Celebrating his 55th birthday last week, the former striker mustered prolific goals coring fortunes at the likes of Coventry City, Watford, Chelsea, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers. Yet he is eternally grateful to Enfield FC for launching his career as a teenager.
I chatted to Furlong this week and captured an array of vivid recollections on starting a life pathway in football.
“I was 18 when I got released from the QPR youth squad,” he explained. “Nevertheless, I had a few mates playing for Enfield. So I tagged along with those lads for a trial where I participated in some training sessions. I ended up turning out for Enfield’s youth team and occasionally for the reserves.
“A coach named Nigel did a fantastic job. Often for away games, he would make two or three trips in his Ford Escort van to ferry all of our players there ready for kick-off. People like him went out of their way to help develop the aspiring youngsters at Enfield. Incredible commitment overall from club volunteers.
“At the same time, I was working for a company called Standard Telephones and Cables based in New Southgate. They made telephone components. All of a sudden, I received a call during the close season from Enfield’s first team manager Eddie McCluskey. He said he wanted to sign me.
This story is from the October 08, 2023 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 08, 2023 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
LOTTERY'S NO FUN FOR LEE!
Eagles can soar but Bircham jokes he won't enjoy it
BIRD EYES A WAY BACK IN
Tanners boss keeps perspective
VICTORY IS FOR OUR HERO GEE!
CHICHESTER CITY dedicated their five-star play-off victory to late assistant manager Graeme Gee after this one-sided encounter sent them up in style.
JAMES' HEROES TAKE A BOW
BOWERS & Pitsea bounced straight back to Step 3 foot ball after a tense penalty shootout victory over Essex rivals Brentwood Town, who in turn lost a second final shootout in three years.
STEVE'S SUITED AND LIVING DREAM
STEVE GARDENER thought he was just going for a pint with his dad and brother when he attended a meeting at the local ice rink to discuss restarting Romford Football Club.
AUSTIN'S BOYS ARE MOTORING
HARBOROUGH Town boss Mitch Austin said his side bagged the win and promotion they deserved after goals at either end of the game saw off promotion rivals Anstey Nomads.
WE'RE HEAD OVER HEELS!
Anchors seal a derby thriller
CABLES FINALLY CAN BELIEVE. JT!
PRESCOT Cables supporters have waited for more than a decade to celebrate promotion but knew this contest was over in little more than an hour.
WHITES TAKE A HARD LINE
SALISBURY boss Brian Dutton says his team won’t be bullied out of a place in the National League by big-spending AFC Totton.
THE BUCKS HAVE GOT FIZZ BACK
KEVIN WILKIN has urged his AFC Telford United promotion-chasers to take the club’s first major step back to redemption.