The BIG Questions - of Man, Morality and More

Enfield Town vs. Grays Athletic - 3pm k-o

Saturday 21st January, 2017 - Ryman Premier League

"… what I know most surely about morality and the duty of man I owe to sport and learned it in the RUA”* - Albert Camus, second-youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature 
[as quoted in an interview with an alumni sports magazine, in the fifties. Camus had played for RUA’s junior team from 1928 to 1930. Racing Universitaire d'Alger won both the North African Champions Cup and the North African Cup twice each, in the 1930’s.]

Goal-keeper Albert Camus, amongst his RUA team-mates.

When it comes to philosophy, The Beautiful Game provides answers to many of life’s BIG questions, it seems. Not everybody realises this; but Camus, apparently, did. He might have landed more football-related thoughts and sound-bites for our delight and delectation, had his hopes of playing continued football not been utterly dashed when he contracted TB; for which there was no cure, at the time. It didn’t kill him; but a car accident in the small, French town of Villeblevin did, at the age of 46. Ironically, in his coat pocket was an unused train ticket. He had originally planned to make that last, fateful journey by train, with his wife and children; but, at the last minute, he had accepted his publisher's offer to travel with him by car, instead. Whoops! … but I digress.

It is a rare event these days, that Fulham are weakened by international duties; but they have recently been in such reduced circumstances. Both Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano have been away on Africa Cup of Nations duty; the latter is still in Gabon, as I write. Enfield Town, however, have had no such issues, you may not be surprised to hear.

Recently, though, The Towners did have the opportunity to answer one footballing question which holds ramifications for our reflections on life in general: “Is it better to face high calibre opponents, to thrive under stiff competition and overcome; or to terrorise and dominate a weak opponent?” This is a question which becomes particularly high profile during an FA Cup weekend; like the one we are currently facing into. When, for instance, non-league sides Lincoln City and Sutton United will host Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United; and Tottenham Hotspur will entertain Wycombe Wanderers. Respectively, 72, 84 and 70 league places separate each of these sets of competing teams. These are all true "David & Goliath" conflicts, in the tabloid sports media sense; which will, surely, excite any football-loving neutral - and extract significant odds against the junior side, in each case, from any self-respecting bookies (of which there is only a small number, I know!). Enfield's challenge had been far less extreme, by comparison; as they took on a side just 17 places below them; with much to play for.

Another question in the mix was “In either case, what qualities can one learn about oneself?” Deep; all very deep! There was also the added frisson of yet another over-arching query: as to whether a “January Sale” at the Donkey-Drome turnstiles could produce a significant increase in the crowd, on an unwelcoming winter’s day. From a purely commercial perspective, it would appear that better opposition generally provides greater attendance revenues and a more appreciative crowd; since the Enfield Town club management had decided to slash the price of tickets for the visit of lowly Grays Athletic. All of the above might suggest to some, after all, that (as the song wisely informs us) there really are More Questions Than Answers**.

With the admittance price halved to just £5 on the gate, it was clearly hoped that more spectators than might otherwise have been expected would turn up to seek answers to the above BIG questions. Would more Grays Athletic fans make the journey than might, otherwise, have been the case? Would more home fans turn out, to lend voice to the unending chorus, which The Towners tend to enjoy? Simple maths suggested that twice the normal attendance would be required for the home club not to lose out on this “January Sale” deal; but it’s difficult to second guess just how many of today’s attendance actually would have shown up anyway, to watch such apparently poor opposition, on a cold but bright January afternoon, without the inducement of that price reduction. For Grays, although this has mostly been a season to forget so far, with various problems both on and off the field of play, it has also been one which has seen their status officially change. Hopefully for the better; as they have recently become (like Enfield Town) one of the country’s few fan-owned outfits (“Grays Athletic officially confirmed as a Supporters owned/run community Football Club” – 2nd Dec. 2016).

At one point, it looked as though there would, at least, be twice as many Harneys as usual turning out for the game.  I guess, however, the fact that Cal decided even £5 was too much to pay for this fixture and chose to stay at home in the warm, highlights the scale of indifference which Town (and Non- League football, in general) must overcome to boost crowds and club turnover, even amongst a fairly receptive audience. The Towners are one of the better supported sides in this league. They are 7^th in the table of average home gates, with a current figure of 383. This may help give some sense of the precarious nature of club finances, “at this level”; particularly so for the 17 teams who sit below Enfield in that table of home attendances. When the official attendance was announced as a crowd of 575, it was easy to assume that this was more than might have otherwise attended without a price incentive. Town’s lowest attendance this season has been 232; which was for the visit of Lowestoft Town – one of only 6 teams who can boast a higher home average attendance than Enfield’s. The lure of Grays (or lack of it?) might well have given the Trawlerboys a run for their money in the stay-at-home stakes.

Grays travelling fans: the baker's dozen.

Town started the day 6^th in the league table, on 44 points; with a +20 Goal Difference. By contrast, Grays were in 24^th (and last) place, on 23 pts; with a -35 GD. They were unkindly dubbed “the basement club” by local Enfield paper The Advertiser (?); which I thought made them sound too much like the home of some emerging new form of sweaty dance-music. Although the Visitors were, indeed, 4 points and -5 GD adrift of their nearest rivals. Town also sat 7^th in the current (10-match) form table. They will probably need to get into the top 5 of this, at least, to maintain their hopes of a play-off berth. Whereas the visitors sit at a nose-bleed-inducing 18^th, in the same form table; which may yet offer the Essex boys some faint hope of league survival. More helpful stats are provided from a look at the respective club web-sites. Enfield have just one defeat in their last 15 league outings; and only one home defeat all season. Meanwhile, Grays have lost 5 of their last 6 league games; and have won just 4 of their last 18. They had, however, strengthened their side with the one-month loan from Barnet of young left-back Joe Payne; who had gained brief notoriety back in late November as the scorer of THAT goal from the half-way line, in the Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup, against … Enfield Town. It was to be hoped he wouldn’t repeat that trick again, for the benefit of his temporary team-mates.
(https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2016/nov/23/barnets-joe-barnet-score-spectacular-goal-from-halfway-line-video). 

Kick-off at the QEII.

Elsewhere, 2^nd in the table hosted 3^rd (Havant & Waterlooville vs Needham Market) and 8^th (Worthing) hosted 4^th (Leiston) whilst Bognor, Dulwich and Tonbridge all face road trips – although, to be honest, none of those away games looked particularly “tricky”, on paper. Still, this weekend’s roll of the fixture computer’s ‘dice’ surely gave Enfield an enhanced chance to climb into the play-off places, by tea-time. An opportunity that was enhanced when the message “Match OFF following arrival of match referee” appeared alongside details for the Billericay - Dulwich game. In fact, Enfield’s would be one of just seven games played, out of the scheduled twelve Premier League fixtures. Another unexpected bonus for the Towners, then, might be an unexpected increase in fixture congestion for some of the teams around them. Incidentally, Enfield’s crowd of 575 was its largest home gate of the season – but STILL only the third largest of the day in their league … even though the number of fixtures was reduced from 12 to just 7. The Towners’ website was able to joke "No pitch inspection required in tropical Enfield. Beach wear optional!". They were also able to boast "Ales today from @RedemptionBrew and @newriverbrewery including the tasty Riverbed Red #forthebeards". So there was more on offer than just the answers to philosophical questions, to lure punters to the QEII Stadium. Which was probably just as well.

 A half-price £5 entry secured a healthy (home) crowd, at least.

Whatever happened anywhere else, however, The Towners priority would need to be ensuring that they, themselves, did not fall over, clown-like, on the improbable, slippery banana skin of their South Essex visitors. After entering the ground, buying a programme and checking the team sheet (posted beside the club shop) I made my way to the Eastern end of the ground and the SH Property Agents Ltd. stand. It was impossible not to discern the tell-tale pre-match smells of fried onions, liniment and nervous tension; and that was just from the kids playing kick-around behind the East stand.

The QEII's iconic South (Cafe) stand, holding up the setting sun. 

As early as the 5^th minute, Enfield’s fans were up to their old tricks/songs. First of all, trying to distract the visitors’ goalie, the exotically named Amadou Tangara; to the tune of “Whole World in His Hands”, it was noted that “He’s got the fattest ar5e – In the League … (repeat)”. There were sly references to Grays likely opponents in future Ryman seasons: “If you all love Stanway Rovers, clap your hands…”. Then the “January Sale” ticket price got a mention: “Here for a fiver – We’re only here for a fiver …”. It was less obvious what the referee was here for. Despite the visitors setting out their stall early on for a highly physical (and not entirely lawful) encounter, it took the official 17 minutes to produce his first yellow card of the afternoon. Although it was very belated – and the tone of the encounter had already been set by then - it would also, inexplicably, turn out to be his last card of the afternoon. So, unsurprisingly, the bottom-placed club continued trying to unsettle their far superior opponents with an “agricultural” approach, for the duration; whilst sitting deep and trying to score on the break, against the run of play. So, after 24 minutes of soaking up almost non-stop Enfield pressure, it was no surprise to home fans that Grays’ first meaningful effort was from all of 40+ yards out … Luke Wilson nearly catching Town ‘keeper Nathan McDonald out of position with a long-range effort, after his poor clearance, from wide on his right.





The anatomy of a free kick: conceded, set up and ... missed! Although that is not a wall Donald Trump would be proud of. Town (in white) apply first-half pressure; but what is Ottaway (#10) doing there? 

From early in the first half, the visitors were already wasting as much time as possible. Their goalie, in particular, was taking longer and longer on the ball with every back-pass and every clearance. That was until he was nearly caught with the ball, after 27 minutes, by Harry Ottaway’s eager, lurking pressure. Indeed, it was ALL one-way traffic, as Enfield pressed for their opening goal. It might have come after 37 minutes, when Tangara saved twice from Tyler Campbell and Ottaway. It certainly SHOULD have come after 42 minutes, when Micky Parcell drove in a great low cross for Ottaway, unmarked, on the far side of the Gray’s 6-yard box. It was amazing to see him unchallenged; but even more amazing to see the Enfield striker thwarted again, at close range, by Tangara. The half ended with a clear-cut chance for Grays. Their centre-forward, Mascoll, rose unmarked for a powerful, close-range header which he struck sweetly … high over the bar. It was impossible to know how he’d managed it. Despite total dominance, Enfield were happy to take a 0-0 stalemate into the half-time break; and slightly lucky to do so.

The second half started with some surprise pressure from the visitors; and a couple of chances (for Mahal and Kabobola) which were dealt with by McDonald. Soon Grays were trying to run down the clock with a couple of substitutions; but they mostly only resulted in unsettling the visitors’ balance. After 57 minutes, Bobby Devyne collected a through-ball on the left. Isolated, and in the absence of any obvious danger, Devyne intelligently threaded his way between a couple of defenders and rounded the advancing Tangara, before finally outwitting two more defenders who’d managed to get back between him and the goal. He slid an accurate final ball in to the far corner of the net to break the deadlock. It was his first goal since October; and could hardly have been better-timed, as nerves had been starting to jangle both on the pitch and on the terraces.

Bobby Devyne (in white) expertly rounds the exposed Tangara, before breaking the deadlock. (Photo: Tom Scott)

As a result, the game finally opened up significantly. Grays recognised the need to push forwards, in search of a goal of their own; but Town retained broad control of the game and now there was more space to play in. The hosts finally began to look comfortable after 71 minutes. Ottaway got his head to a Parcell free-kick from the right. He back-flicked the ball on for Crook, who had made an intelligent late run to the edge of the visitors’ 6-yard box, to strike a powerful volley back across Tangara, for his tenth goal of the season.

Enfield even had the luxury of wasting a penalty opportunity, late in the game. Substitute Dernell Wynter was brought down by a desperate Luke Wilson lunge from behind, inside the 6-yard box. Wynter dusted himself down to take the kick himself; but Tangara guessed well and got down low (and VERY early - see photo!) to his right to keep the score at a respectable 2-0. For all their multiple opportunities, Enfield couldn’t add another goal. They had to be content with 3 points, rather than the Goal-Difference boosting score-line their dominance of possession and territory might have merited. Tangara had single-handedly kept out at least half a dozen good efforts.

Tangara was a long way off his line before the penalty was even taken; but perhaps he deserved that little bit of good luck; after a mostly excellent display, which had kept his team in the mix for longer than they'd really deserved.

After the game, Enfield could look back on a job well done – if not prettily so. They still sit seventh in that all-important 10-match form table, having drawn too many previous games for comfort (indeed, they are the “drawing-est” team in the League, so far this season). They had at least, however, managed to avoid the ignominy of earning yet another draw with “the basement club”; a fate which, for far too long during today’s action, had looked an immensely possible outcome, against stubborn and well-organised opponents. Enfield still have to travel to Grays for the return fixture, on 25th March; and that could yet turn out to be a critical game, in terms of Town’s play-off hopes and final league position. They will probably need to show similar resilience and determination on that future March day as they did on this January one. Even if that is ALL the players and fans of ETFC learned about themselves this day, then the lesson will, surely, have been worth while

So, what ARE the answers to those big questions posed earlier? IS it better to face high calibre opponents or to terrorise weak opponents? And what qualities can one learn about oneself? Enfield may put their learnings to the test again this weekend, as they entertain Burgess Hill Town – who have won just once on the road this season. Town now sit 5^th in the table and are starting to look in control of their own end-of-season destiny; although mathematically there are still too many teams in the mix to be breaking open the champagne any time soon. In this case, in the hunt for a play-off place, the answer is that it was certainly better to dominate weaker opponents than to tackle strong opposition.

And what of Camus? His works are often interpreted as offering insights into The Absurd; and from his Wiki entry, it seems that football may have had an even more profound influence on him than that first, simple quote, at the top of this report, might suggest: “His work presents the reader with dualisms such as happiness and sadness, dark and light… He emphasizes the fact that happiness is fleeting”. If all of that is true of his work, then I suspect Camus would have fitted in rather well at Donkey Lane, with the Enfield Town fans. I just hope all of the squad are busy reading up on his works, as you read this. I believe that the study of Absurdist French Philosophy is, indeed, Bradley Quinton’s preferred pastime for his players, in between fixtures.

“Il n'y a pas d'endroit où l'homme est plus heureux que dans un stade" - Albert also said [“Nowhere is man happier than in a sports stadium”]. On Wednesday (when I plan to make my first visit to the hubristically-named “London Stadium”, to see West Ham United entertain Manchester City) I suspect I’ll be able to put this bold statement to the test, as a neutral ... if it truly IS a "stade" at all. Answers to this final question on the proverbial post-card, please.

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Harold Joseph, Ricky Gabriel, Jon Muleba, Mark Kirby, Scott Shulton, Tyler Campbell (Samir Bihmoutine 79), Billy Crook (Percy Kiangebeni 88), Bobby Devyne, Harry Ottaway (Dernell Wynter 87), Mickey Parcell. Unused subs: Connor Bolton, Tom Collins.

Grays Athletic: Amadou Tangara, Ryan Mahal, Joe Payne, Lartey Sarpong, Nathan Campbell, Luke Wilson, Etienne Kabobola, Kwabena Osei, Jamie Mascoll (Lhereux Menga 52), Kieran Bishop, Joao Carlos. Unused subs: Harry Watkins, Jordan Aghatise, Terrell Forbes, Aaron Wickham. Booked: Campbell.

Attendance: 575

Culture-Vulture:
* Source/Notes: Herbert R. Lottman, “Albert Camus: A Biography” (1979)
** "There Are More Questions Than Answers" (1972) written and recorded by John Lester "Johnny" Nash, Jr. (b. 19/8/1940); American rock-steady singer-songwriter - one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEstgTAXyec).

What exactly makes a "stade", though?

Could it be, at least in part, the philosophy-inducing sun-set views one takes in on the reflective, post-match walk home? Tick ✅