N Rowland Sports Writer

So, after the debacle of the play-off semifinal defeat to Solihull Moors and England’s emotional but heartbreaking Euro 2024 journey, it was time for Barnet FC to recommence their quest to reach the promised land of the football league.

After the sheer tragedy of the semi-final, the thought of yet another season in the fifth tier was not tempting at all.

It has been three months since that horrible Saturday and I’m still not sure what happened beyond an uncharacteristic abandonment of everything that had ensured we reached that point.

When I returned to the Hive for our friendly vs AFC Wimbledon, it was an experience riddled with uncomfortable flashbacks.

On the subject of that game vs AFC Wimbledon, it would be remiss of me not to discuss our pre-season.

As per tradition, it featured several trips to fellow non-league outfits and a home game against a slightly second-string league one team. However, watching football with a view of the Chilterns as I did at Chesham was a highlight. Oh for a pre-season tour of a European country.

After the comfortable 2-0 win over Wimbledon, it was time for yet another season in the National League to commence. This time, it began in West Yorkshire at the Shay vs FC Halifax Town.

I backed out of the family holiday to Keswick so was able to attend this fixture, it was a pleasing feeling to be at the first game of the season after many years of not being able to.

Even before I got to Halifax, the day was stress-inducing. Upon my arrival at Kings Cross, I discovered it to be the busiest I’ve ever seen amidst train chaos and passenger anxiousness.

Thankfully, I boarded my train, and we trundled our way to Halifax. As soon as I arrived, it started raining but I headed to the pub and met fellow Barnet fans. Optimism was high and I couldn’t wait to get in the away end.

Unfortunately, as this is Barnet, we lost 2-1. It was an insipid performance devoid of attacking threat and riddled with defensive errors.

To compound my frustration, my train back to Kings Cross was cancelled at the full-time whistle but I was very kindly offered a lift back and spent the journey back hoping that we would not flatter to deceive. It was not an away day that will go down in the annals of history, in fact its better quickly forgotten.

Thankfully, despite the less salubrious surroundings, the following week’s trip to Ebbsfleet was far more pleasurable. I met my mates at a pub in Kings Cross shortly before we headed to another pub and enjoyed the early kickoffs.

After a pleasingly short train to Ebbsfleet international, we headed to the ground and found our spot in the away end. The game was one we knew we should win and win we did. Callum Stead put us 1-0 up on the stroke of half time and doubled our lead in the second half.

Despite the concession of a late penalty, it was a good win and one we needed after the disappointment in Halifax. The singing and general joviality at the end was reminiscent of the early days of last season; new and old songs aplenty and belief swirling round a well-populated away end.

The journey home was a happy one and it felt like our season had commenced in earnest. That feeling intensified the following Tuesday when we hosted Forest Green Rovers, a big game.

It was the first competitive game at the Hive since the semi-final so several moments of PTSD from that terrible afternoon were had. Mercifully, the result was far better. It was a stodgy affair, largely down to Forest Green Rovers’ negative set-up.

We huffed and puffed until late into the game, industry from Callum Stead and good vision from Reece Hall-Johnson ensured Zak Brunt could finish and secure a vital three points. This provided the stage for yet another exuberant celebration from me as I ran to the other end of the Legends stand and joined the melee.

It was a moment of pure joy and utter relief and one that you need in a season whereby we’re trying to go up via winning the title. We perhaps weren’t at our best, but we won ugly and that’s massive.

After this came the visit of Southend United and their hordes of fans. The game and feeling around the stadium had a similar feeling to that of the game last season. It was another important game so when Harry Chapman put us 1-0 up, the ground was alive with noise.

We unfortunately conceded a sloppy goal and the feeling that their fans would swell them to victory grew. This was disappointing, especially given how poor and sloppy our defending was for it.

Thankfully, this feeling was temporary as Mark Shelton won and converted a penalty to restore our lead. Similarly to last season, the rest of the game was painful. Time seemed to stop, and the whistle felt horribly far away.

But when it arrived, the cheer that greeted it was unlike anything I’d heard at the Hive in a long time. Once again, we ruined Southend’s big day out and I was most happy with us. A performance of grit and quality made for a huge win.

But as we all know, this is Barnet, so any joy is destined to be short-lived. We headed to Maidenhead on Bank Holiday Monday and put in a dispiriting performance and lost 3-1.

This was a classic case of the football ruining a good day out at the football. I and some mates headed to Maidenhead early via the fancy Elizabeth line and headed to the pub. Confidence was high after our double victories at home and this was helped by the pleasantness of Maidenhead. A quaint, peaceful, lovely town which is home to a football team that defy their low budget. We started the game well but missed two good chances and from then on, were very poor.

It was a frustrating reminder of the painful experience that is being in the National League, and this wasn’t helped by a poor refereeing performance too. We headed back to London with trains proving an annoyance again and hoped that next week would be better.

Thankfully it was, we hosted newly promoted Tamworth and produced an excellent response as we won 7-0. From the moment we scored our first, it was utter domination and a much-needed reminder of just how good we are. A very enjoyable Saturday and one that reminds us why we go to the football.

I was also impressed with our ruthlessness against a team that we definitely should be beating. A joyous Saturday, more like that please.

Unfortunately, the following weekend, the same could not be said. It was once again time for a trip to one of our least favourite grounds, the Gateshead International Stadium. I woke early and headed to Kings Cross to meet my travelling companions, and we boarded a train to Newcastle.

Despite my dislike of the GIS, Newcastle is a very nice city. Plentiful pubs, restaurants and nothing is too far away. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time mooching around a most pleasant city and true to tradition in the North-East, that was where the fun ended.

Frankly, we were poor and insipid. Chances were missed, errors were made and this all contributed to an average 2-0 defeat. I and my mates left before the end and quickly headed back across the Tyne bridge into Newcastle.

When we were sitting outside a pub having a drink before our train home, I thought how lovely it would have been if we’d won. Needless to say, our train home felt never-ending, and it was far too late by the time I returned home.

One thing we have become known for is winning midweek home games late on and this tradition struck again when we hosted Altrincham at home. I’ve got a full-time job now so headed straight from work and arrived at the ground with about 45 minutes left until kick-off.

When Altrincham scored early, I worried whether we were headed for a repeat of Saturday’s shambles but thankfully, Harry Chapman equalized after a delicious assist, and we were back level.

From then on, it was entirely us. We pushed and pushed until deep into stoppage time, Jordan Cropper’s long throw was launched into the box and Rhys Browne headed home. This sparked glorious scenes in the west stand, and I ran down to the front to join the melee. It was joyous chaos and another reminder why we do it.

Three more crucial points earned in the best of ways. This football team is on the charge, and you better believe it.

The following Saturday, we hosted Braintree Town, and this heralded the return of John Akinde to Barnet. So, as was inevitable, he scored after 1 minute and it was an archetypal Akinde goal. Thankfully, we weren’t behind for long as Mark Shelton equalized and from then on, we were fine.

We then went ahead soon after through Callum Stead and this secured us the game. An own goal added some gloss, and it was yet another win. Not the prettiest but I couldn’t care less, not every win will be attractive.

It was nice to see Akinde back and the reception prior to kick off and after the game showed that he is still held in high regard by us Bees. A Barnet legend, thanks for absolutely everything.

More generally, despite the away form, we’re in a good position. In the upper echelons of the table and with an opportunity to go on a run. Its one that must be seized and where better to continue it than at the swamp, Grosvenor Vale.

I’m thoroughly enjoying watching the Bees yet again and that’s the main thing. Nothing will beat the undiluted satisfaction of following my club home and away.

As we approach the autumn, the season will enter the thicket stage; plentiful games, restarting of the cup competitions and Tuesday night away games. Time for character as Brennan would say.

This could be very special,

You Bees x