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Oh Barnet
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Grim
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By:
Max Bygraves
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04/05/2010
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Grimsby Town
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A
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01/05/2010
(Click date for match details) |
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L
0-
2
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Attendance: 7033
(435 Away)
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Why are you doing this to us? For the second week running, everything’s pointed to the weekend and you just know this week’s going to drag even more than the last. I’m already massively on edge and got that horribly sickly/nervous feeling in my stomach every time I think about Saturday. Which is pretty much a constant.
I was one of the 400 odd at Grimsby on Saturday and before I say anything else, I think our fans were a credit to the club up at Blundell Park. Everyone stood together and got right behind the team. You need unity like that in this sort of situation and I hope that the ground will be similarly loud and buzzing for the visit of Rochdale to Underhill. I’m still gutted we didn’t score up there, that would have sparked utter mayhem.
It was a shame that many of the local Neanderthals in that corner of Humberside decided to behave as they did. I’ve been going to away games for the best part of a decade and I think Grimsby/Cleethorpes now has the title of the worst place I’ve been with Barnet. Walking back to the station afterwards was certainly an experience and not a pleasant one. Our group seemed to all get split up, a few of the boys got a slap or a kick, thankfully nothing too serious, but that’s not the point. If we’d relegated them I could have at least understood their ‘logic’ to acting like that, but they’d just won! It’d make them going down instead of us a lot sweeter. I do not like Grimsby Town FC.
One question I have as to why the situation after the game was allowed to happen – where were the police? Before kick off, they seemed to be very on top of it. We were met at Grimsby station by several of them, some Met and some local and then about 30 of us got an escort to the ground from the O’Neill’s pub by the station. Having seen the Grimsby fans on the pitch and the way they were acting, why on earth did they not do the logical thing of giving us an escort back to the station? I believe they’re called the ‘football intelligence’ unit, no prizes for spotting the irony in that. I feel we were let down considerably by them after the match and given the atmosphere around Cleethorpes after full time, they’re lucky they do not have a serious incident on their conscience. I’m sure if we go down though, we’ll have the pleasure of their company while we’re enjoying a quiet drink in such hot spots of football hooliganism as Hayes & Yeading etc.
Saturday had so much potential to be a great day, I’ve never really known one which could go so drastically either way. It had all the ingredients, though. On the train to Grimsby there was something like 24 of us, the beers were flowing, everyone was having a laugh and I think we were all feeling fairly confident. Without realising it, I think I’d completely convinced myself it was all going to go to plan and that Saturday night would be a good one celebrating survival. We had plenty of time in Cleethorpes pre-match and continued to consume many a pint, just to oil our voices and that, you know. Then at about 2pm we were escorted down to Blundell Park, treating Cleethorpes O’Neill’s to a few Barnet songs before departing.
The sense of anticipation in the ground was very poignant. Everyone nervous, but quietly excited down in the concourse before kick off. Then, as mentioned, our travelling support whipped up a terrific atmosphere and the side responded reasonably well in the first half. I remember feeling fine at half time, reminding anyone who’d listen that we were only forty five minutes from safety. In fact, my nerves were slowly disappearing and I really did believe.
I can’t remember taking a goal quite as badly as Grimsby’s first on Saturday, for a very long time. It felt like a complete kick in the bollocks. I quickly went from bouncing around singing, to feeling very subdued and having to go and sit on my own at the front of the stand. The final twenty minutes were horrible. The players were trying, but it wasn’t to be and I could sense that. You just knew Grimsby were going to nick a second and send the packed home stands wild. Or in the case of many, send them onto the pitch. A bit embarrassing really, what have you achieved with that? Nothing yet. Sure, they may well stay up, but that was very premature celebrating like that and if we stay up on Saturday, I’ll certainly be casting my mind back to that moment and having a little chuckle at them.
At full time I was just gutted. Sat there with my head in my hands and probably painted the picture of someone who’d truly given up. I had, then. It was pretty emotional in the away end and we all react in different ones. I have a few regrets in taking my anger out on some others, but to be honest, the last five minutes of the game and the first five after are largely a blur. Not because of alcohol, but due to the sheer flood of emotions being felt by myself and about 400 others. It was not an experience I enjoyed.
I’ve already mentioned what happened after the game. Thankfully myself and those I ended up with got away unscathed, but didn’t get to the station in time for the train and had to spend a pretty nervous hour waiting on the freezing platform overlooking the North Sea. Then with various delays and waiting for connections, didn’t get home (to Nottingham, not even that far!) until about half ten. Nightmare journey, to go with a nightmare day from about 4:15 onwards. Ruined my plans for the evening and everything and it looks set to pretty much ruin this next week of my life!
I hope those of you who’ve read this have a bearable week. It’s certainly not going to be a short one. When you think about it, it still beggars belief we’re in this situation, but we are and we’ve got to get behind the side and now and hope we can drag ourselves out of this mess. Relegation is unthinkable for what it would do to the club, the Conference is also a lot stronger than last time we were there, the future will not be too bright if next Saturday goes wrong.
I’m going to leave this on a slightly philosophical note, though. Yes, what myself and I expect most of you are going through courtesy of this football club is awful and yes, it feels horrible, but it’s not the be all and end all. I love Barnet Football Club and don’t want to see us relegated, but if we go down, I know I’ll still be there next year and so will my mates. At times like this, perspective can be a great leveller and one I’m hoping will get me through the next five days. We’ve all got things more important than Barnet FC in our lives to worry about and if you haven’t, then you should. It’s a big part of a lot of people’s lives, but if we go down, the world doesn’t end. I’m personally looking forward to the summer break more than ever this year, whatever happens this weekend, so let’s give it our all for one last game this weekend and do all we can to help the only ones who’ve got our fate in their hands, the players.
I expect you’ll hear from me again before the weeks over. Keep the faith boys and girls. Come on you Bees.
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