Borehamwood FC v Barnet FC

Pre Season Friendly

Saturday 4th August 2012

Kick Off 3.00pm

Ground: Meadow Park, Broughinge Road, Borehamwood Hertfordshire

Telephone: 0208 953 5097

Club Colours: White, Black and Red

Nickname: The Wood

Official Club Website: www.borehamwoodfc.com

Key Personnel

Manager Ian Allinson has been in charge at Broughinge Road since 2008 although managed them for a short while two seasons earlier. Midfielder Ian made over 300 appearance for Colchester United before a move to Arsenal in 1983 for four seasons where at Highbury he made 105 appearances and scoring 23 times. Short stops at Stoke City and Luton Town followed before he finished his career back at Layer Road retiring in 1990. He has also managed at Baldock Town, Barton Rovers, Harlow Town and Stotfold.

Brief Directions By Road

From the A1 north or southbound exit at the A5135 Elstree Way signposted Borehamwood town centre. Carry straight on at the two mini roundabouts and you should see the Police, Fire, and Ambulance stations on the left. On the right you will pass the Venue Leisure Complex. At the next roundabout take the second exit (Brook Road) which is also signposted Borehamwood FC. Just after the pay and display car park on your right turn right into Broughinge Road and follow the road around to the right and the club’s main entrance will be on your right.

Car Parking

There is limited parking at the ground (through a barrier) which requires a token from the bar to exit but this may not be available for our visit. The aforementioned Brook Road public car park (pay and display) will allow you access to the ground via The Willow Tree End turnstiles. There is limited street parking available off of Broughinge Road.

Directions By Train  

Elstree and Borehamwood. Turn right out of the station and continue through Borehamwood High Street. After about a mile you will pass one of the unmentionable Scottish sounding burger joints before turning left into Brook Road at the roundabout and then follow the directions above.

Our Last Visit To Meadow Park

Distress at the Herts Senior Cup Semi Final in February 2004. An early goal from Soloman Henry and a Tony Taggart effort put Barnet in control but Wood pulled the tie back to 2-2 for good old extra time. Guess who lost 3-2 with a goal in injury time? In fact we have only faced The Wood in Herts Senior Cup ties over the years apart from a meeting in the world famous Studio Cup in October 1973. Barnet easily won the first leg 4-1 at Underhill thanks to goals from Les Eason (2), Tony Turley and Dickie Plume. The competition was held in such high esteem that the second leg was never played! I always thought that the reason was that we had a pressing top of the table Southern Premier clash at Grantham the following week or that Barry Silkman’s hair hadn’t dried in time (a really silly joke for us real oldies – sorry).

The Social Club

The social club which is situated behind the main stand welcomes away fans and is open before and after the match.

Ground Description

Meadow Park offers covered terrace accommodation on one side of the ground with both end terraces open to the elements. The main stand has room for about 500.

As a fairly regular visitor to Meadow Park I can assure you that the catering inside the ground has always been excellent and good value for money but be prepared to queue as there is only one refreshment stall.

Admission Prices

Normal league prices – £12.00 Adults £6.00 Concessions with a small charge charge to transfer to the main stand.

Rivals

St Albans City

Celebrity Watch

This should be more like ‘Soap Watch’ as the area is littered with fake Cockney’s who star in BBC1’s EastEnders which is filmed locally. The ground has been used as a scene backdrop on numerous occasions. Barnet legend of the 1980’s John Margerrison was born in the Wood, spread it Marge!

The list of world famous celebrities who have been spotted in the Wood is mind boggling – Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Raquel Welch, Reg Varney, Christopher Lee, Jack Nicholson, Bob Hoskins, Sean Connery, Gregory Peck, Christopher Reed, Carrie Fisher, and Nina Baden-Semper. It is rather spooky that they have all been seen in the same small area i.e. the vicinity in and around the world famous Elstree Film Studios which has produced numerous block busting films over the years. The studios are just an Eddie Stein corner kick from the ground.