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.
Denne historien er fra October 08, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra October 08, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
