Robert Brassett
Football and Me

Robert-1961
Robert Edward Brassett

My Life in Football

As a small boy I was dragged to watch Arsenal along with all the Brassett clan living in Finsbury Park. Boxing Day in the North Bank standing on a Milk Crate or sitting on a crash barrier, 35000 people, beating whoever.

Bob Wilson, Charlie George, George Armstrong. This was alright at first as the club had the best side in the country, winning the double in 71 was a good time.

In 1973 when Dad died I was 13 and at the stage where I was going to football on my own, (stick with me through this bit) Mum's brother Frank Easton, married to Nancy Walley, sister of Tom Walley (Arsenal, Watford and Orient) and Ernie Walley Pro Footballer and Crystal Palace Manager).

Tom had just joined Orient, Mum having known Tom through the family asked him if he minded taking me to football, (My love with Orient had started)

Tom would pick me up on him way to the games as he travelled from Watford through Hackney to Leyton. Soon I was making the trip myself, and before long found myself travelling to far flung places like Bristol, Huddersfield, and Atrincham. places I had never heard of let allown visited.

When I started working in 1976 it became harder to make the away trips and we were now living in Enfield, getting to Leyton took 2 hours on the bus.

At the end of the 1975/76 season a mate Paul Whitbread suggested I went to watch Enfield, they were 5 minutes up the road so I went with him.

Enfield were in the Isthmian League, the football was good and the club had a good atmosphere. It was not long before I made new mates and had found the Bar, what more could I want.

Around 1980 I joined the Committee at the football club, and when the supporters started a Sunday team I was appointed a committee member and then Secretary in the 2nd season a post I held for three seasons.

Enfield Football Club became a big part of my life, I found things easier at work, and it became possible to travel to away games I followed Enfield all over the country in Isthmian league and the Alliance Premier League for 10 seasons only missing a hand full of matches.

The early 1990's saw my football interest turn to Potters Bar Town Football Club.(then Mount Grace FC). I had been producing a programme for the Enfield Supporters Team and Enfield Reserves, So when I saw in the non league magazine Mount Grace were looking for a programme editor I became interested.

The following month the advert was there again Clive Wilkinson pointed out to me the address of the secretary Peter Waller, it was Bush Hill Park, not knowing were Mount Grace was this took my interest and so I phoned Peter, I went to see him took some of my programmes and got the job

I was still watching Enfield and now producing three programmes, The photocopier at work took some hammering.

Things at Enfield turned for the worse with the Unlawful Banning of my brother Chris Brassett. (Read more about that elsewhere)

Mount Grace had won the Herts County League Double and moved up into the South Midlands League, this also saw them changed there name to Potters Bar Town, I had been helping as programme editor for a number of years and they were more than welcome to have me at there club, There gain being Enfield's loss. I never stopped being an enfield supporter, and to this day consider myself a Leyton Orient,Enfield and England Supporter.

I spent 10 years at Potters Bar Town doing nearly every job available Programme Editor, Fixtures Secretary, Press Officer, under 18's Secretary, Kit Man, Grounds man, Assistant Secretary, 4th Team Manager. It was an enjoyable time The Scholars had a good team through various managers, reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase must rate high in the best memories, travelling to Kidsgrove in Staffordshire and only losing 1-0 in extra time.

At Potters Bar I met two people who among all others I have stayed friends with through everything Andy Leese joined the club in the early 90's playing for the 1st team, he went on to be reserves team manager before moving onto greater things.

The other was Frank Bentley he had bugged me for years to help him out at Northaw his Sunday side, I always had to much to do and even though I had watched a few of there games I had no interest at all.

The mid 90's saw Frank finally get to me when the guard was down one day and he took full advantage I was Northaw Secretary.

This move has become the best thing I have ever done in football, no won cares about anything we just go out and play football on a Sunday and every one goes in the bar afterwards and gets drunk.

I parted with Potter Bar Town in 1998, the club let down the 4th team in not backing them when the chips were down. I had been thinking of getting out for a while and this was the time to leave.

The 4th team players still wanted to play football, the answer was to re-form the Northaw Saturday side, One season in the Enfield Alliance League, finished in a relegation place, knocked out of three cups all in the 1st round, Beat the previous seasons Champions, won the Arthur Riddings Trophy. ups and down every day of the week, I even ended up playing we were so short some weeks.

Northaw Saturday are still going we just play the occasional friendly matches and some 5-a-side competitions.

Andy Leese had been reserve team manager at Potter Bar Town for two seasons, The opportunity came up to manage the 1st team at Somersett Ambury Football Club, he gave me a call to see if I was interested in helping him out. I have known Andy for over 10 years and we have always worked well together so I jumped at the chance to work with him again.

Two season at SAVE have seen me once again get into things, Reserve Team Secretary, Press Offices and Kit Manager. Save have moved from a relegation side to a force in the Spartan South Midlands League over the two seasons. I have once again I made loads of friends and SAVE they will go from strength to strength.

The start of the 2002-3 season saw Andy Leese moved from 1st team manager at SAVE in the Spartan Midlands league to 1st team manager at Cheshunt in the Rymans League, once again the call came, and so we move onto Cheshunt.

I had only been here 2 week and Secretary Fred Beer resigned, Was I interested in the job ?. What else could I say, So here I am Secretary of a Ryman League club. it a long way from being Tea Hut manager at Enfield all them years ago And there is some connection with Cheshunt here my cousin Jim Boon played for them many years ago, and I recently found out my uncle John Brassett (dads brother) also pulled on a pair of boots at Theobalds Lane in the past.

Further instalment's will follow as the season goes on, I'm sure this will not be the last club for me !

September 2004
Football is a funny old game, I was offered the Secretary's Job at Enfield as Derek Bird has resigned. After a week of doing some very hard thinking I have had to turn down the position.

Its possable I have turned down the only chance I will every get to take charge of the club I have supported since 1977 when we moved to Ponders End from Hackney via Edmonton.

Sometimes you have to except that your dreams may not be the dream you had some time ago, Its sad to admit but the Secretary position at Enfield is at present not the position I dreamed of doing all those years ago.

Havin said that as I type this I still have some thoughts in my head telling me I should have gone for it.

Maybe one day it will come around again

April 2005
Well Things have changed over the past few months, and at present they seem to be for the best. so lets tell the story.

Cheshunt turned into a nightmare and to cut the story short I resigned at half time in the home game against Working.Manager Andy Leese lasted just two weeks more, before he left for Borehamwood, taking about 10 players with him and leaving Cheshunt in a position they deserved, Yep I know that sounds a bit hard but thats how i feel about it and its now 6 weeks later. There was an offer to go and join The Wood in some capacity but that has not turned into anything posative.

So hee I am in April, I am just about to start work with a company called ukfooty. they can be found at www.ukfooty.net.

I am the County Co-Ordinator for Middlesex and Hertfordshire will be added to that in the near future. I am excited about this new venture and its getting me back to work, which can not be a bad thing.

How will the job centre survive without me.



Broxbourne Borough FC (formally SAVE)


Cheshunt FC


Enfield FC


Northaw FC


Potters Bar Town FC




Rymans League


Spartan South Midlands League


Mercury Waltham League