It is almost unbelievable to have to caveat a game on the First of April as “weather permitting” but after the last week’s rain, that is the case with tomorrow’s scheduled trip to Bishop’s Stortford to play league leaders Enfield.

Enfield’s last two home games (last Sunday against Little Oakley, and Wednesday against Redbridge) were postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Woodside Park, and of course Boro’s game at the Terence McMillan Stadium against Athletic Newham on Wednesday suffered the same fate, so with more rain on the cards, the prospect of a pitch inspection and possible postponement loom large. It will be worthwhile keeping an eye on this website and social media, including Enfield’s Twitter feed at @EnfieldFC https://twitter.com/enfieldfc for updates on possible pitch inspections.

While Boro take on the league leaders, the battle for second place is hotting up with Redbridge and Clacton (second and third respectively) meeting at Clacton tomorrow. Both have 69 points to Enfield’s 71, but they have both played more games than The Es; Enfield have played 29, Redbridge have played 30, and FC Clacton, 32.

Brief History:

The original Enfield FC were formed in 1893 as Enfield Spartans; the Spartans prefix was dropped in 1900 and they joined the London League. In 1912 they joined the Athenian League, remaining members until 1963, when they moved to the Isthmian League.

Enfield won the Athenian League in 1962 and 1963, and the Isthmian League eight times between 1968 and 1995. The Football Conference was won in 1983 and 1986, and the club’s other honours include winning the FA Amateur Cup (twice), the FA Trophy (twice), and the European Amateur Cup Winners Cup.

In 1999, the club sold its Southbury Road stadium and began ground sharing with several nearby clubs. Two years later a group of supporters formed a breakaway club, Enfield Town. In 2007 the club were liquidated and a new club, Enfield 1893, was formed. The 1893 suffix was dropped in 2019, although it continues to be used on various non-League websites.

Enfield joined the Essex Senior League, which they won in 2011 but promotion to the Isthmian League was denied due to ground grading issues. In recent years the club have finished as low as 20th (of 21) in 2016, and as high as 3rd in 2014.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have played Enfield eleven times since their first meeting in 2007. Remarkably, only five of these meetings have been league fixtures, of which Boro have won four, with the most recent before this season being a 1-0 Boro win in an Essex Senior League game played at Ware FC in 2009. Just a few weeks ago, the sides met at Mayesbrook Park with Enfield winning 2-0

The other six games (four in the Essex Senior League Cup and two in the Gordon Brasted Trophy) have seen two draws and four wins for Enfield.

Romford and Enfield were involved in something of a two-horse race for the ESL championship in 2008-09 with Boro at one time having built up a lead of more than ten points, only to be reeled in towards the end of the season before Enfield (then Enfield 1893) lost a crucial game at Bowers & Pitsea to confirm Boro’s championship win.

Last Season:

Enfield finished in fifth place in the Essex Senior League last season and won the Errington Challenge Cup, beating Cockfosters 3-2 in the Final.

In the FA Cup, wins over Milton Keynes Irish and Stanway Rovers took Enfield to the 1st Qualifying Round, where they lost in a replay to Hadley, while in the FA Vase they fell at the first hurdle, losing at Buckhurst Hill.

Leading scorer for Enfield last season was former Walthamstow forward Dwade James, who bagged 30 goals in all competitions. With 10 goals this season, James is Enfield’s third top scorer, but has recently signed for Isthmian League side Sittingbourne.

This Season:

Enfield began the season with three straight wins in the league before tasting defeat at Redbridge. In all they have lost just four league games – 2-1 to Stansted and 2-0 to West Essex at home, and 1-0 at Athletic Newham, and 2-1 at Redbridge. Their recent form has seen them win five and draw one (3-3 at home to Barking) of their last six matches.

In league games alone, Enfield have netted 84 goals in 29 games, with Louie Johnson leading the way with 13 (19 in all competitions). Enfield reached the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup before bowing out 4-0 at home to Billericay Town, while in the FA Vase they went out in the 2nd Round, 1-0 at Dunstable Town.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Enfield play at Bishop’s Stortford’s ground, Woodside Park, CM23 5RG which can be accessed from junction 8 of the M11.

The ground is about a mile and a half – a 40 minute walk - from Bishop’s Stortford Station, which is served by trains from London Liverpool Street.

Essex Senior League fixtures tomorrow:

In addition to the game between second and third this weekend, there is a basement battle with Southend Manor away to Clapton in a match that Southend must win to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive. After Halstead Town’s 2-2 draw at Woodford Town last night however, Manor’s chances of staying up now rely on a highly improbable set of results in the remaining fixtures.

Barking v Stansted
Clapton v Southend Manor
Enfield v Romford
FC Clacton v Redbridge
Halstead Town v Little Oakley
Ilford v Woodford Town
Saffron Walden Town v Takeley
Sawbridgeworth Town v Athletic Newham
Stanway Rovers v West Essex
White Ensign v Buckhurst Hill