The quest for football around London continued with a trip to Barnet. The current precarious nature of Barnet's league position of 2 places above relegation from the football league meant I should try and get there before the season was out. Had a small connection to them via Sarah, whose flatmate used to be their physiotherapist. Free tickets were offered but Joe Devera (right back) snaked them from us on the day.
The ground is located quite close to the last stop on the Northern Line, so a reasonable trip of about 90 mins from home. Went up there with Josh Wright - his introduction to English league football. Certainly the club was more grassroots (great call by Josh) than others I have experienced, with portacabins housing the ticket office, clup shop etc. Club shop had less extensive offerings, but contained all the essentials, a blessing was the lack of crush of punters looking for memoriabilla.
We ended up standing in the covered terrace for a reasonable sum of £15. Very close to the action, and the home crowd didn't waste the opportunity to undertake friendly banter with the opposition players. The atmosphere in the terrace was some of the best, punctuated with a well drilled drummer setting the beat for the chants. Barnet are known as the Bees, simple chants included drum beat… Beeees, or Oh when the Bees go Stinging in to the tune of Oh when the Saints. Away supporters were not treated to the same home comforts, with a couple of open stands and an uncovered terrace more accurately described as a concrete slope.
To the game, the style of game was more hoof and hope than pass and move, with the midfielders not creating rather looking to pick up the loose scraps. The opposition Dagenham and Redbridge were placed in the promotion place-offs, about 17 places higher than Barnet. Not really a lot to tell the two teams apart, but D and R were probably slightly more organised and better on the break. However, I was convinced that I could play at this level when the Barnet goalkeeper went to challenge from a long punt from the other GK, and fumbled under pressure to give a soft goal. That is something I had done a number of times, so no real difference there. Impressive players for Barnet were Michael Leary and Kenny Gillett.
Food options were not too varied, but just what you needed, burgers and hotdogs, cups of tea and coffee, but no Bovril. With only a small crowd, clearing the ground didn't take any time at all.
That makes the grounds attended: Millwall, Charlton, Fulham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Barnet. Remaining are: Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Leyton Orient, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge.
The ground is located quite close to the last stop on the Northern Line, so a reasonable trip of about 90 mins from home. Went up there with Josh Wright - his introduction to English league football. Certainly the club was more grassroots (great call by Josh) than others I have experienced, with portacabins housing the ticket office, clup shop etc. Club shop had less extensive offerings, but contained all the essentials, a blessing was the lack of crush of punters looking for memoriabilla.
We ended up standing in the covered terrace for a reasonable sum of £15. Very close to the action, and the home crowd didn't waste the opportunity to undertake friendly banter with the opposition players. The atmosphere in the terrace was some of the best, punctuated with a well drilled drummer setting the beat for the chants. Barnet are known as the Bees, simple chants included drum beat… Beeees, or Oh when the Bees go Stinging in to the tune of Oh when the Saints. Away supporters were not treated to the same home comforts, with a couple of open stands and an uncovered terrace more accurately described as a concrete slope.
To the game, the style of game was more hoof and hope than pass and move, with the midfielders not creating rather looking to pick up the loose scraps. The opposition Dagenham and Redbridge were placed in the promotion place-offs, about 17 places higher than Barnet. Not really a lot to tell the two teams apart, but D and R were probably slightly more organised and better on the break. However, I was convinced that I could play at this level when the Barnet goalkeeper went to challenge from a long punt from the other GK, and fumbled under pressure to give a soft goal. That is something I had done a number of times, so no real difference there. Impressive players for Barnet were Michael Leary and Kenny Gillett.
Food options were not too varied, but just what you needed, burgers and hotdogs, cups of tea and coffee, but no Bovril. With only a small crowd, clearing the ground didn't take any time at all.
That makes the grounds attended: Millwall, Charlton, Fulham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Barnet. Remaining are: Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Leyton Orient, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge.
