ETFC/EFC amalgamation

[Southport - TOWNER]

Quote from ETFC.co.uk, Mr Chairman said

".......That is one reason why the Board recently agreed to contact those now running Enfield FC to see if there was any merit in having exploratory talks...."

 

If I try and keep an open mind can someone please explain why either club would want to talk about amalgamation or any such thing

 

[Pavagrotti]

talk is cheap - I wouldn't worry unless talks lead to further talks.

[Beer Sponsor]

Don't think anything was said about 'amalgamation'.

 

Surely, though, every true football supporter would not wish to see another club go to the wall, without finding out if there is anything they could have done to prevent it.

 

If the position at EFC is not as serious as has been suggested, then that's good and we continue to wish them well.

[Steph]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
Quote
If I try and keep an open mind can someone please explain why either club would want to talk about amalgamation or any such thing

As you suggest that you will keep an open mind I will give you three very good reasons for you to consider and respond.

1) The most important! Taking into consideration the price of land in Enfield and both teams wanting a ground in the borough. This is not really acheivable without some assistance from the local authority. I feel that the authority have a duty to assist as they were the cause of the old club moving out of the borough. At present they have an excuse why they should not assist as a) EFC do not have the support in the borough to merit assistance and They did not do anything detrimental to ETFC for them to justify helping the club as surely EFC have a greater claim to assistance. It needs a single entity to approach the borough to wring some money or land out of the council.

2) EFC will not gain any supporters in their current predicament they can only go the way of other successful clubs, Tooting, Clapton, Dulwich Hamlet etc. These clubs live on their memories and will not challenge for any major honour in the near future. I do not want to see that happen to EFC but will not lift a finger to stop it as they are no longer "my club". It is in EFC's interest to amalgamate far more than ETFC and I recognise that. It is only people as stupid as Enfield37 who bury their heads in the sand who cannot see the writing on the wall.

3) An amalgamated club will be able to draw on the talents of both clubs in order to achieve success quicker. That is not to say that without EFC, ETFC will not achieve success. I believe that ETFC will be in the conference within the next 15 years however with EFC it may only take 10 years. I am now the wrong side of 50 and want to see that succuess before I am too old to enjoy it.

Finally I would like to add that the name "Enfield Town" is parochial as a club it would be easier to attract support from Edmonton and Southgate with the name Enfield.

[Ginger]

Whereas I take a far different viewpoint.

No merger for me, thanks. I'd rather see Enfield Town get where they're going under their own steam.

[Pavagrotti]

Quote:

Steph said:

2) It is in EFC's interest to amalgamate far more than ETFC and I recognise that.

3) An amalgamated club will be able to draw on the talents of both clubs in order to achieve success quicker.

Finally I would like to add that the name "Enfield Town" is parochial as a club it would be easier to attract support from Edmonton and Southgate with the name Enfield.

point 2) I agree EFC have more to gain from a merger than ETFC.

point 3) I'm sure we might find out what is left in EFC but I can't believe it is that much.

Like that footballer the other day who claimed he'd played for the town when he hadn't I'd sooner have a new parochial untainted club name than one that has seen better days in the past.

[andyetfc]

Just a few points Steph.

 

The present administration had nothing to do with EFC leaving Southbury Road. The previous lot did though.

 

How can an amalgamation with EFC, who have very few supporters, although they are very loyal, play outside of the Borough and are at the wrong end of Ryman 1 North, knock 5 years off the time it will take to gain conference level football according to your thoughts? We are already going in the right direction so let's keep going.

 

Something to ponder over.

 

Happy New Year!

[Jim Cunneen]

ETFC have NOTHING to gain from joining with EFC. I agree with Andy Hatvani on his point.

 

History? The supporters who stayed have pointed out there views on that one and I now agree with them. We are forming our own history and EFC have theirs. I have no wish to be part of another new club thanks.

 

The point about the Council and EFC is irrelevent and inaccurate in my opinion.

 

I sincerely wish EFC all the best for the next year and hope they are successful in staving off relegation and surviving but I look forward with ETFC.

 

The sooner this is put to bed the better then both clubs can get on with their own business without sidetracks.

[Southport - TOWNER]

so there is no tangible benefit of the clubs coming together; except it may give an EFC or Enfield United, amore influence with the local council.... well I don't think the local council or any other political type give a stuff about NL football in the boro'. We do not have enough voters for them to influence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Enfield 37]

Quote:

[ It is only people as stupid as Enfield37 who bury their heads in the sand who cannot see the writing on the wall.

Thanks for the mention

I can see the writing on the wall and from here it look better than a few months ago. I can also also see the other posts on this thread, how many ETFC Supporters really what to merge, join, take over or anything else with EFC ?

[MbrunoB]

the problem with a football club at election time is for instance how many ETFC & EFC supporters live in constituancy of the prospective councilor or MP where any ground would be built?Not very many as most people travel into the ground from the surrounding area,thats why we have to have a carpark.

[Southport - TOWNER]

so have ANY talks taken place?

[Steph]

Quote:

Enfield 37 said:

Quote:

[ It is only people as stupid as Enfield37 who bury their heads in the sand who cannot see the writing on the wall.

Thanks for the mention

I can see the writing on the wall and from here it look better than a few months ago. I can also also see the other posts on this thread, how many ETFC Supporters really what to merge, join, take over or anything else with EFC ?

I dont want to get into a slanging match with you as I think that your opinion is worthless. However it has been said that any future co-operation between the clubs in any form will be put before the supporters of Town which is as it should be.

I do not think that this thread necessarily represents either the views of the supporters of Town or EFC it is merely a channel for debate.

You can see that ETFC average home crowd this season is 312 well there are not even a tenth of that number that post to this BB. The posters to this bb are either so close to either club that they cannot see the bigger picture or are wound up by some perceived slight to them by the other club.

There is at least one poster on this board who is quite vehement with his opposition to an amalgamation who never attended an EFC match when they were at Boreham Wood. He gave up supporting EFC when they left Southbury Road, one wonders, therefore, just how much he has the interests of EFC at heart.

I am merely voicing the views of the people who cannot see a future for two senior clubs in the borough with the name Enfield. One will have to fold and, make no mistake, it is a fight to the death. You either accept and relish the battle or seek out the best interests of non league football in the borough!

It has to be said from where I am sitting ETFC will be the club that survives and EFC will fold, or worse, become a nonentity. I would prefer to keep the name of Enfield Football Club alive but if that is not to be as the supporters of that club are too "dog in the manger". Well, that is their affair.

[Jim Cunneen]

Excuse me - If I am wrong in your assumption that it is me that you are talking about but you are totally wrong if you state that I never attended an EFC match at Boreham Wood. I did in fact. I moved to Gloucestershire and my attendence at EFC was sporadic - it is still sporadic at ETFC as well! I work silly hours as everybody who knows me knows. It did not stop EFC being my club and it does not stop ETFC being my club now as my role woth the club and my continued sponsorship shows.

 

If you are not talking about me then I apologise. If you are then i think a bit of checking or a private message to me might be in order before you have a pop.

 

I have said, repeatedly, that I wish EFC nothing but success and I repeat it here.

 

Other than that you are right- I am opposed to a merger.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Jim - I don't think that any one who knows you would question your loyalty.

 

This thread was not started to promote a slangin match, but rather to see if there is a reasoned "arguement" for or against he two clubs coming together.

 

To date, no one (out of the 9 people who have contributed) has convinced me either way.

 

What i want to see is the best way to promote top class NL football in the boro.... come on any one able to talk £SD? or is this all emotion?

[The Invisible Man]

Well, as I posted on another thread somewhere on this subject, I am in favour of asking if the other guys want to talk to us. OK it seems to be only me and Steph on this one!

 

As I understand it EFC is, or is about to become, wholly owned by its supporters - just like ETFC. Of course we have not seen their draft constitution, but the main difference between us has, or appears to have, gone, i.e. that man. Obviously one of the first things to be discussed is confirmation that he had definitely reliquinshed all control and any interests in the club, holding companies and so on.

 

So the only problem remaining is that EFC groundshare outside the borough; we groundshare inside the borough. In a matter of weeks the ground that we share will be up to Ryman B grade, adequate for the league in which both ETFC and EFC will play next season, be it ESL and/or Ryman 1.

 

Whether EFC are viable outside the borough is debatable and at present is not our business, but presumably they seek a ground of their own within the borough. So do we.

 

Suppose they got one, which does not seem plausible, but what if they did? The football vote in the borough would be split, so to speak. Both clubs would be competing for supporters - in a borough with (at present! Oh gawd!) 2 Premiership clubs down the road. The borough cannot sustain two senior non-league clubs of Ryman/Conference status. The only thing stopping me going back to support EFC would be the existence of ETFC, who I now support. However my previous problems with EFC would have been removed.

 

As someone said above, the council's goodwill, and preferably help, is essential is gaining a ground of our own, and we are led to believe that at present we enjoy excellent relations with the council. With 2 clubs in the borough with similar aims and objectives, constitutions etc, who will the council favour? They are likely to sit back and leave us all to it. It will all appear as petty bickering to outsiders. At worse it could leave both clubs competing for the same ground or patch of land.

 

Alternatively if EFC are unable to return to the borough in the forseeable future - next season or at the latest (I would guess) the one after - it is difficult to see how they will survive. Obviously it is their problem and if they want to decline an offer of talks, so be it, but we originally began with identical aims to the present supporters/owners.

 

If EFC fold or remain outside the borough will have no effect on ETFC. It would be a shame. It is hard to see how they can move back, unless they join us. If they were able to move back, it could be seriously damaging for BOTH clubs.

 

So I say we should approach them for exploratory talks, without either side taking an intransigent parochial stance or dragging shrieking rhetoric about loyalty, old or new history and so on into it, and aim towards placing the name of Enfield back among non-league (and ultimately league) football's elite.

 

So there.

[The Horse'sMouth]

I must agree with the invisible one. Providing Laz has gone I fail to see what can be lost by at least talking to EFC if they are interested. I personally think Enfield is too small to support two sides. There is surely some common ground and even if we decide to remain separate there maybe things that can be agreed to the benefit of both clubs.

 

THM

[lovely stuff]

I agree.

 

Lets talk.

 

But i fear those now in charge of EFC would rather see their club die or survive as a sunday league/youth outfit,than contemplate a merger.

 

Those that hold influence now,seem happy to treat EFC as little more than a private social club....as long has they can hold a little 'power and influence' have a drink and a chat,then thats good enough for them...what football is played and which league they are in,seems a secondary concern.

 

Some that can't get their ego's stroked enough at EFC are more than willing to try their luck at other NL clubs,also.

 

Do we really think these sort of people would swallow their pride,and contribute to ensuring that the name 'Enfield' once again is feared and respected in NL football.

 

If there answer is no...then ETFC will happily strive for it alone.

[Beer Sponsor]

I think its a shame that the Council hasn't seen the need/opportunity to call for some form of discussion. That would be send an approipriate message about its concern for sport in the Borough and perhaps allow both sides to come to the table for an open and honest exchange of views. The fact that EFC seem unwilling/unable to do that is, to say the least, unfortunate.

[Southport - TOWNER]

so, my understanding from the above is; apart from possibly splitting the, NL football watching, public in Enfield (currently approx 500 @ best) there is no tangible benefit in the two clubs coming together?