in charge for five. “We’ve had to manage it on a shoestring as such.
“We’ve struggled at the beginning of most seasons because players go elsewhere and we can’t get the ones in we want. Now we can be a little bit more fussy with the players we bring in.
“He’s going to be part of my coaching team and hopefully him coming in will attract other players who want to play for Enfield and with him. We’re going to be one of the big boys in the league which is really nice. I’d love to get them back to where they were.”
Cureton has played and scored at every level from the Premier League to Essex Senior League in a stunning career which began at Norwich City in 1993.
He is keen to explore the management side of the game more but still has a hunger to keep playing.
“I had a few different options scattered around but I came in and spoke to the guys about what they’re planning and what they want to do with the club,” said Cureton. “They want me to big a part of it and in the end it was a fairly easy decision.
Gimmicks
“The season ended abruptly, I’d been playing most weeks and scoring goals, so in my head I was always happy to play on and it was a case of what was coming up.
“If management offers came up and I had to call it a day, I would have done, but this gives me a bit of both.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in Non-League and had a taste in management. The plan is still to step into that side.”
For now, Cureton will be the main driving force in Hanning’s team on the pitch with Ruddock, once capped by England, adding a new dimension behind the scenes.
“There’s no gimmicks at this club,” said Whittington. “We’ve signed people who will do a job for the club.
“Razor is a gentlemen. A lot of people judge him by what they see on the television. When he walks into the board room, he’s lovely and is one of us. Above all, he’s a football person.
“We’re bringing this bit of knowledge to the club, we are rebuilding. I’m confident in the next five seasons we will progress massively. I think I’m on verge of saying I could be a little bit disappointed if we weren’t Ryman Premier by then.”