Barnet FC are delighted to announce that Charlie MacDonald has been appointed as team captain for the forthcoming season, with Curtis Weston being made vice-captain.

Announcing his decision, manager Martin Allen said:

“This afternoon we have decided that Charlie MacDonald will be our team captain and Curtis Weston will be our vice-captain.

“Both players have good Football League experience and know what it takes to win promotion. They are both model professionals, are shining examples to the young players at our club and I’m sure that both players will do us proud this season.”

Reacting to the news, Charlie MacDonald was clearly delighted to have been handed the armband:

“I’m ecstatic. It is a real privilege to be named as captain, and a big achievement for me at this stage of my career. I’m very grateful to the gaffer that he sees me as somebody who can do that job.

“We got a bit of a ripple of applause from the lads when he told them in a circle at training and a bit of friendly banter, but the camaraderie and the team spirit are great and if we can help enhance that even further then it will go a long way towards achieving a successful season.”

Having only arrived at The Hive last month, MacDonald admits that the news came as quite a surprise:

“To be honest it was a bit of a bolt from the blue. I wasn’t expecting it as the manager has tried out various different captains during pre-season and I wasn’t one of them so I wasn’t really thinking about it.

“I’ve skippered sides on a few odd occasions, like last season when I was coming back from injury with Oldham reserves, but it is totally different doing it in a competitive environment but I’m an experienced player and I’ve got a lot of league appearances under my belt.

“It feels a little bit strange being new to the club and being made captain but I feel I’ve settled in at the club really well since I’ve joined and now the most important thing is to lead by example and be a big influence on the younger players.”

With former captain Graham Stack being appointed as a player-coach this summer alongside Jon Nurse, MacDonald believes that the dressing room will be full of leaders as the Bees look to return to the Football League:

“I think it will be a massive help having Stacky and Nursey alongside me, as well as Curtis of course.

“In a football team there is never just one captain. Everybody needs to muck in and everybody needs to do their bit but with us all pulling in the same direction then I’m sure that we’ll have a decent season.”

Meanwhile, Curtis Weston was equally pleased to have been named as MacDonald’s deputy, commenting:

“It feels good. The gaffer told me this morning and I am over the moon with it. I have been captain a couple of times at Gillingham but I’ve not had too much experience of it so it will be a nice change.

“I don’t think that it’s going to be too different to what I’ve been used to. I’m one of the senior players in the squad anyway and have always tried to look after the younger boys and give them advance and guidance so I think it will be much the same going forward.”

Weston is also looking forward to playing under MacDonald as captain, and admits that he is now even more impatient for the new season to begin:

“I think that Charlie as a skipper is good appointment as well, he has shown that he is a leader already since he has been here and I’m sure that we’ll see that even more now.

“It is not long now until Chester and I can’t wait to get underway.”