Fairclough ready for night of mixed emotions

Paul Fairclough admits it will be an emotional night when he takes on former club Stevenage Borough for the first time as an opposing manager.

The former schoolteacher, now in charge of Barnet, spent 10 years at Broadhall Way, leading the Hertfordshire club from non-League obscurity to the Conference title - only for them to be denied promotion because of ground problems. He also oversaw their famous FA Cup run of 1998 which ended in a heroic fourth-round replay defeat by Newcastle.

Now Fairclough is achieving similar success at Barnet - who top the Nationwide Conference - although the battle for a place in the Football League will be put on hold for tonight's LDV Vans Trophy clash at Underhill.

Fairclough said: "Stevenage were a big part of my life and I am fiercely proud of the 10 years I spent there. We won the Conference, had a fantastic run in the FA Cup and took the club from having 200 to 2,000 supporters. I had a great relationship with the fans and I will probably know every single face in the away end.

"It will be an emotional evening but I am manager of Barnet and they are now the new love in my life."

After taking over from Martin Allen last March, Fairclough guided Barnet to the Conference playoffs where they lost on penalties to Shrewsbury.