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From
the Chariman... I contacted Potters Bar FC on Saturday
evening and later that evening I received the following
email:
My name is Peter
Waller. I am the Chairman. Thank you for contacting
me & we will give you everything we can.
We are really
looking forward to the game. What a coincidence we
both won 4-0 today. & we both needed it. I think
that could be the score on Tuesday, but AET &
After penalties. I think we can put penalties
away!!!!
Of course it was
Barnet FC who opened our floodlights in 1993, on a
gale force night. We lost 3-8 but it kept the 400+
crowd happy. Our squad was:
david barth, russell
bulling, nick debenham, steve duke, richard evans,
david fearey, grahame garrett, neil garrett, paul
kendall, andy leese - goal, john lewis, steve newby,
lee richards - goal, gary smith, mark trossell, tony
walker - goal, gary beadle
I don't know your
actual team, but the squad was:
louis affor, tim
alexander, ben barnett, david barnett, shaun close,
geoff cooper, nicky evans, tony finnigan, kelly haag,
paul haylock, carl hoddle, tony lynch, brian marwood,
mark newson, andy pape, gary phillips - manager, zake
rowe, peter scott, gary smith, paul wilson
Somewhere I have a
video of the match.
peter
And on Sunday morning I
received this:
Like Barnet, Potters
Bar Town have received a bye to this stage of the
Herts Senior Cup. Our cup form has been mixed this
season. We were beaten at the first hurdle in the FA
Cup by Milton Keynes City (1-2) with the winning goal
coming from a direct free kick in the last minute. We
had a mini-run in the FA Vase defeating Bicester Town
(6-1) at home and Leverstock Green (2-1 aet) away
before having an off day and losing at home to United
Counties League side Yaxley (0-1) in the 2nd round.
We are out of the
Middlesex Charity Cup (1-5 at Northwood) but are
still in the Middlesex Senior Cup and, having beaten
Bedfont at home (7-3) in the first round, we are due
to be away to Hayes next week. We are also still in
the Herts Charity Shield and the Potters Bar Charity
Cup.
In the League, we
have led the Premier Division for long periods this
season but our achilles heel has been
"six-pointers" against fellow challengers
away from home. We have played three such matches (at
Hanwell Town, Beaconsfield SYCOB and Dunstable Town)
and lost them all. However, Saturday was our first
home "six-pointer" and we responded with a
comfortable victory (4-0) over Greenacres which keeps
us in a challenging position.
The Barnet match
gives us an opportunity to break our attendance
record for a competitive fixture, the current record
of 268 being held by a visit from Wealdstone in the
FA Cup in 1998. Barnet set the overall ground record
for our floodlight opener in 1993 so a good support
on Tuessday evening could set a unique double of
highest attendance for both competitive and
non-competitive matches. Incidentally, our Chairman
has promised a free beer to any Barnet supporter who
can bring a copy of the programme from that match in
December 1993 to Tuesday's game.
On the playing
front, our player/manager Steve Smart started out as
a Spurs trainee and has since had a varied career in
the non-league game, including a distinguished spell
at Enfield. Our squad also includes Paul Moran, who
was given his Football League debut by Terry Venables
in the 1989/90 season at Tottenham Hotspur. Lee
Talbot was the Spartan South Midlands League's top
scorer last season and had already struck 24 goals by
mid-October this time around. Lee has hit a bit of a
dry patch recently, though, and will doubtless be
keen to end a six-match scoreless streak against such
illustrious opponents on Tuesday evening.
Regards,
Kevin Wilmot
Secretary, Potters Bar Town FC
I would like to say
thanks a lot to Peter and Kevin for supplying the above
information, and Jeff for supplying the history below.
So come on - let's help
Potters Bar Town break their record for their competitive
attendace. I'm afraid it would seem there are none of the
programmes mentioned for sale in our programmes section
so you'll need to pay for your own beer! (Unless you've
got one already, of course.)
Special Prices for
Barnet Season Ticket Holders
Although the admission
price for this game is a very reasonable Adults £5.00
and Under 16's free, it is only £4.00 for season ticket
holders of either club. So come on and cheer Barnet
through to the third round of the cup!
Phils Prediction
Potters Bar 1 Barnet 3
Match Reporter
We need a match reporter
for this game. If you fancy writing a report then please email us.
History
The foundations for the
Mount Grace Old Scholars Football Association were laid
way back in the Spring of 1960, when the school's First
team were having a good season and at Easter many of the
boys were due to leave and the side would break up. It
was then that Ken Barrett, the P.E. Master of Mount Grace
School, Potters Bar asked the boys to support him in
raising a team to play on Saturday afternoons. Any
interested Old Scholars were also invited to join.
Our application to join
the Barnet & District League was accepted on the 29th
June 1960, with the team being placed in Division One for
the 1960/61 season.
After a certain amount
of teething troubles, which included Ken Barrett scouring
Darkes Lane for two players on the morning of the match,
the first match was played on Saturday 10th September
1960 against Byng Road Old Boys.
Team - Ashpole, Barrett,
Campbell, Easton, Hammarling, Holson, Hunter, Maynard,
Payne, Poole, Shires. Reserve- Beauchamp.
We turned out in Maroon
Shirts with White Shorts and Socks for our first game,
goals from Ken Barrett (2) and John Maynard saw us get on
the score sheet but our opponents managed to take the
points with a 5-3 victory.
Ken Barrett had enlisted
the assistance of Bert Wright, the Caretaker at the
school, at the start of the season and soon after Bill
Venneear joined as Secretary and Treasurer and the
considerable support that they both gave that first
season continued for many decades.
Our first 'double'
success came in 1961/62 when the First team won the
Barnet & District League Division One title and the
Barnet Junior Cup
A Reserve side was
formed in 1961, a Third team in 1962 and a Fourth team in
January 1963.
In May 1965 the Barnet
& District and the Finchley & District League's
merged to form the North London Combination and we were
allowed three teams in that league. The Fourth team
continued to play friendlies. Only the top six sides from
the Barnet and District League Premier Division made the
new Premier Division.
The 1967/68 season saw the climax of our North London
Combination ventures with the First team winning the
Premier Division and the Reserves picking up the Division
1 title.
The club then sought further opportunity to progress and
in June 1968 the First team were successful in being
admitted to Division 2 of the Herts County League, whilst
the Fourth team were admitted to the North London
Combination. It was no real surprise when, with the
players available, the First team took the Herts County
League Division 2 title at the first attempt and so were
promoted to Division 1 for the 1969/70 season.
To maintain the progress an experienced manager was
needed and so in September 1970 Jeff Voyce was appointed,
bringing to us his vast experience with Barnet. Bert
Wright willingly stepped down as manager and took charge
of the Second team who were admitted to Division 3 of the
Herts County League in June 1971.
By the end of season 1973/74 the club had reached new
heights with the First team taking the Herts County
League Division 1 title and also becoming the first side
from Division 1 to win the Herts Intermediate Cup with
the defeat of Cockfosters from the Premier Division 1-0
in the final. The Second team also brought us a trophy by
winning Division 3 of the County League. They lost only
one game. But most significantly it was that season when
Micky Gray set the Club goal scoring record of 51 goals
in 41 appearances.
The Third and Fourth team joined the Mid Herts League in
1975. However, just before the start of the 1975/76
season Jeff Voyce resigned as First team manager and for
a few seasons the club struggled. At the 1976 AGM Bill
Venneear stepped down as Secretary, as did Clive
Cavalier, his assistant since 1970. Peter Waller, who had
been Third team manager since 1970, was 'persuaded' to
take over as Secretary and his first task was to ask John
Garrett to take over as Manager.
In the summer of 1978 the future of the Club was in doubt
and many people recommended its closure to save further
work and hardship for the few remaining officers. The
decision was made to carry on but as expected the season
was the blackest in the club's history, with all three
teams relegated. However, out of despair grew optimism
and plans for the future. Clive Cavalier rejoined as
assistant secretary, Micky Hall wanted to be Manager and
players returned. A year later in August 1980, Micky
Holson took over and by the end of season 1981/82 we were
back in the Premier Division, after 3 years absence,
going up as Division One Champions.
The Club were pressing ahead with plans for a clubhouse
and changing rooms and Peter Waller and Clive Cavalier
spent nearly four years planning the venture. In July
1982 work started on the building and after six months,
with Frank Bentley as clerk of works, and invaluable help
from Jeff Voyce and many dedicated members, the project
was completed and the clubhouse opened on the 9th January
1983.
The Hertfordshire Football Association and the Herts
County League were delighted with our facilities and they
recommended us for the F.A. Challenge Vase. We were
refused admission due to our results, but our efforts
were rewarded when we were granted "senior"
status at the end of the season.
Micky Holson gave up the Manager's position in February
1984 and we appointed Ronnie Howell, an experienced
former semi-professional player, as Player/Manager. He
preserved our Premier Division status that season and
then took us to 5th position in 1984/1985 and clinched
our first ever place in the F.A. Vase
Former England Amateur International Les Eason took
charge of the First team at the start of the 1986/87
season and appointed former Tottenham Hotspur player
Dennis Bond as his assistant. That season we put our
first mark on the F.A.Vase including trips to Ringmer and
Dorking. The following year, 1987/88, we reached the
final of the Herts County League Aubrey Cup for the first
time and Steve Wright did the 'double' with the Third
team in the Mid Herts League Division 2.
John Robinson's Reserve side of 1988/89 won Reserve
Division 2, after being relegated the season before.
Les Eason stepped down in September 1989 and was replaced
for a short period by Barry Neville. Then in December
1989 Alan Bolt was appointed to the position. Alan had
played for the club before leaving for Cockfosters and
Finchley and with Bill Haste the pair started to build a
side with success in mind.
This was to pay off the very next season, 1990/91. In the
F.A. Vase we reached the 3rd round, only going down
2-1 away at Buckingham Town the Southern League
Champions. In the League we came back to recover a 24
point deficit to win the Herts Senior County League
Premier Division title for 1990/91 with a game in hand
over Bedmond Social and then to top it off we took the
Aubrey Cup with a 3-1 victory over Chipperfield
Corinthians.
This was the first time the 'double' had been achieved in
the Herts Senior County League since its reorganisation
10 years before.
This was a great achievement for the club and with it
came the opportunity to once again progress and take up a
place in the South Midlands League.
By coincidence it had already been decided at the
previous AGM to change the playing name to Potters Bar
Town, to reflect the growing stature of the club, so the
seasons achievements had been a fitting tribute to the
name of Mount Grace Old Scholars. It was also the end of
Don Newman's 11-year reign as Chairman.
The move to the South Midlands League for season 1991/92
saw the First team take up a place in the Premier
Division where they achieved a respectable 11th place.
Success was achieved by the Reserves, who had been
accepted into Reserve Division 2. They took it by storm,
winning the title with an incredible 32 wins from 33
games and scoring a record 144 goals in the process.
The move to the South Midlands League had brought with it
a condition that we installed Floodlights for the 1993/94
season, so an eight-pylon system was installed around the
pitch at a cost of £30,000, which included training
lights.
Another move for the 1993/94 season was to reform the
youth section with an under 18's side playing Sunday
football. The well established youth club Potters Bar
United had seen its boys move through to play for the
club over the years and so it was a natural progression
for the two clubs to form an affiliation so that football
was then available for boys in Potters Bar from the age
of 8 years old upwards.
Alan Bolt stepped down as First team manager at the end
of season 1993/94 and was replaced by John Harding who
joined from Cheshunt. John also brought in as his
assistant Stuart Parker from Hoddesdon Town who had vast
experience in the South Midlands League. In the Premier
Division they reached 6th place in 1994/95. Steve Mair
led the Second team to the runners-up spot in Reserve
Division 1 and to the Reserve Challenge Trophy final.
F.A. Cup football came to the club in 1995/96 when we
gained entry to the competition for the first time. We
played at Flackwell Heath from Isthmian Division 3 and
put up a good showing only going down to a late penalty.
The Youth team were also admitted to the F.A.Youth Cup
and they put up a great show coming through four rounds
before going out to Barnet FC at Underhill Stadium. The
First team finished mid table and reached two Cup
Final's, beating Cockfosters in the Potters Bar Charity
Cup, but losing in the Herts Charity Shield to
Sawbridgeworth. After 20 years Peter Waller stepped down
as Secretary to become Chairman.
Once again there was a change in First team management
for the 1996/97 season as John Harding left to take up a
coaching position with Conference side Stevenage Borough.
Ray Kierstenson and Micky Darling joined the club from
Borehamwood and by bringing with them a number of
talented players they built a formidable squad which was
to become one of the best seen at the club for many
years.
In the Premier Division we achieved our greatest honour
taking the South Midlands Premier Division title in our
final match with a superior goal difference over Brache
Sparta, having gone through the season with only two
defeats and only letting in two goals at home in 14
games.
In the F.A. Cup we played three Isthmian league sides,
beating Cheshunt 5-1 and Hertford Town 2-1, before going
out to Chesham United, who went on to win the Division 1
title.
Some cup success was gained in the Premier Division Cup
where we won the Plate Final after beating Hoddesdon Town
1-0 and we also reached the Potters Bar Charity Cup Final
going down to Cuffley.
Entry to the Isthmian Football League was applied for but
it was found that the amount of work needed to meet the
required standard could not be reached in time for
promotion.
The 1997/98 season saw the club create history reaching
the quarterfinal of the FA Carlsberg Vase. We came
through six rounds before finally going down 2-0 in the
second period of extra time in the quarter final at
Kidsgrove Athletic, near Stoke on Trent. On our way we
overcame Potton United 3-0, Fakenham Town 2-1, Whitstable
Town 4-2, Bridport 4-0, former winners Stamford 1-0 and
Great Wakering Rovers 1-0.
In the league the First team pushed Brache Sparta all the
way and took the Runners-up spot only losing 1 game in
the league during the season. We also completed a second
season without losing a home league match at Parkfield a
run of 28 matches.
Not surprisingly perhaps it was in Cup competitions that
success came for the First team, with a Cup double. They
gained revenge on Brache Sparta, beating the Beds side
4-2 on aggregate over two legs in the Challenge Trophy
Final and then won 1-0 against Potton United after extra
time in the final of the Floodlight Cup.
The Reserves went one better than the First team in the
league and collected the Reserve Division One Title by
three points over Arlesey Town. They also had a good run
in cup competitions losing to London Colney Reserves 4-3
on penalties after a 5-5 draw over two legs in the
Reserve Challenge Trophy Final and in the Herts
Intermediate Cup they reached the semi-final going out to
Greenacres Hemel first team. Looking for a new challenge
the Reserves moved into the Essex & Herts Border
Combination for the 1998/1999 season.
Although the South Midlands League had amalgamated with
the Spartan League in 1997, the two Premier Divisions
only combined for season 1998/99, with a format of 44
league matches.
It was the most competitive Premier Division for many
years, and after keeping in contention we tried to pull
away, but Barkingside and London Colney stayed with us.
In the last week it looked as if both would pip us, as
both were to be awarded 3 points for non-fulfilment of
fixtures by Waltham Abbey. On the last Saturday we won
7-0 to lead the table by one point, but then Barkingside
were awarded the 3 points and the Championship for
1998/99 by two points. Many were disappointed that a
44-match league programme was not decided on the field!
Barkingside then decided to leave the League having been
refused promotion to the Isthmian League.
We also reached the semi-finals of the Hertfordshire
Senior Cup, losing away to Borehamwood, and the League
Challenge Trophy, as well as the quarter-final of the
Middlesex Senior Cup. In the F. A. Vase we were exempt to
the second round but lost 1-0 to a very strong Ford
United, who went on to the fifth round.
The Reserves, with an abundance of young talent, improved
throughout the season and with a late run finished 7th,
so guaranteeing a place in the new Essex and Herts
Premier Division. They also reached the semi-final of the
Herts Intermediate Cup, but finished the season winning
the Potters Bar Charity Cup.
At the end of season 1998/99 Ray Kierstenson stepped down
as Manager due to work commitments, as did his partner
Micky Darling. Their League record in three seasons of a
first place and two seconds, plus Cup successes, would be
hard to match.
Off the field, after three years of hard work from the
officers, especially Peter Waller and Eddie Harvey, and
the support of the people of Potters Bar and local
councillors, we finally persuaded our Landlord,
Hertfordshire County Council, to offer us a new 21-year
renewable lease on the ground, which secured the future
of the club at 'Parkfield' and conformed to the
requirements of the Leagues above us in the pyramid.
The site at 'Parkfield' had also finally changed by the
summer of 1998. Over the next twelve months the old
school buildings were demolished, a new Ladbrooke School
and Home were built, and the new road and car park were
constructed to meet everyone's needs.
The Manager appointed for 1999/2000 was Dave Whitehead,
the former Manager of Hertford Town. However, after a
disappointing start to the season, that saw us loose six
of our first eight league games, he resigned. His
assistant Jon Meakes was given the opportunity to take
over the team with Steve Hurd as his assistant and with
players returning set about rebuilding the season. The
players responded eventually winning 24 of the remaining
32 league games including one run of thirteen consecutive
victories that achieved a final league position of
fourth, scoring 105 goals in the process. The First team
also reached the Final of the Herts Charity Shield losing
2-1 to Tring Athletic, though probably having more of the
play.
The Reserves, under Manager Andy Leese, finished
Runners-up in the Essex and Herts Border Combination
Premier Division, an excellent achievement against many
Isthmian League reserve teams, as well as winning the
South Midlands Reserve Floodlight Cup 1-0 and reaching
the Semi-final of the Herts Intermediate Cup.
The Third team, managed by Paul Bevans, continued to
maintain its position in the Mid Herts League Premier
Division, achieving an excellent 3rd place and reaching
the Semi-final of the Middlesex Junior Cup.
The Clubs 40th Anniversary was celebrated in May 2000
with an Anniversary Dinner supported by many of our
former players, and our three 'founder' members, Bert
Wright, Ken Barrett and Bill Venneear, who we sadly lost
in November 2000, a victim of cancer.
Season 2000/2001 will best be remembered for the rain,
which started to fall in October and never stopped,
causing postponements until April. Despite losing the
first league match, the First team then achieved a 19
match unbeaten league run, which took us to the top of
the table well into March. However, our form suffered in
the run-in and Beaconsfield SYCOB deservedly overtook us,
with London Colney also piping us to second spot. We did
win a new trophy for the Club, by beating Letchworth 2-1
in the Final of the Herts Charity Shield.
In the summer of 2000 the Reserve Team Manager Andy Leese
left to take over as first team Manager of Somersett
Ambury and took the nucleus of the reserve team with him.
In a difficult season the Reserves managed to retain
their place in the Premier division of the Herts &
Essex Border Combination for 2000/2001.
Paul Bevan's Third team came Runners up in the Mid Herts
League Premier Division Cup and the Youth team, due to
the efforts of Malcolm Kiely, Micky Darling and Peter
Edwards, won the Southern Counties Floodlight League
Divisional Championships and also put together an
excellent run in the F.A. Youth Cup reaching the first
round proper, and only losing 1-0 away to Southend
United.
From the start of the 2001/2002 season, Jon Meakes
struggled to attract the calibre of player needed as many
of the successful squad in the last five years decided to
try elsewhere, especially in the Ryman League. After a
couple of months he resigned, to leave us in a difficult
position.
Thanks to Steve Smart, who was injured at the time, and
Brian Simpson, they "steadied the boat" and
were eventually appointed Manager and Assistant Manager
permanently. Shortly after, Paul Surridge, who had been
Manager of Hoddesdon Town, was appointed as Assistant
Manager and finally Paul Moran joined the management
team. The sole aim was to build for next year and as the
season progressed the performances improved, so much so
that we reached the Finals of the SSML Premier Division
Cup and the Potters Bar Charity Cup. Though we lost both
games, it was an unexpected achievement after the worst
season for many years.
Though the Reserves consolidated their position in
2001/2002, we decided to withdraw them from the Essex and
Herts Border League. The Third team once again had a good
season, as did the Youth team, winning the overall
championship of the Southern Counties Floodlight League
for a second successive year. They also had another
successful F.A. Youth Cup run, losing eventually to
Bristol City, at 'Parkfield', by 3-0, in the second round
Plans to develop the ground continued and in May 2000
planning permission was obtained to extend the clubhouse,
fence in the ground and carry out spectator improvements.
Grants were immediately obtained from the Football
Foundation and the F.A. for a 150-seater Stand and this
was completed in May 2001. During the summer of 2002, the
club undertook more ground improvements, with the pitch
barrier infill, a new match officials room, players
shower room improvements, pay booth and completion of the
P.A. system.
Once again the pitch was improved to ensure that everyone
enjoys playing football on the surface at 'Parkfield'.
Ladies football has always been well supported as Arsenal
Ladies regularly use the ground, and other clubs and
leagues are accommodated.
For season 2002/2003, Steve Smart and his management team
have attracted a lot of players to the club, and many
have returned.
John Lewis has taken
over the Reserves to bring on local players, and we have
switched them back to the SSML Reserve section.
We are hoping for a
better season in a very strong league
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