Barnet travel to Essex tomorrow for their opening pre season friendly with Essex Senior League Club, Burnham Ramblers. A number of recent Bees’ signings will be making their first appearance for the Bees including new midfield players, Olly Lee, Freddie Warren and Ahmed Abdulla, plus defender, Jordan Brown and keeper, Sam Cowler.
The Barnet website has also said that there will a number of trial players appearing and there has been speculation amongst the fans as to whether or not former Bees such as Dean Sinclair, Simon King and Ben Strevens will be amongst them. We will see tomorrow!!
Burnham play in the Essex Senior League which is at step 5 in the non-league pyramid and is a feeder competition for the Ryman League Division One North. The club was formed in 1900 and finished 4th in the ESL last season.
The club’s best achievement to date was when they reached the last 16 of the FA Vase losing to Bury Town. In 2005, the year the Bees won the Conference, Burnham almost won promotion to the Ryman League, finishing as ESL runners up to Enfield Town, who won promotion by just a single point.
In 2009, the club won the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy for the first time, having reached the final twice before, beating Enfield 1893, yes our old friends, Enfield, 2-1. The following year, Burnham finished 3rd in the league and reached the final of the Essex Senior League Cup. The club are managed by Keith Wilson who took over in 2010. The club’s attendances average around the 60 mark.
Amongst the other teams in the Essex Senior League are Enfield (1893), Clapton, Eton Manor, Bethnal Green United and Sawbridgeworth.
Tomorrow will be a chance for new Bees’ boss, Mark Robson to assess the players on trial and have a look at his new signings in a Barnet shirt for the first time.
Expected to be alongside Robson will be former West Ham player, Kenny Brown who has reported to be linking up with Robson as his assistant, though this is yet to be confirmed on the club’s official website. Brown made nearly 80 first team appearances for the Hammers after joining them from Plymouth Argyle in 1991 for a fee of £175,000 and subsequently played for a number of clubs including Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Millwall. Welcome aboard Kenny!!