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A LOOK BACK - 2003-2004 - Part 2 - August & September
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We couldn't have expected thing to start this well…?
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By:
Max Bygraves
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26/06/2022
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This article has been viewed 740 times.
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August
This month on The Weavers’ Jukebox…
Sean Paul ft. Blu Cantrell - Breathe
IN: Lewis Hogg, Neil Saunders, Norman Sylla
OUT: Lee Pluck, Neil Saunders
Telford United were the first opponents of the new campaign at a sun-drenched Underhill on the weekend the UK’s hottest temperature was recorded. The Shropshire outfit had spent big that summer, including the recruitment of former league striker Lee Mills and were fancied to do well*. Whether it was an Allen-ism or just a general standard Barnet cock up, the players very much appeared the “misfits and rejects” he’d dubbed his newly assembled side without names on shirts, unlike their opponents. But appearances mattered not as an accomplished performance saw a 2-0 win to kick things off, the goals coming from Ben Strevens and new captain Ian Hendon.
Hendon had enjoyed a short loan spell from Sheffield Wednesday in the middle of the previous season and been persuaded to come back on a permanent basis as captain. At nearly 33, his career was coming to a close but as he would go on to show over the next four years, Barnet was far from one last contract and seeing out his days easily…
*For context, they finished mid table, the money dried up when the chairman’s main business collapsed and the club sadly hit the wall and had to start again as AFC Telford United the following year, further down the pyramid.
The rest of the opening week was not as fruitful. A drab 1-1 draw at Farnborough Town on a Tuesday night was only really notable as the game where Giuliano Grazioli bagged his first for Barnet. On the season’s second Saturday, a result to forget as still licking their wounds from Play-Off Final heartbreak the previous May (and missing out on the title on goal difference the year before), Dagenham & Redbridge fired five past us at Victoria Road for the second season in a row, in a 5-2 defeat.
A 1-1 home draw with Hereford United followed, Ian Hendon with a trademark penalty to gain the point although this wouldn’t be the last penalty drama involving him and The Bulls in this campaign. The August bank holiday was rounded off in positive fashion with an exciting 3-2 away win at Eton Park, Burton. Another brace for Grazioli saw his fine start to the season continue. A notable debut for new arrival Lewis Hogg, who impressed during his short spell at the club. Less notable was his replacement off that bench that afternoon. Neil Saunders. Anyone?
The month ended with a resounding 4-1 home victory over Halifax Town. Chris Plummer, a high profile arrival previously of QPR, got his first Barnet goal but the afternoon belonged to Grazioli who went home with the match ball. His hat trick taking his tally to 8 league goals by the end of the first month. Anyone worried that we’d got the raw end of the £110,000 + Grazioli swap deal with Bristol Rovers for Junior Agogo, perhaps less concerned already.
September
This month on The Weavers’ Jukebox…
The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
IN: Peter Beadle, David Forde
OUT: Danny Naisbitt
Despite a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at home to newly-promoted Accrington Stanley, this was to prove to be the end of goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt’s four year stay at the club. The goalkeeper and manager’s relationship had soured and when a new keeper was brought on loan in the days that followed one of the worst games ever seen, it spelled the end for the Spennymoor cat.
David Forde was the keeper brought in. On loan from West Ham United, Allen putting his connections to use. At the time a relative unknown, but he would later go on to have a solid career further up, best remembered for a 9 year spell at Millwall. He was also capped 24 times by the Republic of Ireland. Having been plucked from League of Wales side Barry Town by The Hammers, I’m saying Barnet can claim we really kickstarted his career, given the results that followed during his short stint at Underhill.
Stevenage Borough away on 13th September 2003 is a match etched into Barnet folklore. This picture, if you needed reminding:
I’m going to caveat this bit immediately by admitting I wasn’t there that day and it still haunts me 19 years later. But I’ll do my best to provide the outline.
Along with David Forde, another debutant walking out at Broadhall Way that day was a chap by the name of Peter Beadle. It’s such a shame that his infamous managerial spell at the club in 2021 is what he’s now better known for. For the three months he spent as a player, he was the definition of a cult hero. More on him later but I implore you to disregard Peter Beadle the manager from your Barnet memories and if you’re old enough, remember what he offered us on the pitch.
He certainly made his mark instantly. 723 Barnet fans had made the short trip up the A1 but had been silenced by a first half strike from Rocky Baptiste (what a proper conference name of yesteryear that is). However, on 58 minutes, the big striker hit an equaliser to send the Bees fans into the scenes so famously depicted.
Roared on by the away fans behind the goal, just 10 minutes later it was a ninth of the season for former Stevenage striker Grazioli and Barnet were on their way to an away win that would be talked about for years to come. Especially noted for those who missed it.
Pre match that day, Allen had plucked a kid out of the away end to be an impromptu mascot and when skipper Ian Hendon had come off injured at the break, he was sent into the away end to rally the troops in the stand. It all worked. After an inconsistent start, this was to prove a real shot in the arm for the side going into the rest of the Autumn.
I was there the following weekend though, and it genuinely sticks out as one of my fondest memories of supporting Barnet at Underhill. It was a glorious day as EN5 enjoyed some extended summer weather for the visit of Aldershot Town. The Shots had made it back to this level just 12 years after having to start over when the original Aldershot had gone bust. They’d started the season well and would prove to be a promotion contender throughout. On the back of last week’s result, this felt like a big game. Backed by a large, vociferous away support, there was a sense of occasion as the teams stepped out.
Nerves were settled early. A cool finish from Ben Strevens, thankfully back to full health (following a rare blood disease which ruled him out for much of the previous season) and looking like a player reborn under Allen, he gave us a lead which we always looked like building on. The second goal took time to come but Grazioli doubled the Bees advantage on 59 minutes. In my mind’s eye at least, the East Terrace was rocking after that. The twist was belted out and the singing was relentless. It all felt very exciting to be part of as an enthusiastic adolescent.
Tim Sills fired one back for Aldershot on 89 minutes, leading to a nervy stoppage time. When the whistle blew, the memory is of sheer relief and elation. It felt like a big three points and the players’ response suggested they felt the same. It prompted one of my favourite Barnet pictures. Not much explaining needed here:
The following Tuesday night, it was three wins in three. Graz again on the scoresheet as Margate were defeated at Dover Athletic’s Crabble Ground by a single goal.
Next up, however, a real test. Shrewsbury Town had been relegated to non-league much to the surprise of many in May 2003, just a few months after dumping an Everton side featuring Wayne Rooney out of the FA Cup on the banks of the River Severn. If you never went to Gay Meadow, I’m afraid you missed a real treat in terms of a proper football stadium. A throwback with a brilliant location and ultimately, quite mixed memories for many Barnet fans. This trip however would certainly go into the positive memory bank…
182 Barnet fans at Shrewsbury for a game on the last weekend of September suggests optimism was high. But we knew this would be a tall order. One small point of note for this one was the novelty of the two teams lining up before the game facing the main stand and then doing the handshake procession. This was due to some sort of fair play weekend but obviously common place now. Looking at that Shrews line up of Rodgers, O’Connor, Tolley and other established Division 3 players, the size of the task was evident.
For much of the afternoon, it was backs to the wall stuff. Hendon had started on the bench but replaced Rooney early. King also only came on at the break as a change in shape bolstered the back line. After riding our luck for two thirds of the game, a goal on the break from Graz (unfortunately not in front of the away end, but still) sent us into raptures and scrambling up the fence (yes, a perimeter fence still in a professional ground which stayed there until 2007!) in excitement.
Much like the previous Saturday, the roar of delight and sheer relief when we’d held on for a huge three points at full time was marvellous, to coin a phrase of an East Terrace stalwart. The full squad and bench were right over at the fence for an extended mutual applause as many of us celebrated with some sense of disbelief at just how good things seemed all of a sudden.
I’m in there holding my phone in front of me shouting the result to my Dad, wearing the home shirt and scarf over the top of a black Linkin Park hoodie, with black jeans and silver Nike Total 90s Astro turf. With jeans. Style icon.
Before we move on, worth noting that at Shrewsbury that afternoon, Ismail Yakubu was absolutely immense on the left wing. What a man. Look at him go:
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