Barnet FC are delighted to announce that both Charlie MacDonald and Bondz N’Gala have agreed deals to sign for the club ahead of the new season.
Both players have already featured for the Bees during pre-season, with MacDonald scoring the winner against Stevenage and N’Gala coming on for the final half an hour.
They will become Barnet’s third and fourth signings of the summer as Martin Allen looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new Conference season that begins on August 9th.
MacDonald will join from League One side Oldham Athletic, where he scored five goals last season. The experienced 33-year-old striker has 130 career goals to his name, and has also enjoyed spells with Leyton Orient, MK Dons and Southend.
His most prolific period was with Brentford where he scored 45 goals in three years, including finishing as the club’s top scorer with 18 in 2008/09 as the Bees won the League Two title.
Speaking to the club’s official website for the first time, MacDonald was clearly excited about the future:
“It’s fantastic. There have been a few occasions where I’ve nearly linked up with the gaffer and it hasn’t quite materialised so I’m really looking forward to cementing that relationship and hopefully bringing good times to Barnet.
“I’ve always wanted to work with him. I’ve heard so much about him. He’s an infectious man, a good character and he’s a winner. I want to be a part of what he’s trying to do at Barnet.”
He also revealed that he was relishing the responsibility that comes with being one of the wiser heads in a young Barnet squad:
“The last few years now I’ve tended to be that experienced head and influence for the younger players. With the wisdom that I’ve managed to get over the years I’m happy to share that and I want to share that to help these younger players progress with their careers.”
Despite not playing outside the Football League for eight years, the striker is confident that he could use his past experiences to make the switch back to Conference football:
“I know the league and I’ve scored goals in this league. I know what it’s about and I feel I’m capable of adapting to get the results needed.
“My hunger and desire is still there to win things. If you’re not in it to win things then I don’t see the point of playing. I’ve come here to win the league, there’s no dressing it up. We want to win the league and be successful.”
Meanwhile Bondz N’Gala will join from Portsmouth where he was a consistent performer last season, making 27 appearances for the south coast club in League Two.
Having begun his career at West Ham United, the 24-year-old defender has also played for Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil Town and Stevenage, who loaned him to Barnet for a month towards the end of the 2012/13 season.
During that time N’Gala featured in six games, helping the Bees to three wins and a draw before being recalled in March, and admitted that his history with the club was a big factor in deciding to join:
“It’s a great feeling. I’ve been here previously and enjoyed my time here so it’s great to be back. There’s a few of the lads from back then that are still here so that will make it much easier to settle in. I know the club, I know the chairman and I’ve got a great relationship with the manager.
“He was a massive factor. He’s a manager that is well established in the Football League and he knows what it takes to push on to the next level so he’s a great manager to work under and learn from.”
The deal also represents the chance for N’Gala to return to his native London, something which he admits will make a pleasant change:
“It will be nice being close to home, close to my family and to the people that I Love. It should be a different experience but it should be a very good one and a positive one.”
Like MacDonald, N’Gala is also excited at the prospect of the new season and what it could bring for the Bees:
“There are some good players and there’s definitely enough quality in the team. There’s a good togetherness around the team, everybody seems quite close and there’s a good set-up so we’ve got everything geared up to succeed.”
Both players will feature in this weekend’s friendly against Luton Town at The Hive on Sunday.
