TOWNERS CAN BE THE ENVY OF FAN-LED CLUBS
ANDY LEESE believes Enfield Town is the exemplary model for fan-ownership – and would love to bring success in their 20th anniversary year.
Towners have made a flying start in the Isthmian League Premier to put themselves in the promotion picture.
Boss Leese, in his fifth season, has been overseeing steady progress year-on-year, backed by a sensible approach off the field.
Despite a hellish summer with preparations interrupted by Covid issues and a struggle in the player market, Enfield are currently in the title race.
“It couldn’t have gone better really,” Leese told The NLP. “The last couples of weeks of pre-season we showed signs of us getting it together and we’ve had a fabulous start to the season.
“We’ve got goals in the team, there was a challenge found in the right defensive set up but we’ve done that as well, we’ve got the best goals against column in the league.”
But it’s at the other end of the pitch where the most interest is being shown. Star striker Mo Faal signed a contract this week to keep him at the club until the end of the season after scoring 12 league goals.
The 24-year-old is in his second spell with Enfield having first signed in 2018 when his impressive form led to a move to League One club Bolton Wanderers.
His time there didn’t work out how he would have liked and after featuring on loan at Barnet last season, Faal re-joined Enfield this term and is doing everything he can to move back up the pyramid.
“He’s enjoying it so much, loves the club and the way things are going that he wants to commit a bit longer,” said Leese. “He missed a lot of football when he went to Bolton and was loaned out from there. He’s loving being back and being able to play every week.
“He was fantastic first time round and proving equally as good this time, I would say he’s a better player this time, physically stronger. We play to his strengths, he’ll score all types of goals and he’s quick.
“He has taken a step or two back to try and go forward again.
“It’s great news that he’s committed, it takes the pressure off as well to know that he’s going to be around. He’s back doing what he does best.”
Everything is falling into place for Enfield as they celebrate 20 years since being formed as a fan-owned club.
This weekend they’ll use their fixture against Merstham to mark their tenth anniversary of their move to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.
The club will be represented on the day by all of its teams including the youth, ladies, disability and walking football sections.
They have also come up with the unique idea to recognise the “power of youth” in which junior members of the club will take over the running of matchday facilities, such as the club shop, 50-50 tickets, golden goal, turnstiles, PA system, guided by senior staff.
Leese is proud to work for a club so involved in its community and wants to be able to give something back this season.
“The stewardship of the club is first class,” he said. “There’s some great people running it, especially the chairman Paul Reed. They’ve got a clear direction and vision, the purse strings are properly managed.You know exactly where you are as a manager which is fantastic.
“They really are the model for the supporter-owned structure. I just hope we can give them some reward this season.
“The signs have been there that we’re progressing each year. It’s been hard work but we’re starting to see the rewards.
“We’ve got a lot going for us and the club is in good health as well so maybe this is the time to really raise the bar this year if we can.”