Grier's Guide to Potters Bar Town
The match: Potters Bar Town v Kingstonian, Isthmian Premier. Saturday 18 March, 15:00.
The club: Formed in 1960 as Mount Grace Old Scholars, an old boys' team for a local school, they became Potters Bar Town on reaching the South Midlands League in 1991. They reached the Southern League in 2005 and the Isthmian Premier in 2018.
The town: Town just to the north of London, originally a small agricultural village but - much like Surbiton - now very much a commuter town since the coming of the railways in Victorian times. Famous residents include actor Martin Freeman, golfer Tony Jacklin and Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.
The ground: The Lantern Stadium Parkfield, Watkins Rise (off The Walk), Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1QB. It's one of the league's smaller grounds with a smallish main stand and a covered terrace behind one of the goals.
Directions: The station is about a ten minute walk from the ground - if trains are running, it takes about half an hour from Kings Cross or Finsbury Park. But with yet more strikes planned for this day, you'll have to check timetables nearer the time to see which trains, if any, are running. By car it's a short drive from junction 24, with parking available in the streets nearby.
Tickets: £12 adults; £8 students and over 65s; £1 under 16s.
Our record there: Last season we lost 2-1 despite getting a second bite at the cherry - the original game was called off with the home side ahead when a rain storm puddles on one of the touchlines. Then-Scholars manager Lee O'Leary wasn't amused.
Recent form: They were surprising early pacesetters in the opening weeks of the season but haven't sustained that form. At time of writing they've only taken five points from their last ten games and three 5-0 defeats in the last four games will have rocked their confidence. On the plus side they've reached the final of the Velocity Cup; they'll face Aveley away in the final.
Players to watch: Dejon Noel-Williams is top scorer with eight, including one against us at Mitcham earlier in the season. He's a full Grenada international and the son of former Watford and Stoke striker Gifton, now manager of Real Kashmir FC in the I-League (India's second tier).
Crowd: They've been struggling to break the 200 barrier in recent weeks, although a few years ago over 2,000 crammed into the ground for an FA Cup tie against Barnet.
Drinking: Right by the station is The Old Manor which, as its name suggests, is in an old building with wooden beams from the ceilings. It does upmarket pub food and has a smart outdoor area. A little way up from the station there's the Admiral Byng, a Wetherspoons. The other side of the ground, on the High Street, Cask & Stillage has Sky Sports and large beer garden, and there's also a Harvester.
Food: Choices on the High Street include the Co-op, M&S, a burger bar, a Chinese, a Mediterranean bistro and various takeaways. McDonald's and Subway are opposite the station for those travelling in a hurry.
