Enfield Town FC: The UK's first fully fan owned football club

The First of Many

Enfield Town created something special when they moved away from their wealthy owner Tony Lazarou in 2001, that being a club that allowed for fan input. In a way it was an attempt to embody the 50 plus 1 rule that was set up in the German Bundesliga in 1998 which meant the fans had a majority say on matters over wealthy investors and allowed for those who saw their club as a football club rather than a business opportunity to have a say on matters.

Since 2001 several teams around the English football pyramid have followed in Enfield Town's footsteps and granted the opportunity for fans to impact matters.

However, in the higher echelons of the pyramid, teams have followed suit and it has left clubs such as Reading, Chelsea and Manchester United seemingly being run into the ground financially with fans forming protests and boycotts to make a stand against their owners who have taken away the joy, passion and overall fan aspect of a football club as fans of these clubs can't fully trust that their club won't be ran into administration.

This only paints the model introduced to English football by enfield town in a better light as clubs such as enfield, Lewes and F.C United of Manchester have had the chance to display their club on a continental stage with the formation of the Fenix trophy allowing fan owned clubs around Europe the opportunity to relish in European away days.

The Rebirth

In 2001 the fans of the formerly named Enfield FC voted in favour of taking over the club and removing former owner Tony Lazarou after his promise to build a new ground was not fulfilled.

The final straw for the fans was when Lazarou proposed to move the club to Cheshunt.

"The old club died when they left Enfield"

Mr Lazarou would have a received a payment of around 600,000 for the club after withdrawing from an outline agreement which said the supporters trust could take control of Enfield as a debt free club.

This perhaps should have hindered the club more than it did but instead the Supporters trust set out to rebrand the club as Enfield Town FC and get back to playing football in Englands 9th tier.

The club's ethos is someone epitomised by Director Gabriel Meytanis who is a young school teacher who like all others that take part of the club behind the scenes gives up his own time for no extra pay.

But Gabriel has so many things to deal with whether it be running the instagram account, making the match day programme or dealing with the paperwork but he does it not only for himself but the community that he has established.

We spoke to Gabriel about what his role at the club meant to him:

The Towner's average around 600 fans per game and Gabriel believes that "It's testament to the kind of set up that we have here, the fact that there is such a close bond between the players and the fans".

"That's partly to do with the level that were at but perhaps even more so the fact that we have that ethos as a club that were owned and run by our fans".

"It almost intrinsically means that there is a closeness, a bond almost between the players and managers and the supporters."

Some may look at the model used by Enfield Town and question if their lack of an owner who can outweigh other teams financially limits their potential but Ramadan Ismail had this to say about how the model truly works:

Making it clear that those running the club directly and the fans are happy with the way the club is being managed and run and that they don't feel the need for a millionaire to come in and invest in the club.

The overwhelming consensus around the club is that they will grow naturally and not financially like other teams who have climbed the football ladder recently such as Wrexham.

Home form is very important to Enfield Town and are able to create a swashbuckling atmosphere to try and intimidate opponents.

It's safe to say that the Towner's attempts to try and make the QEII a fortress has been successful dropping points in just three home games this season.

This has led to the Town being 2nd in the home table behind league leaders Hornchurch.

This form has led to finds posing the question of promotion once again but if anything the form exemplified this season embodies the stability of the club both on and off the pitch

It may not have the same amount of global attention or supporters as Arsenal and Tottenham but this North London club knows what it wants.

To be stable, have a laugh and have a good crack at promotion whilst doing it.

Enfield Town FC, by the fans, for the fans.

A model that fans around the country would dream about to bring them that bit closer to their football club.