|
A LOOK BACK - 2003-2004 - Part 4 - December & January
|
|
The Bees stay steady over the festive period, with cup drama included.
|
By:
Max Bygraves
|
05/07/2022
|
|
|
This article has been viewed 653 times.
|
|
December
On The Weavers’ Jukebox this month
Bo Selecta – Proper Crimbo
IN: Geoff Pitcher, Anthony McNamee, Tony Scully, Gary Silk, Adam Campion
OUT: Peter Beadle, Lewis Hogg, Tony Scully, Gary Silk
Before we get into the big FA Cup match at Yeovil, we absolutely cannot ignore the first game of December 2003. A Herts Senior Cup 2nd Round tie against Ware at Underhill with 431 souls present and only the Main Stand side of the ground open. Barnet, mostly made up of Protec players, comfortably won 4-1 against their lowly opponents.
Some of you know what's coming but just to tantalise you further, one of the substitutes for Barnet that night was... Frazer Toms. At the beginning of the first instalment of this niche odyssey, his awful leg break at Gravesend was noted in April 2003. Eight months later, on his road to recovery, he was involved for one final time in a Barnet shirt. There was never any talk of him signing on again and it appears to have very much been a gesture of goodwill from Martin Allen, but what a treat to see Frazer one final time on the slope. He was given the final thirty minutes. Shortly after, he signed for Farnborough Town (in the Conference) before sliding further down to Uxbridge and then going off the football grid. Goodbye, sweet prince. He's now based in Canada, ignoring podcast requests.
Perhaps the greater talking point of the night was the Barnet substitution on 87 minutes. Wes Daly (on trial from QPR), who had just scored a very impressive goal from range to make it 4-1, was replaced by Barnet's number 40, Steve Percy. Back in September, the club had run a raffle where for a £1 ticket, you had the chance of being a member of the squad and given the 40 shirt. Very appropriately, the man with a perfect attendance record since something like 1981 and having only missed one game since the late '60s was the winner. If you don't know who Steve Percy is, I'm not sure why you've read this far, so I'm going to carry on on the assumption you are aware of him.
It would be fair to assume that his three minute cameo for his beloved Bees would be uneventful and perhaps all just a bit of fun. Wrong. Ware were furious that the man with the long grey hair and sizeable stomach had entered the fray and made it known. Late on, Percy was scythed down by a challenge from a Ware defender. Instead of leaving it, he decided to kick out at the antagonist and next thing, a full scale brawl had broken out. Poetry. The Ware defender, Goodhew, was sent off and the manager was offering out a bunch of mouthy Barnet supporting teenagers in the Main Stand, much to their amusement. Little cretins. It was a very, very apt one and only Barnet appearance from Steve Percy.
If the nonsense of that Herts Cup tie didn't epitomise the current feeling around the club, the trip to Yeovil next up really showed it. Barnet would be wearing their all red away kit for the fixture and this prompted a midweek request from Martin Allen for the 'Red Army' to assemble. Come Saturday, after making his players take collective bites out of a green apple (Yeovil colours) in training, he appeared from the Huish Park tunnel ahead of kick off in a red conductor's coat. It was very much a case of 'Mad Dog's Little Helpers' that greeted him. I have no idea who it was to this day, but someone had seen an opportunity with the December fixture and bought hundreds of Santa hats. As I recall, they felt like they were made of paper, and were being knocked out for 50p down the front of the stand. Most bought one though and it did create, if nothing else, a very iconic picture.
The game itself saw Yeovil go into an early lead. It was always going to be an uphill task but after conceding in the 6th minute, the away end was in raptures within two minutes as big Peter Beadle nodded home a Simon King cross. It was down the other end of the ground, but safe to say it hugely went off.
Was the cupset on? No. Yeovil Town 5-1 Barnet. They absolutely battered us. Seriously. I've seen Barnet thumped more times than I care to remember but I'm not sure I've ever seen us so outclassed in a competitive game. The Glovers were simply sensational and there were no complaints at full time, only applause that we didn't fully throw in the towel and get beaten to record extent.
A defeat like that can't really hurt when it's so comprehensive but I would be lying if I said that the Sunday that followed wasn't a very dark day as Yeovil Town pulled out Liverpool at home in Round 3 during the Sunday lunchtime draw, with the fixture to take place on my birthday weekend. Painful.
By the following Saturday, the horrors of Yeovil were a distant memory as we descended on Telford, via a quaint stop-off in the village of Ironbridge. Barnet marched out onto the New Bucks' Head turf looking slightly unusual. The standard red shorts and socks but the red shirts for this featured navy sleeves and a Telford United badge on them. The kit man allegedly 'forgot' the shirts and reportedly realised this during the warm-up, leaning over the barrier to a friend of mine and saying: "Martin Allen's gonna have a field day!" Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation in the changing room
Telford (the ones in white, not red) had gone ahead after 14 minutes, but an acrobatic equaliser from debutant Geoff Pitcher put us on level terms going into half time. It also won me my first ever scorers' draw success on the supporters' coach. For the unacquainted, Steve Percy used to rattle down the coach with a bag to put your 50ps in and another bag with all the names of our players, including 'A. Another' for any late doors signings who turned up as a surprise on the day. If memory serves me correct, Pitcher had been announced in enough time to have his own name on a slip of paper and I cannot tell you the excitement of recouping almost 50% of your days spending courtesy of your own team scoring. What a rush.
The second half was a battle, but one Barnet came out of on top. Grazioli coolly finished a one on one in the 50th minute and after some pretty desperate late defending, mass relief in the away end as the referee blew up to give Barnet a battling away victory. This really was some day for the teenage away fan. Not only did I have the scorers draw success, I had somehow come to be in possession of the drum in the away end during the latter stages of the game. Very fond memories of banging it with no sense of rhythm as the players came over to celebrate at full time. Chris Plummer looking particularly pumped giving it a big clenched fist in front of the away end with a Terry Butcher-style bandage on.
Full time also saw a farewell to Peter Beadle. Martin Allen brought him over to the away end, holding his hand aloft for an applause. Lewis Hogg would also depart the club that week, his final involvement as an unused sub at Yeovil, as both headed back to the West Country. Short but impactful stays for both.
Spirits were high five days before Christmas as Farnborough Town came to Underhill for what looked like a home banker. However, a pretty surreal afternoon ended in a comfortable 0-2 win for the part-timers from Hampshire. Due to injuries, it was a beleaguered Bees side with several new faces that took to the field. Tony Scully, once of Manchester City and QPR made his only Bees bow that day and also Gary Silk on 'work experience' (not loan!) from Portsmouth. Both were one game wonders and never seen again with a number of other shady supporting cast figures. The only high, the introduction of Watford loanee, Anthony McNamee. A lively winger who very quickly was given a catchy terrace chant, but not enough end product from him or anyone new or old led to a surprise defeat.
Barnet's final game of 2003 was the first of the then standard Boxing Day/New Year's Day double header against a local opponent. Somewhat uninspiringly, Woking were chosen as our festive fixture and it was the trip round the M25 to the Kingfield on December 26th. A sizeable following with salvaged Yeovil Santa hats were treated to an entertaining contest. After going behind early on, a Ben Strevens brace (the second goal, a lovely move and finish) had Barnet on course for another impressive away win.
However, in stoppage time, former Arsenal man Ian Selley bundled in an equaliser for the Surrey side, awakening the huge, out of proportion stand behind one of the goals at Woking. There had been no noise all game but when they all sang down at us on the open terrace to the side of the pitch; "YOU'RE NOT SINGING ANYMORE!" we definitely could hear them.
A disappointing end to a final month but we found ourselves very much in the mix still. A few changes to personnel, although lots of excitement about our new 'pacy little winger and he's only five foot three...' and optimism remained high as we entered 2004...
January
This month on The Weavers’ Jukebox…
Boogie Pimps – Somebody To Love
IN: Simon Clist, Ademola Bankole
OUT: Anthony McNamee, Adam Campion, Geoff Pitcher
2004 began with the return game against Woking live on Sky Sports. The nation was treated to a 0-0 draw with the only thing of note being the verbal pelting Tony Cottee received on the co-commentary above the East Terrace. Our podcast with him certainly has made members of DSH reconsider and retract what was thrown around that day, at least.
Just two days later, we were back on the road for the long trip north to Halifax Town. I feel like this is the game more than any other that epitomises my wasted youth (before pubs, anyway) watching Barnet all over the country.
It was my 15th birthday. The coach was boarded early doors with various treats in a rucksack, including the largest tub of celebrations you’ve ever seen which made me all of a sudden a lot more popular with the bigger boys I was trying to impress.
Sony Walkmans with the latest albums were passed around, articles and photographs from that week’s Zoo and Nuts were loudly shared and there was a rather dull wander around Hebden Bridge whilst the said cooler, older chaps went to the pub during the coach stop off.
Once at The Shay, an abject first half performance saw us go in a goal down. Serial scorer against Barnet of that era, Lewis Killeen, with the goal. However, a spirited second half fight back and goals ten minutes apart from Grazioli and then Strevens earned a massive 1-2 victory. Much scenes of joviality at full time. No one celebrating more so than the birthday boy, recording his second scorers draw £10 victory in a month. Halcyon days.
A break from league action the following week as Dover Athletic from the tier below visited Underhill for an entertaining FA Trophy tie. Barnet ran out 3-2 winners and booked a place in Round 4, but never were able to take their spot.
Adam Campion, who had arrived a few weeks earlier after a spell at the mighty Aylesbury United had started the game but was withdrawn at half time for Mark Williams after a largely unremarkable 45 minutes. His contribution on the pitch was minimal but his impact on Barnet’s progress in the competition was terminal. Campion had featured in an earlier round for his previous side and the Bees were expelled from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. Chief executive Andrew Adie tendered his resignation immediately after such an error, but this was turned down.
With the play offs the main focus, the funny side was largely seen. Point of note from the game itself was Lee Roache bagging his first senior goal. Baller.
January’s drama had yet to reach its peak however. Dagenham & Redbridge were at Underhill the following week for an incredibly charged, ill-tempered London derby.
Then Daggers manager Garry Hill had come under scrutiny in the build up to the game following the departure of two key players from Victoria Road amid allegations of racism. I genuinely have no idea what happened and if there was any further fall out. All I can recall is as a young, naive individual joining in wholeheartedly with songs accusing someone of behaving in such a way with the rest of the East Terrace. Not a proud moment for anyone concerned, but we live and learn.
Going back to the actual football, it was one of the most enthralling games of the season, despite the result going against us. Dagenham were having an indifferent campaign on the back of two near promotions, but turned up that afternoon and took an early lead.
Grazioli equalised after 25 minutes, only for the visitors to go down the other end and quickly restore their lead/ Just before half time came a pivotal moment. A penalty for Barnet. Ian Hendon confidently stepped up but drama was to ensue. In goal for Dagenham was Danny Naisbitt. Released by Martin Allen in acrimonious circumstances just a few months earlier, he was to have a moment to savour on his Underhill return. Hendon struck the shot with the usual aplomb but Naisbitt stood firm and parried away the Barnet captain’s effort. 1-2 at the break.
Just before the hour, it was one of those where you *almost* had to stop and applaud. Mark Janney (another proper Conference ‘name’ of that era) dispossessed Simon King out wide before dispatching an incredible, audacious effort from range, lobbing Shane Gore from some distance.
Barnet did battle back. Graz made it 2-3 with six minutes to go but just a minute later Plummer saw red for a second bookable offence after swearing at the ref. With Barnet down to 10 men and committed, Danny Hill grabbed a breakaway goal in the closing stages to give Dagenham the victory and a gif scoring double over Barnet. As stated, it was pretty heated at the whistle. A great game, not a great memory.
Before the next league game, it was a short trip to Cheshunt for a Herts Cup tie. I recall making really debatably acceptable amounts of effort to get there via buses and then a lift to and from Potters Bar, narrowly missing a key bus home very late on a school night. Not ideal. Barnet won the game 4-1 to set up a Quarter Final away to Boreham Wood.
January’s final game saw Barnet host Margate. There were two debutants in the side. Following a shaky few weeks, Shane Gore found himself bench warming as experienced keeper Ademola ‘Big George’ Bankole came in from Crewe Alexandra on loan. Also making his first appearance was a young (then) midfielder from Bristol City called Simon Clist.
This was one of the most comfortable wins in a while. A Graz double and one from Hendon saw Barnet ease to a 3-1 win victory.
My abiding memory of this one was that a girl I really fancied from school went to the game on my recommendation from a chat in Spanish class that week. If I remember correctly, she went with her dad and was stood down the front of the East Terrace. My attention was very much split for this one. It never worked out, sadly.
Did persuade her to come with me on a date to Woking at home the following season (2-2), though. Might have been my angry reaction to Ian Selley’s late equaliser and their fans over reaction (“celebrating like they’ve won the fucking World Cup!”) that was the nail in the coffin on that one.
We had no fixture on the final weekend of January due to the FA Trophy debacle. However, the Thursday prior to this there was a notable event at Underhill.
A Q&A with Martin Allen in the Durham Suite drew a very decent crowd and proved to be a memorable evening. He brought himself onto the ‘stage’ to the sound of Tom Hark by The Piranhas, insisting we all stood up and clapped along. What followed was a couple of hours of real entertainment.
Upon my first question from my notepad, he cut me short questioning why I wasn’t at home doing my homework. I didn’t have the guts to explain that this was all going to be documented on my unofficial Barnet website: www.freewebs.com/thisisbees and that he should take my journalism seriously. I believe I did have the courage to ask a further question later on, but don’t recall what or how he answered. I’ll go with seriously.
He ended the night by making an announcement that in a few weeks’ time there would be a players v fans match on the Underhill pitch. £50 a man. A lengthy queue formed to sign up. I didn’t join. A huge fee for a youngster; the jealousy was very significant.
Boarding the 34 bus home, a couple of others in attendance got on at the same time and in no time at all, the evening was being discussed in detail with previously unknown characters. The Martin Allen effect. Nothing has ever brought the club together like the nonsense and atmosphere he was creating at that time.
|
|
|
All Articles By This Author:
Other Articles By Category
|