STEVE’S RACKING UP THE RECORDS FOR BEES
BARNET supporter extraordinaire, 63-year-old retired civil servant Steve Percy, saw his beloved Bees take on Solihull Moors at the Hive yesterday and duly clocked up 50 years of supporting the club and recorded his 2000th consecutive match watching the boys in black and amber.
It started this week back in 1968 when Barnet played out a 3-3 home draw with Cheltenham Town.
“The crowd, the turnstiles, the floodlights and that smell of liniment on the players is still so vivid; I was hooked.”
In the line of duty he has managed to miss his brother’s wedding, the Bees were playing at home to Telford that day, “although I did make the reception,” Mr Barnet adds in mitigation.
In 2003 Steve’s passion for the Bees was recognised by manager Martin Allen who selected him as a substitute in a Hertfordshire County FA Cup tie when Barnet played Ware at Underhill.
With the score at 4-1 the opponents were nonplussed when they saw the “promising” 42-yearold came on as a late sub and he literally carries to scars to prove it.
Messagebords have called, only half in jest, for a statue to be erected in his honour, but the man who lives in a house called “Underhill” would be happier if he could see the Bees appear twice at Wembley this season.
“I would love to see us win The FA Trophy, I still think it is a meaningful competition and should our extensive injury list begin to clear up we might yet get going and make the Play-Offs.”