Enfield 2-3 East Thurrock United
Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Att: 314
09/10/12
*insert joke about being rocked*
Another tuesday and another chance to tick off a Non-League ground with Gareth, this time the choice was fairly clear to me from the start as it was a ground that I had been looking into for a while, and on the way there I discovered he had been as well so this was the obvious choice. After meeting him at Slough train station we made the relatively short journey around the M25. The problem with the ground before you get there is the obvious lack of signage in the approach to the ground, despite this we got there in good time and what greeted us was very unique and you'd be pushed to find much else like it.
The story behind Enfield Town and the Queen Elizabeth stadium is long and confusing. Enfield Town were formed on the 23rd June 2011 when members of the Enfield Supporters' trust became disillusioned with the way that those in charge of Enfield FC were treating their club and felt they lacked sufficient will to return Enfield to the town after leaving their historic Southbury road home in 1999. Town began playing at Brimsdown Rovers Goldsdown road starting in the Essex Senior league. 10 years and promotion to the Ryman Premier league their aim of finding a home for themselves had been completed as they moved into the refurbished Queen Elizabeth athletics stadium nearby to where Southbury Road once stood. What they have is a home to be proud of. Behind either end are small terraces that have been placed right behind the pitch with the athletics pitch fenced off. Along one side is a small seated stand, holding 150, that they previously had in place at Goldsdown road. This actually meant that Enfield 1893 (in effect the old Enfield) got denied promotion, as by this time they had moved into Goldsdown road, and it didn't meet ground grading requirements. The final side is the one that makes this ground worth the effort. This was the one that caused the most havoc in Enfield's plans of moving in as it is a grade II listed building built in 1953. It is set far back from the pitch with the seated pavillion raised above it. From a distance it is meant to look like a cruise line with it's art deco style and chimney with cafe written upon it. In Front of this were two small uncovered terraces.
For the second consecutive non league game we were treated to a game worth the admission money. In the 8th minute Tyler Campbell burst past the full back to fire the ball past the visiting goalkeeper. He was certainly the busier of the two 'keepers as Enfield were certainly the better of the two teams. Despite this Enfield had to wait until the 48th minute to double their lead. Liam Hope finished calmly after some good work on the flank from Campbell. Then it all started to go wrong. On 71 minutes a curling shot from Collins evaded the home striker, they managed to then get an equaliser in the 82nd minute. A bizarre goal where the defenders seemed to fall over every time they got near the ball which allowed Hakeem Araba to poke home from close range. The drama wasn't over yet as in the 89th minute Newby was unmarked at the back post to head the ball in. Game over and the rocks would be taking the three points back to essex.
The story behind Enfield Town and the Queen Elizabeth stadium is long and confusing. Enfield Town were formed on the 23rd June 2011 when members of the Enfield Supporters' trust became disillusioned with the way that those in charge of Enfield FC were treating their club and felt they lacked sufficient will to return Enfield to the town after leaving their historic Southbury road home in 1999. Town began playing at Brimsdown Rovers Goldsdown road starting in the Essex Senior league. 10 years and promotion to the Ryman Premier league their aim of finding a home for themselves had been completed as they moved into the refurbished Queen Elizabeth athletics stadium nearby to where Southbury Road once stood. What they have is a home to be proud of. Behind either end are small terraces that have been placed right behind the pitch with the athletics pitch fenced off. Along one side is a small seated stand, holding 150, that they previously had in place at Goldsdown road. This actually meant that Enfield 1893 (in effect the old Enfield) got denied promotion, as by this time they had moved into Goldsdown road, and it didn't meet ground grading requirements. The final side is the one that makes this ground worth the effort. This was the one that caused the most havoc in Enfield's plans of moving in as it is a grade II listed building built in 1953. It is set far back from the pitch with the seated pavillion raised above it. From a distance it is meant to look like a cruise line with it's art deco style and chimney with cafe written upon it. In Front of this were two small uncovered terraces.
For the second consecutive non league game we were treated to a game worth the admission money. In the 8th minute Tyler Campbell burst past the full back to fire the ball past the visiting goalkeeper. He was certainly the busier of the two 'keepers as Enfield were certainly the better of the two teams. Despite this Enfield had to wait until the 48th minute to double their lead. Liam Hope finished calmly after some good work on the flank from Campbell. Then it all started to go wrong. On 71 minutes a curling shot from Collins evaded the home striker, they managed to then get an equaliser in the 82nd minute. A bizarre goal where the defenders seemed to fall over every time they got near the ball which allowed Hakeem Araba to poke home from close range. The drama wasn't over yet as in the 89th minute Newby was unmarked at the back post to head the ball in. Game over and the rocks would be taking the three points back to essex.