| Enfield
FC at Southbury Road I now live in Melbourne,
Australia, but my memories of Southbury Road go back to the fifties. They are many and
pleasant, as during the ensuing period Enfield had probably one of the best non-league
teams of all time.
The resurgence started in 1959 when Jules Thorn became
President and a number of decent players were signed. Amongst them was Tommy Lawrence. I
was at the ground the following year when Enfield beat Hoddesdon 15-0 in an FA Cup
Qualifying Round and Tommy scored nine to break the club record for a single game.
I remember 6,000 fans in the ground when the team beat
Headington United in the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup, either that year or a year later.
Big Fat Ron (Ron Atkinson) was in the Headington (soon to change to its current name
Oxford Utd) side that day. Enfield won 4-3.
I recall the three consecutive Athenian league titles,
followed a little later by three consecutive Isthmian league titles, as well as many
glorious FA Amateur Cup matches at the ground.
On a vist back home in 1989, I saw a the Vauxhall
Conference match in which Enfield's scorer that day was Paul Furlong (later of Chelsea and
now Birmingham fame).
There are 63 years of memories now to be buried at
Southbury Road. It's all very sad.
Bruce Darnell
I have only been going to see Enfield play since around 1997, but in
those
short 3 years, I have seen some emotional events.
One of them was York City at home - F.A Cup. This was an outstanding match
and was a true F.A cup occasion. We were 2-0 down at half time and things
were looking pretty bleak.
We pulled a goal back after a superb chip from Richard Dunwell. Then moments
later, Johnny Richardson scored an almost indentical goal, to send the 1'600
Enfield fans behind the goal absolutely wild.
Five minutes from the end, Richard Dunwell scored what we all thought was
the winner, but was dissalowed for off-side.
After the game, I knew I was truly lucky to have seen this once in a
lifetime football match.
Another occasion was the supposed last game ever at Southbury Rd against
Hendon. Admittance into the ground was free, and around 2'000 people took
advantage of this.
Enfield went 1-0 down after a 20 yard shot from a Hendon defender.
The players went into the changing rooms at half time knowing they could not
possibly let the fans down after 63 years hard work.
The players came out for the next 45 minutes, and were greeted by an
increadible roar.
The fans were constantly singing "Gary Calder's Blue and White Army" and
were really giving the players a boost.
Enfield scored a goal from god know's who (in the excitement I fell over) in
the 62nd minute.
Then a charge from John Morgan, produced possibly the luckiest goal ever
after a mis-hit cross flew straight into the top corner in the 80th minute.
The 2'000 fans went mad, people were on the pitch, people were crying, it
was truly an amazing moment! The final whistle blew, and was quickly
followed by a mass pitch invasion.
No-one wanted Southbury RD to be demolished, and our wishes were answered
when we were told that our lease had been extended untill october! We all
knew we had to go through the anguish and pain once again.
Good-bye to Southbury RD, and I thank you all, for all the increadible
events you have brought us in 63 astonishing years.
Thank-you also to all the clubs and football fans, who have written to us,
wishing Enfield the best of luck.
Lee Robson, Hertfordshire.
The first ever football match I went to was at Southbury Road when
Enfield were in the Vauxhall Conference. They were playing Lincoln City. I was only 10 and
it was the most exciting thing I had ever experienced - they weren't a bad team either!
From that moment on I was a fan. The ground was something to be proud of and the team were
a non-league giant. I remember thinking at my first away game that our stadium was really
something to be proud of compared to other teams.
When the Stadium was knocked down it was the end of an era. But every fan felt that if we
were knocking down this great stadium, we would have to move into an equally as good one.
Unfortunately it never happened and two years later we remain homeless.
A great stadium, a great team and some great fans were bitterly betrayed by a thoughtless
Chairman. We can never replace what we lost.
Rob Lambie (29/08/01)
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