A true Towners legend

DAVE BRYANT: 1960-2024

By Matt Badcock

PIVOTAL FIGURE: Enfield Town’s Dave Bryant has sadly passed away

ENFIELD TOWN are mourning one of their founding fathers, Dave Bryant.

Bryant, a legendary figure in the Isthmian Premier club’s history having played a pivotal role in their formation in 2001-02, passed away last weekend after a battle with cancer.

The Towners became the first fan-owned club after supporters decided to set up their own club when Enfield’s Southbury Road home was sold.

Bryant was a figurehead of the rise from the Essex Senior League to Step 3 of the National League – as well as moving into their Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. The club’s first ever chairman, he stepped down from the board last month, with their home renamed the Dave Bryant Stadium for the rest of the season.

A minute’s respect was held before their Fenix Trophy win over Llantwit Major on Tuesday night, while tributes from across the game have flooded in.

Vice-chairman Paul Millington, who was also a key part of the club coming into existence, said: “He certainly had a stubborn streak and so when it came to righting the wrong of the borough losing its football club he had the bit between his teeth.

“It wasn’t just his desire to put things right that made this fight ultimately successful, it was also his ability to bring people with him and reason with those who objected to the road taken. He did that through his wonderful personality.

“Always generous, always having a joke and an ability to turn bad situations to ones you felt could be overcome.

“A testimony to his personality is that those who strongly disagreed with the formation of a new club were always on the best of terms with Dave. Always approachable, it was difficult for anyone to dislike him.”

Enfield have always been seen as the blueprint for fan-owned clubs who followed them and one of those, AFC Wimbledon, paid tribute, saying: “Dave helpedusgetourclubback. He’ll be sorely missed not just by everyone connected to Enfield Town but by the footballing world. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Proud

Bryant first started supporting Enfield aged seven in the late 1960s and was proud of how much Enfield Town have grown in their years of existence.

He recently told The NLP: “We’re really embedded in our community. Enfield Town football club is for anyone who chooses to make Enfield their home. They could have lived there all their life, they could have arrived from somewhere else in the world last week. If they want to come to Enfield Town, they are very welcome.”

Millington added: “Dave tackled his illness with typical bravery and was supported by his wife Rizete, daughters Amy and Clare and Claire’s husband Ollie, who all gave him so much care. Thoughts are with them and his step-daughter Barbara.

“I was fortunate to visit Dave several times in the last days of his life. He asked questions as to what games we had coming up and really wanted to stress how important the fans were to the team and how supporters should encourage them when things were tough.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate Dave’s life than asking all fans to make that extra noise when needed. He would love that.”