Promotion target for pioneers

Enfield Town are looking forward to reaching their next milestone as the country’s first supporter-owned football club after the Ryman Premier’s Towners celebrated their fifteenth birthday on Thursday.

Founded by the disillusioned fans of former club Enfield FC back on June 23, 2001, the club has grown from fielding one team to a couple of dozen since kicking off in the Essex Senior League while ground-sharing with Brimsdown Rovers at Goldsdown Road.

Since winning promotion to the Ryman's top flight in 2012 after moving into their new home at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in November 2011, the Towners have finished just outside the play-offs in the last two campaigns. Bradley Quinton, the club’s sixth manager, believes they are ready to make it third time lucky when the 2016-17 campaign kicks off in August.

In an interview with the Enfield Independent marking the club's milestone, he said: “This club is going places. I’m confident we stand a great chance of being promoted in 2016-17. I feel we have unfinished business in that respect.

“The club as a whole is a shining example of what can be achieved with some efficient and effective management and the infectious enthusiasm of supporters and volunteers. Here’s to the next fifteen years.”

Chairman Paul Reed said: “Our fifteenth birthday is a milestone that everyone connected with the club can be proud of in terms of our achievements thus far. The club continues to grow at a sustainable pace and, after two promotions since formation, I am confident a third will come sooner rather than later."

He added: “I would strongly recommend to anyone hearing about us for the first time that they come along and watch us play – it’s a great match day experience without all the hassle associated with Premier League matches.”

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Where next?

Awards night rocks Wembley! Coldplay were warming their vocal chords just yards away but the Ryman League's always-sensational banquet and ball was where it was really rocking at Wembley last weekend, writes Sam Elliott.
Rooks secure management trio Darren Freeman and his touchline team of Ross Standen and Tony Coade have signed new one year contracts to lead Lewes back into the Ryman League's top flight.

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