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BFCSA Programme Notes
Watford, 11 August 2009

Alex Jones

BACK TO THE ACTION

The pre season fare seldom gives a clear indication of the action to come. The year we were subject to a ten goal thrashing by the Arsenal, we actually won the Conference in style. So let us not get carried away with the early games, whilst encouraging some welcome optimism. A good display against Charlton was followed by a less successful performance against Southend. And I did not witness Elliot Charles’ equaliser against the Arsenal, as I had left early. Good luck to Micah Hyde, the new Bees’ Captain, and to all the recent additions to the squad.

HORNETS

Despite many encounters in the Herts Senior Cup, the one competitive fixture between Barnet and Watford came twelve years ago, when the Hornets knocked us out of the FA Cup 2-1, and Ken Charlery scored against his old team. In the aforementioned County competition, I can remember several finals between this evening’s opponents, including one victory at the old Bishops Stortford ground. “Why is Dominic Naylor not playing”, I was asked by John Topping, a member of the Supporters organisation at Vicarage Road at the time. My response was not that charitable, but this match was the final time that the classic Barry Fry promotion team played together before the looming financial crisis dramatically hit home. Bodley, Bull, Hunt and the less remembered Darren Oxbrow all scored that evening. Maybe Dom was not that bad after all.

FCBFCSA

John Hunt gives up many hours to this project, and with this in mind has the coup of entertaining the mighty Celtic, when the Glaswegians entered the tin pot trophy, or whatever went on at Wembley the other weekend. He was rewarded with a 5-1 victory, two goals for Craig Clayton, and other strikes for Gradoni, James Taylor and the mercurial Thomas Salinger. Several Bees Fans who support the other Old Firm giant rubbed their hands gleefully.

THE TONY KLEANTHOUS INTERVIEWS

By now the third instalment of BFCSA meets Tony Kleanthous is available on the website. The interview was carried out by Ben Kentish and Sam Norris. There are links from the club site, and, I believe, plans to publish in this magazine. When quizzed about a possible new stadium, the chairman responded candidly in part two:

“If there was a suitable site that I could have tomorrow with planning, I’d take it and I’d build a train line for it…………I’d have it going right to the stadium so you come out of the station, buy your food and then watch the match. It’s about overcoming all these obstacles, and the sheer cost of them”. Tony goes on to state that he has spent fifteen years looking for a site in Barnet, without success. For the full interviews refer to http;//www.bfcsa.co.uk/0910/articles/tk_interview-2.htm. In part three he names Maik Taylor as the best/ most talented player seen at the club during his time at the club, whilst recalling how the opposition keeper scored against him at Hereford on the occasion of his debut.

TRAVEL PREVIEW

For the fifty ninth consecutive year, Steve Percy will organise the Supporters travel. Please consult with the travel line 01707 647365, and leave your details clearly for our journey to Devon. . To travel to Torquay costs £35 or £30 for a category F game under the revised system. The coach will leave the Odeon at 8.0am. Once again the BFCSA will run transport to all competitive matches- there was even a mini bus to Dover two weeks ago to see the victory over Hess’ charges, and a chariot to Gravesend to see the victory against Ebbsfleet.

AGM

Ian Hendon and Tony Kleanthous were the special guests at the Annual General Meeting held at the Durham Suite last month. They brought with them the good news that we had signed Micah Hyde and that Yannick Bolasie has returned on a long-term loan deal. The manager was bullish, without wishing to predict where the Bees would finish. He agreed that the Prince Edward facilities were now a major selling point to attract potential new players. The Chairman showed us a DVD updating the project, and extended an invitation for fans to visit next month when the complex is up and running. It got stuck in the machine, but a version is now available on the main site.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tony Hammond, aka Reckless, is up and around after recovering after a major operation, and was sadly unable to attend the Player of the Year evening which he helped organise. The main accolade went to John O’Flynn. Goal of the season was one by the long departed Ashley Carew for his speculative and spectacular strike in the opening home game of last season against Chesterfield. Nicky Deverdics was judged the most improved player that night. This weekend there is to be a special presentation of the Lester Finch award to Dick Rolfe. Our veteran voice of the terraces is honoured for his special contribution to the club over the years.

COMMUNITY DAY

The Community day, organised by Janet Mathewson, has grown beyond recognition. It was the first time that I had attended, and the BFCSA were there in force. Village took parties on tours of the ground, which were well received, and I took in the cricket, where Joe Devera and Rob Whipple shone with the bat, even as the remarkable Test match was unfolding at Sophia Gardens. The players were very approachable, eager to be photographed and to sign autographs. It was, all round, a good advert for the club. Now we hear of the first scholars, which can only be positive news.

WELCOME BACK

I intend to do more of this welcoming at the weekend, but the first weekday game is traditionally a time when some Bees regulars are on their holidays, or at least not yet into the swing of things. Last time that we played Watford, who would have thought they would be followed soon after by an ex-England manager in charge of a League 2 club. Or that I would complete the 92 once more by watching Cardiff City play Valencia in the inventively named Cardiff City Stadium. We live in strange times.

Good luck to the Bees.