The history of Brighton & Hove Albion v Barnet

Meetings between Brighton and Hove Albion and Barnet have been pretty much restricted to the late 1990s and early 00s – when Barnet enjoyed some of their most successful times and the Albion some of their worst.

Nothing illustrates that better than the fact that Barnet were the side against whom the Albion had their lowest ever gate for a home league game. November 5th 1997 was the day when only 1,025 people treked on a Wednesday night to Priestfield to watch two very poor fourth tier teams do battle.

Even that crowd figure appeared to be massaged – ask anyone in attendance and they will tell you there were no more than 900 people there. Which was just as well as Steve Gritt’s side were hammered 3-0. Still, at least those on the Rainham End terrace got to see some nice fireworks going off at the opposite end of the ground as Gillingham celebrated Bonfire Night.

The previous season Barnet had been the opponents when we played our last ever floodlit game at the Goldstone Ground. Ian Baird scored the only goal in a 1-0 win as another step was taken on the greatest of great escapes.

Our visit to Underhill in October 1998 offered one of the stranger chapters in Brighton and Hove Albion history. The goal scorer that day was Emeka Ifejiagwa, a young centre back signed on loan from Charlton Athletic. Ifejiagwa would go onto play only one more time for the Albion before being deported for being in the country illegally.

Another defender goalscorer popped up with two last time we met in the first round of the League Cup at Withdean in 2008. Micky Adams played Adam Virgo in central midfield that day and Virgo helped himself to a brace, accompanied with Albion fans jokingly saying “If Virgo is playing in central midfield he must have it written in his contract that he has to start every game.” It didn’t seem very funny when a month later he was playing on the right wing away at Northampton.