Earlier this week saw (possibly) the most exciting
day of the close season - fixture release. If you were to say you weren't
looking forward to it or don't really care, you'd be lying. "You play both
teams twice, once home and once away" is probably the worst thing I've heard
someone say - it's a lot more exciting than that! It's the opportunity to get
your calendar out and start marking when you'll be busy, looking at train
websites in advance to see how much it's going to set you back, seeing where
you'll start and end the campaign and the first chance to see when you'll be
facing your rivals. Amidst all the excitement comes the "oh no, we've got
to travel x miles on a Tuesday night", as well as knowing those fixtures
aren't set in stone, and the chances are at least half of your games will get
re-arranged for whatever reason! But of course, there are always those certain
dates and grounds you look out for, and always check first, for whatever
reason.
After finding out we play Birmingham City away in
the first round of the League Cup, I don't think the League fixtures have
really disappointed - with two of our three matches in August at Underhill.
Barnet begin and finish the season like this:
Opening
three games:
18.08.12 Port Vale (a)
21.08.12
Bristol Rovers (h)
25.08.12
York City (h)
Closing three games:
13.04.13 Torquay United (a)
20.04.13
Wycombe Wanderers (h)
27.04.13
Northampton Town (a)
The next fixtures I always look out for are Boxing
Day and New Years Day. The last few years we've struck it lucky with the former
with local matches against Dagenham + Redbridge and games at Underhill. This
coming season we play Gillingham away on Boxing Day (hardly appealing!) and
Aldershot at home on New Years.
Like most fans, the final date I look out for is
the weekend of my birthday - largely in the hope it'll be a decent away trip
somewhere an enjoyable couple of days can take place. With my next birthday
being slap bang in the middle of the week, I had two potential matches to look
forward to. Saturday 12th January sees us travel to Rotherham and their new
ground, whilst the 19th is a home game against new boys, Fleetwood Town.
Although I will, most likely, attend both games, neither really excite!
Then there's the matter of those local games and
grounds you look forward to visiting. Living in Brentwood, I look out for
Southend (6th October) and Dagenham + Redbridge (15th December). The only
disappointment for me is the season-long wait for our visit to Northampton and
Sixfields - possibly my favourite away ground/day of all time. Although, I
guess it means it gives me the good part of a year to get some funds together
and absolutely rinse TGI's of cocktails!
Every year I always make a list of 'new grounds',
mainly from those promoted and relegated and the season doesn't disappoint.
This coming season I have all six to visit; although, in fairness, I'll
probably make half, if that!
To visit:
Rochdale - September 1st
Fleetwood Town - September 29th
Wycombe Wanderers - October 23rd
Chesterfield - October 27th
Exeter City - December 29th
York City - February 16th
Roll on August!
Oh, and you can check out the seasons fixtures here.
In Sweden we always look for the last home-game in march, because that's when the international supporters day usually takes place.
ReplyDeleteLast march we we're more than 30 swedish fans at Underhill for the Morecambe game.
The upcoming season looks very good for us, since the last home game in march is Dagenham at home on a friday, and as a bonus we have Wimbledon away on the monday. Two games in four days time, it will sure be a great trip for us next year.
Up the Bees!