Noticed they got knocked out the FA Cup last night, so no chance of meeting them again this season. Did anyone on here attend the replay at White Hart Lane back in 80? or 81? My abiding memory was being chased all over north London for most of the afternoon and evening...
January '81. Came down on the special, which made the milk train look quick going back. Circular route via the east coast or summat. Got home after 3am, with a mock O-Level later that day!! 33000 in WHL, I think. Coppers wouldn't let us bring the big 'Enfield Are Camel Fodder' banner in (their manager had labelled us a 'bunch of camels' before the first game at Oakwell), but they'd replied with a banner in the home end 'Enfield Fodder Poisons Camels'. Scary walk back to whichever station they'd parked up the special - lads getting a good shoeing from Spurs fans all down the high street.
Travelled up from Salisbury and parked in the streets not far from the ground. Maybe there was no "Residents Only" restrictions then, can't remember. I was amazed when I got in the ground to see the size of the crowd for a cup replay between a non-league and a third division side. The noise levels were phenomenal, helped by the design of the ground with very high grand stands catching the sound and reverberating it around. I was never really in any doubt that we would overcome this potential banana skin. Enfield had enjoyed their cup final already at Oakwell in front of 24,000 so to be handed the privilege of a second one at White Hart Lane was more than they would have expected. The 35,000 plus who packed the ground were treated to the spectacle of a peformance by King Ronnie Glavin. To be honest I cannot remember how well he played but it was just an occasion to be there to see him play, along with the likes of Parker, Aylott and McCarthy. He got his customary goal anyway - a smart passing movement found him clear in the box and there was only going to be one outcome. A terrific night, ranking alongside that other great FA Cup night of the 1980s at The Dell when we knocked the Saints out (against all expectations in fact). Happy, happy days
Finished work at dinner time Travelled down with the Gilroyd Supporters' Club. I was astonished just how many fans we took down that night, approximately 8 000 if my memory serves me right. After the game, there was little or no segregation. We came across a Barnsley fan, laying on the ground clutching his bleeding stomach whilst a policeman stood over him, talking on his radio. Bricks were flying all over the place from the locals. Typically, our coach was at the front of a long line of coaches. The flotilla of buses (having to put up with a persistent volley of missiles) got a police escort all the way back to the M1, with the police blocking all the traffic lights to get us all through. Great result, horrible night.
I was there, me and my mates arrived a bit late (I lived in Cambridge at the time, one mate was a Southampton fan the other lad was an unusual Man U fan cos he came from Manchester) and went in the first turnstile we came to. This turned out to be opposite the stand that had been demolished and was full of Spurs sorry Enfield fans. An enjoyable night never the less, Glav was fantastic.
Re: Finished work at dinner time Remember it well.My late father came with me and we both laid on the floor in the middle of the bus until it was safe to show our heads.Fantastic crowd,bigger than the Spurs Arsenal derby which was played there a couple of weeks earlier.
Memories................30k+ crowd, staggered at that - even more impressive was the number who travelled following tarn, went for a couple of pints beforehand, strolled up to the ground 10 mins before kick off - couldn't get in most gates locked - heard an almighty roar - thought we'd gone 1-0 down - nearly went home - eventually found a gate that was open - wonderful atmosphere in the ground - took ages getting back home - the car (mini) developing a burnt exhaust valve..........happy days
I remember looking up at The Shelf as they informed us that we were going to get our effing heads kicked in - which did seem more likely than not at that moment!
I read a cutout about this game a few years back in Barnet in a pub called the Lions Leap, I just thought it was an overhyped journo but apparently not.
It was just a surreal occasion. What interest would there be these days in an FA Cup tie between two such lowly clubs? Probably very little, but this one really caught the imagination. The Enfield manager stoked the fires ahead of the Oakwell game by calling us camels, and this was the team Norman Hunter had turned into a lovely footballing side. A ridiculous crowd of 24,000 turned up for the 1-1 draw and then Enfield saw the chance to secure their financial future by switching the replay to White Hart Lane. What an inspired bit of marketing that was!! In the end the tie attracted just short of 60,000 people and loads of money and publicity had been generated from the two matches. Naturally the superior footballing side came out on top but it was one of those unforgettable moments in our football history.
Four of us drove down and back from barnsley and we had a couple of drinks in a pub not far from the ground and it was all OK. If I remember right wasn't the Enfield kepper called Freddy Crumb ?
Don't give up hope... ...cos there are TWO Enfield clubs and this was the junior one. The original Enfield FC went t*ts up about 20 years ago and from it two breakaway clubs were formed. The one that went out of the cup last week was Enfield 1893 which I believe plies its trade in the Essex Senior league. The other club is Enfield Town, from the Isthmian Premier - that's one below Conf South. From that position it's not at all beyond the bounds of possibility that they could make the 3rd round. Highly unlikely - but you never know!
Can I just ask ...... ....... as I know my mind plays tricks, even though it has been well documented that this was by far and away my favourite period of watching the Reds: 1) The 30+k crowd at WHL ........ wasn't this made even more impressive by the fact that one whole SIDE of the ground was closed ? (apologies if pointed out above). 2) The 1-1 match at home ......... wasn't one of the goals in that game from a free-kick caused by the keeper stepping out of his box whilst taking a kick ? Memories .......
Re: Can I just ask ...... I also recall that the whole of one side of WHL was out of action. The first game - you're probably right and you've a better memory than me! I think Enfield equalised late on - which was embarrassing 'cos I brought two mates up from Uni and they took it upon themselves to support Enfield - loudly!
Re: Can I just ask ...... Yes you're right only 3 sides of the ground open.At the time they were rebuilding the main stand and the players got changed in portacabins.
Re: Can I just ask ...... I drove a 12 seater mini bus down(how did I get talked into that) with gang from the Rising Sun in Sheffield rd. I'd only driven a car previous and I didn't enjoy the last 20 miles in and out of London. The best team-just- won but Enfield were very impressive.
