Enfield FC Before The Politics  

Enfield Town and Enfield 1893 were in the news recently as the two clubs discussed a merger but in 1981 it was the old Enfield FC who were making the headlines with an FA Cup that captured the imagination of football fans everywhere.   

The cup run which began with a five goal hammering of Epsom & Ewell ended in front of 35,000 spectators packed into Tottenham’s White Hart Lane Stadium. 

Enfield FC, then the most dominant club in the Isthmian League and defending champions, began their FA Cup time in the Fourth Qualifying Round and easily despatched Epsom to earn a First Round proper tie at home to…Wembley.   

Enfield weren’t unduly troubled and could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty as they strode to a 3-0 win.     

The Second Round brought yet another home tie but this time against Football League opposition as former NonLeague giant-killers Hereford United made the trip to Southbury Road.   

This time around it was Hereford who were on the receiving end of a shock result as two Peter Burton goals rounded off a great performance from the NonLeague side.   

Enfield FC were through to the Third Round and were probably a little disappointed at the draw which gave them an away trip to Fourth Division Port Vale.   

Vale were struggling in the league and it was no surprise when Enfield took the lead just before half-time; Johnny Bishop converting a Steve King corner.  Vale were the better side in the second-half and did enough to equalise and force a replay at Southbury Road. 

If the Football League side thought they had done enough they were soon thinking otherwise as Bishop netted to give the home side a fifth minute lead.  Over 6,000 were crammed into the tiny ground and they were delirious when King pounced on a keepers error to make it 2-0 before the break.   

This time there was to be no second-half fightback by Vale and Howell added a third for Enfield FC as they reached the Fourth Round for the first time in their history. 

Third Division Barnsley were next up but the Oakwell side went into the tie unbeaten in 16 matches.  Over 24,000 fans packed into the South Yorkshire ground and saw a great cup tie.   

Enfield had two goals disallowed before Aylott scored for the home side right on half-time.  The NonLeague side were far from finished but as the clock ticked down they looked down and out.  But, a last gasp attack saw Peter Burton head home a last minute equaliser as Enfield lived to fight again. 

The replay was staged at White hart Lane with thousands of fans still struggling to get into the ground as the match kicked off.  The Isthmian League side threw themselves at their higher ranked opposition but a combination of Jacobs in the Barnsley goal and the woodwork kept the NonLeague side at bay.   

Then, just as he had done four days earlier, Aylott put the Yorkshire side in front.  The second-half saw Enfield hit the woodwork on two occasions but former Scottish international Ronnie Glavin and that man Aylott netted to finally end Enfield’s heroic resistance.