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Programme Notes Woking, 21 April 2003 HELLO AND WELCOME TO BFCSA PAGE A BIG THANK YOU Crikey, I can't believe the season is nearly over and this is the last home fixture. It seems to have flown by and if I'm honest hasn't been as successful as I'd hoped. When I looked through the results the first thing I noticed was that in our first home game of the season we beat Yeovil Town 2-1. They of course went on to win the League and gain promotion. Then a couple of Saturday's ago we lost to Kettering Town 0-2. They finished bottom of the League and were relegated. That sums up the whole season I think, getting good results in the harder games and losing points against teams that on paper looked weaker. As the one time Barnet player Jimmy Greaves said 'It's a funny old game'. Anyway, you don't need me to tell you about what's happened on or off the pitch so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. Firstly I'd like to thank all the Committee members who spent time writing their pieces for the 'Meet the Committee' feature. Secondly I think everyone would like to thank Steve and Ann Percy for all the hard work they have put into the Committee over the last 25 years or so. Thirdly I'd like to thank the Committee members that have stood down this season for all their work in the past. This of course leaves a few empty spaces on the Committee so if you want to get involved now's your chance. Lastly a very big thank you to the Club for letting us have this page in the programme and especially Kevin Mullen who has helped me with it throughout the year and who took all the photos of the Committee. Well, I hope you have a good summer and I'll see you back on the terrace for another exciting roller-coaster ride in the autumn. MEET THE COMMITTEE
During my first two seasons watching Barnet I caught the non-league bug, despite our gates being lower than they are now! Prior to 1984 I had followed Aston Villa from relegation to Division 3 to winning the League Championship and European Cup. Watching the Bees I was struck by the informality of the non-league game and the friendlier atmosphere at most games. I joined the Supporters Association with Liz (my ex-wife) and we travelled to most away games by coach or train. I vividly remember being told at Canal Street 'Welcome to the frozen wasteland of the Thatcherite north' - oh the delights of Runcorn. The coming of automatic promotion and the return of Barry Fry brought a resurgence of support from 1986 onwards and some epic struggles stick in my mind - the great Sincil Bank swindle, winning at Darlington, losing at home to Runcorn (I ignored Barry's advice to bet my mortgage on that one). During our roller- coaster ride towards the Football League we got progressively involved with the Association. Liz volunteered for the tea- hut, joined the Committee and before long was secretary. I volunteered to sell the Non-League Magazine around the ground and helping run the club shop (which we ran). Later I too joined the Committee. Our first season in the Football League was an amazing experience. After that the financial stormclouds gathered and, together with the turbulent relationship between Barry Fry and Stan Flashman, brought the party to an end. So many supporters dug deep in their pockets to rescue the club - many sacrificing their holidays in 1993. Yet saving the club was a wonderful achievement and in the early days of the next season humble supporters like me were visiting the boardrooms at away games. The unity between club and supporters was at its peak. Sadly it did not last long - bickering in the boardroom led to a bitter court case over control and when the dust settled things were never the same. The new owners were wary of the Association's influence and our voluntary work was restricted as they took control of the shop. I became a programme seller and have continued in that role for many seasons, more recently in the away end. The arrival of Tony Kleanthous brought financial stability and to my great relief he paid off the Corporate Voluntary Arrangement. We had some good players in the nineties and I particularly enjoyed having Ray Clemence in charge. Although I am keen for us to stay at Underhill, Copthall was an acceptable and viable alternative. The day we vented our frustration outside Downing Street was, to me, the KBA's greatest achievement. I have participated in the KBA since its formation and admire the tenacity with which Janet Matthewson pursues Barnet Council. I am pleased she has joined the Association's Committee. Relegation to the conference was a chastening experience to supporters, players and the Chairman. I am convinced the spirit of disunity that season was a major factor in our demise. My other role for the Association has been representing us at meetings of the Football Supporters' Federation. I attended my first Federation conference in Glasgow in 1991 and have been going ever since. Apart from the annual national conference, Federation's Southern Division meets four times a season. I am starting my fourth and final year as Southern Division Chairman and have sat on the Federation's National Council for three years - we meet six times a year. This June Southern Division is hosting the Annual Conference (Football Fans Parliament 2) at Highbury. Steve Powell of the Arsenal Independent S.A. has secured the chance for us to visit the marbled halls. It will be fun - contact me for details if you are interested in attending as an individual member. In closing I must acknowledge the sterling effort put into the Association by Steve and Ann Percy. Together they have successfully run the coaches throughout my time on the Committee. Never one to shirk from controversy, Steve has always spoken his mind over the Club's future - as Chairman and Managers past and present are well aware! I am proud to count Steve and Ann as personal friends. Steve's Chairmanship will be a hard act to follow. |
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