Paul Fairclough is looking forward to seeing Steve Burr’s Kidderminster take on Barnet at The Hive this Saturday.
Kidderminster’s manager is also Fairclough’s England C number two and the Barnet Director of Football believes it will be a good test for the Bees with Kiddy currently second in the Skrill Premier.
Speaking ahead of the game Fairclough revealed his excitement ahead of a massive test for Edgar Davids’ side.
“I’m really excited about tomorrow’s game and having seen both teams play already this season it will be great to see them go up against each other.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing Steve Burr who is not only Kidderminster Harriers manager but also my assistant with England C.”
Fairclough and Burr have worked with each other since 2005 and the former believes his close friend deserves a chance in the Football League.
“Steve has been around the non-league scene for a long time and he deserves a chance at a higher level. I can remember going up to Northwitch Victoria with Barnet knowing a win would seal the championship and typically they turned us over.
“We took masses of fans and he was a thorn in our side then but we won the league the next week against Halifax. He has a yearning to be in the Football League and he has just missed out on a number of occasions so hopefully he will get a chance."
The former Bees’ manager continued by explaining how Kiddy will play against Edgar Davids’ total football philosophy.
“Kidderminster will play football, there is no question about that, but the majority of it will be in their own half.
“They will also have the option of playing the long ball because they have some very powerful forwards and lads at the back who have a good range of passing."
Kidderminster currently sit second in the Skrill Premier and Fairclough has no doubt they will be around the top at the end of the season.
“They are in a far better position now than they were at this stage of last season. This time last year they had around six points less than Barnet do right now so they had a fantastic surge to the top.
“They will be more than happy with their start and like many teams they’re waiting for Cambridge United to slip up and provide them with an opportunity to pounce.”
The Bees are currently in eight position, seven points behind Kiddy, and Fairlclough believes Saturday’s match will demonstrate where Edgar Davids’ side are at.
“Barnet’s start to the season has been very stop-start, we all know that. There have been moments of real ecstasy and moments of real depression and disillusionment at the same time.
“That said we’re now on a bit of a run having gone six games unbeaten. For me, tomorrow will be a real measure of where we are as a football team because I personally believe this Kidderminster side is equally as good as the Cambridge side who are currently top of the league.”
