Pitchero Non League

....September after confirming this week that they have agreed a groundsharing deal with Ryman League Division One North rivals Cheshunt which will see them beginning the campaign playing their home matches at Theobalds Lane.

Work to turn the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Donkey Lane into their new home is at an advanced stage but will not be finished in time for the start of the season, and Town have decided to share with Cheshunt on a short-term basis rather than remaining at Goldsdown Road – which had been their home for the past decade.

“We were speaking to several clubs and in the end came to an agreement with Cheshunt,” chairman Paul Millington said. “We took into account the wishes our members expressed, and the location suits most of our supporters.

“Both clubs have signed the deal and it’s now up to the Ryman League to ratify it, but we don’t foresee there being any problems.

“Enfield Council and our contractors still expect the Queen Elizabeth to be ready for us to occupy by the middle of September, but the agreement is open-ended in case there is a delay.

“As we saw when we played at Cheshunt on Easter Monday, they have improved the pitch no end. They are going to do more work on it over the summer and neither club are likely to play any friendlies there to make sure it is in the best possible condition.”

In advance of the move, Town are planning on taking the stands from Goldsdown Road to the Queen Elizabeth Stadium before the end of this month, with floodlights set to be erected during June.

“We really need the summer to move all the equipment from Goldsdown Road to our new ground,” Millington added. “If we’d started next season at Brimsdown and waited until the last moment to move everything then it would have delayed when we could start playing at the Queen Elizabeth.”

Town’s impending move led to manager Steve Newing having to operate with a reduced budget last season, and the chairman believes that the boss did well to guide them so close to a spot in the play-offs in those circumstances.

“I think we can look back at the season and be satisfied,” he said. “With the budget we had Steve did well to get us within a point of the play-offs.

“The object for next year has got to be promotion, and hopefully the move will give us the facility we need to bring in the extra finance to take us to the next level.”

Tags: News | Enfield Town

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