ENFIELD TOWN v BRIGHTON & HA PREVIEW

This evening sees Enfield Town entertain a Brighton and Hove Albion side which will be made up of players from their under 21 and development squad. It's not the first time a side representing the North London town have played The Seagulls -

BRIGHTON & HA v ENFIELD FC 
FA CUP FIRST ROUND PROPER 
SATURDAY 15th NOVEMBER 1969 

Brighton and Hove Albion, then of Division Three, had just beaten Fulham (managed by Johnny Haynes) 2-1 at The Goldstone Ground in front of 17,889 prior to entertaining The E's in the FA Cup First Round on Saturday 15th November. They had lost away at Reading on the Saturday in between and were in mid-table in a league which was then topped by Luton Town by goal-difference to Rochdale.

Enfield were the Isthmian League Champions and went on to win the title again that 1969/70 season for the third time in a row and had beaten Southall after an epic three game Preliminary Round encounter. It was 1-1 at Southbury Road followed by another 1-1 draw at Western Road and then eventually a 6-2 win in the second replay in North London. They then beat Kingstonian 3-1 away but this game was ordered to be replayed (at this time of writing I am not sure why? someone will tell us I hope in the comments section below) - the replay was won 3-0 followed by a emphatic 7-1 home win over Grays Athletic and a 4-1 away win at local Athenian League side Edmonton before beating Wealdstone 1-0 in the fourth qualifying round.

THE MAGIC OF THE CUP - WORDS WRITTEN IN 1969 WE ALL STILL AGREE WITH

Albion were managed by Freddie Goodwin at the time who had been one of The Busby Babes signing as a trainee for Manchester United in October 1953. He had helped The Red Devils win the league in 1956 and 1957 but had not been selected for the game against Red Star Belgrade so was not on the flight at the time of the disaster. He went to play for Leeds United and Scunthorpe United where he was player-manager from 1964-67 before moving to the USA to manage the New York Generals who played for one season in the NASL - there home games were played at Yankee Stadium.

THE KICKS WERE FOUNDED IN 1976 AND RAN ONLY UNTIL 1981

After his stay at Brighton he managed Birmingham City from 1970 to 1975 and then with Minnesota Kicks back in the USA.  He served as president of the Kicks and also coached as Tacoma Stars. Goodwin sadly passed away aged 82 in February this year in Washington.

They included a number of Scottish players in their team including Stewart Henderson, Willie Bell and Kit Napier (who played over 250 times for Brighton). 

The E's included Ian Wolstenholme who was famous for saving the last minute penalty against Skelmersdale United in the FA Amatuer Cup in 1967, Roger Day and Peter Feeley. 

An amazing statistic is that Brighton won the game 2-1 and went on to play four more games in that season's Cup competition but get no further than the second round. Two 1-1 draws home and away against fellow Division Three side Walsall were followed by a 0-0 in the second replay at Fulham and a 1-2 defeat in the third replay at Conventry City.  

BRICKWOOD BEERS WERE SERVED AT THE GOLDSTONE GROUND

ENFIELD TOWN v BRIGHTON & HA 
Tuesday 21st July 2015
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

The Seagulls young development side impressed many fans last season at Donkey Lane recording a 2-4 win. They included three players who have represented The Republic of Ireland at u17 and u19 level in goalkeeper Harry Doherty, defender Dylan Barnett and midfielder Jayson Molumby. Winger Joe Ward who signed from National League South side Chelmsford City £20,000 after some impressive performances in which attracted scouts from many a Premier League side. Jess Starkey, capped for England at u18 level, who came through the Chelsea youth system but was actually born in the East Sussex town.

Former Tottehnham Hotspur striker Daniel Akindayini who has recently signed a one-year deal with National South side Margate. I expect him to score a good number of goals for The Gate having scored two in one and half games for them on loan last season - his stay at Hartsdown Park was brought to a premature end due to injury and Charlie Harris, a box to box midfielder, who signed for the then League One side Barnsley in the January transfer window.

The game tonight kicks off at 7.30pm.