This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the
No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
Hot stuff: Giuliano Grazioli scored five in a match – against Barnet! Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger Jeff Benge, from barnet-mad.co.uk, selects Barnet's five best
No9s… and one to forget!
5. Wayne Purser (2000-03)
Purser arrived from QPR in 2000 and was a fringe player until
Barnet's relegation to the Conference in 2001. He then became a
regular starter, scoring a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Havant
& Waterlooville. A purple period followed, featuring 15 goals,
but a broken leg against Margate finished his season and he never
really recovered, moving to Leyton Orient in 2002.
4. Junior Agogo (2002-03)
Junior arrived from playing in the US in 2002, having also played
for QPR and Sheffield Wednesday. A sleek and skilful player, Junior
was unfortunate to arrive at a time when the club was at its
lowest. Despite sometimes appearing lazy, Agogo was the club's top
scorer with 20 goals and was named player of the year before moving
to Bristol Rovers.
3. Giuliano Grazioli (2003-08)
Graz once scored five goals for Peterborough against Barnet, but
arrived at Underhill from Bristol Rovers in 2003, with Junior Agogo
making the return journey. Graz became a star at Barnet, scoring 26
goals in his first season as the Bees made the play-offs. His 29
goals in the 2004-05 campaign helped to propel Barnet back into the
league and earned him the vote for Conference player of the year.
Sadly, Graz was never as prolific in League Two.
2. John O'Flynn (2008-10)
O'Flynn arrived from Cork City in 2008 with a reputation for being
injury-prone, but quickly got among the goals. Quick, a good header
of the ball, and a good penalty taker and free-kick specialist, he
scored 18 goals in half a season and was voted player of the year.
Injuries disrupted his second season at Barnet, but he still scored
16 goals to help the Bees remain in League Two.
1. Gary Bull (1989-93)
Bull arrived at Underhill in 1989 from Cambridge United and
quickly became a Barnet hero. He scored the goal at Fisher that
took the Bees into the Football League for the first time in 1991
and formed an awesome strike partnership with Mark Carter. His
goals helped Barnet to promotion again in 1993.
And the worst…
Cliff Akurang (2008-10)
Akurang arrived on New Years' Day 2008 as replacement for the
popular Liam Hatch. Cliff took 11 games to score a goal but then
scored seven goals by the end of the season and looked more
promising. Alas, in 2008-09, despite a dazzling goal at Rotherham,
Bees fans had had quite enough of him and soon, Cliff was on his
way out.