Enfield Debate

[lovely stuff]

Reading Freebirds request for the whereabouts of photos from Enfields Southbury Rd days,got me thinking.

 

'How much do the current EFC own of what was at Southbury Rd.When it comes to Memrobilia,Photos,Trophies,awards..etc, did Laz keep and/or dispose of the lot.Or do the current EFC regime have possession of Trophies and such like,and if so,where do they keep them'.

Also,do EFC maintain detailed statistics from the last 50 years.Players,appereances,goals,England caps..etc,because most of the old 'stats men' switched to Enfield Town.Were any stats handed back?

[MK James]

 

As far as I'm aware Alan Farmer is up to speed with all the stats.

[The Invisible Man]

At present there are two clubs not only chasing support, but also land and funding for a stadium in the borough. The borough just will not support two senior non-league clubs. In the event that EFC do manage to move back it will be seriously bad news for BOTH clubs.

 

I'm still not clear why the council, or anyone else, would GIVE either club a piece of land!

[lovely stuff]

Maybe the fact that without the councils complete complience in allowing Lazarou to sell the ground (just after they had given him a 99 years lease),and the fact that they pocketed 1.75 million from making ALL us fans homeless,might put the thought in their minds that they should help find a home for football in Enfield.Don't forget that most of the fans from both clubs pay huge amounst of council tax into the coffers of the council.I think we are forgetting that its not Enfiled councils land or money.The land and money belong to the community of Enfield.Enfield council are paid to hold the purse strings.

Can you think of a better way of serving of serving the people of the borough, than offering a site in with to bring football back to the community.They give money out for every little tin-pot scheme and project,but are not willing to help a community based club that 300 people visit each week. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

Unfortunatly at present the inept council CAN find better things to do with land.Ie.Sell it off in order to get themselves out of the sh*t,at the end of every financial year. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

[MK James]

 

I totally agree LS. I know it's not strictly relevant, but Northampton got their ground purpose built by the council and were allowed to pay a peppercorn rent(until they bought it outright a couple of years ago). The original ground was not sold as it is still being used (and I think they own it) by Northants CC. So there is a precedent, next time a retail park is put up (it'll probably be somewhere near Picketts Lock or off the A10) maybe we (both/either club) could lobby them. It's not like they'll even have to build it for us- it's just the land we need.

 

People will say Northampton are a football league club, but until the new ground was built they were never particularly well supported. Average gates were around 2500. The amount of passing trade they create on matchdays can't be enough to keep the restaurants and pubs by the ground in business alone.

 

I'm sure other more knowledgeable people may know of non-league clubs in the same boat as ourselves, and how they got their sites- I'm thinking Chelmsford or Wealdstone.

[Gonzo]

Let's be honest, if a piece of land does become available in the borough then that's going to throw up a whole new set of problems.

 

Principally: WHO GETS IT!

 

How could the council possibly allow one club to have a home in the borough while leaving the other in the cold?

 

The sensible thing to do in those circumstances would be for ETFC and EFC to groundshare. So then we would have 2 Enfield sides playing in the borough in 'their own' ground.

 

Talk of a merger isn't going to go away. It's time for those at ETFC and EFC to start thinking long-term. EFC, in particular, need to do this as benefactors don't last forever (no matter how heavily they're bankrolling the club!).

[Guest]

Talk is cheap we need to take some positive constructive action

[Guest]

Couldnt agree more "Always an E"

 

Any ideas? Are you willing to facilitate any meetings?

[Guest]

Well I would be willing if there is consensus of opinion for wanting one

[Maldini66]

Please correct me if i am wrong,But isn't there a stadium already in Enfield called the barriss off of the Hertford road.Has anyone looked into the possibility of redeveloping that?

[TopGun]

The Henry Barras stadium in Jubillee Park is basically a Large concrete stand and very minimal floodlighting, it would cost a massive ammount of money to put it to use as a football ground.

[Ron Merlin]

Access doesn't look great either. It's a big park but houses surround it - not great for a club on the up. Picture links below:

 

Links from Running Track Directory website

 

From the Lower Edmonton website

 

From same Lower Edmonton website

[lovely stuff]

There is a better site that may become available in the next few years.Whether we can stop the council selling it off to the highest bidder,is another matter.

[Ron Merlin]

Quote:

lovely stuff said:
There is a better site that may become available in the next few years.Whether we can stop the council selling it off to the highest bidder,is another matter.

True enough! Not sure about development potential, but here it is.

[lovely stuff]

The Barass doesn't look a bad site.Enough room to allow some decent car parking,and as the main stand is already quite high,planning permission for a fence and smaller stands shouldn't cause to much trouble.

 

It is the other side of the borough to where most of us live.There has been a general exodus north by the boroughs population.This site is to the south (ie.the areas a bit rough),but its definatly worth looking at.

[TopGun]

It would still cost an enormous ammount of money, But is a better prospect than the Barras. If both clubs could lobby enfield council about it then who knows. But I suspect E F C have other plans.

[lovely stuff]

Turkey Street????

[OldTowner]

The Barras site was one that was "considered" by the Council when EFC and Laz were looking to relocate from Southbury Road.

It was not accepted due to 2 main reasons, which are still there today and will not go away -

1. Access / Highways issues.

2. It's in the middle of a residential area.

Potential for "growth" is NIL.

The suggestion of a ground share ( OR MERGER )is the only way I can see the Council giving the scheme any support, even though they made a fortune from the sale of Southbury Road.

A "combined" approach to the Council is the only possible way forward.

Whether the Council wish to assist is another matter !!

[OldTowner]

Consideration was given to a site between Hoe Lane and Turkey Street before.

Problem again with access.

Costs made it a non-starter.

[The Invisible Man]

Another problem with the Barrass stadium is, I believe, a planning problem with floodlights.

 

Northampton is clearly an enlightened council, but is an exception to the rule. It would be great if LBE were to do something similar but I would not hold my breath. If a site owned by the council became available (exactly how much spare land do you think they have kicking around?) and was suitable for commercial development, do you really think they would effectively give it away? What do you think would be the reaction of the rest of the borough's population, that aren't interested in football but would like more spent on dustbins, schools, social servies and so on?

 

Obviously we need to maintain good relations with the council, primarily for planning issues, and also just in case land or property not suitable for any other use may become available.