In the second of the series we get the views of veteran FA historian and statistician, David Barber aka 'The Barber'.

David Barber Profile

The enigmatic Barber is a football fanatic. Having watched and played the game regularly throughout his childhood he landed his dream job in the International Department of The Football Association as a teenager in 1970. Aside from a break to go to university, he has remained at The FA since, being the second longest serving member of staff. He now holds the role of statistician and historian, has a regular column on TheFA.com, and has reached 4782 matches watched in total. His other interests are unclassified.


On The Field 

Best individual performance: "Bandit", a black and white spaniel who loves to join in the action at Eastbourne Borough.

Best team performance: QPR Ladies, who played as though their lives depended on it against Enfield Town in The FA Women's Cup.

One thing you would like to change: Rather wish I hadn't gone to The FA Community Shield match in Cardiff after it took about seven hours to get home.

Best football quote of the year: Wimbledon manager Stuart Murdoch said: "It seems like the last time we scored was in 1066".

Funniest thing in football this year: A linesman on crutches for a Lewes & District Sunday League match.

A name to watch in 2005: "Harry". It should prove quite popular after the Harry Potter books and films.

One rule change you would like: The rule that requires injured players to leave the field after treatment.

Professional ambition for the coming year: To be working at The FA at the end of the year...and to be within sight of 5,000 matches.

Off The Field

Celebrating Christmas this year: Celebrating Xmas by watching wall-to-wall "Wallace and Gromit" videos at my parents' house.

Best Christmas memories: Best memories all to do with the thrill of opening presents as a young child.

Favourite Christmas song: "Last Christmas" by George Michael.

New Year's resolutions: Too late for resolutions - I'm too set in my ways.

Where in the world would you'd most like to visit in the next year: Bournemouth, and would most like to meet "Misha", a fab girl I used to know.

Song you would choose on karaoke night: Karaoke song? Don't be silly!

If a film were to come out next year about your life, who would you like to play you? Consensus is that character actor Jim Broadbent would play me.

Log on to TheFA.com over the festive period for more end of year reviews.

Date Article
20 December       Terry Venables
21 December The Barber
22 December Tord Grip - Part I
23 December Tord Grip - Part II
24 December Brent Hills and Tord Grip - Part III
25 December Sven-Goran Eriksson - Part I
26 December Trevor Brooking - Part I
27 December Trevor Brooking - Part II
28 December Trevor Brooking - Part III
29 December Sammy Lee
30 December Graeme Dell and Matt Upson
31 December Sven-Goran Eriksson - Part II
01 January  Sven-Goran Eriksson - Part III
02 January  Brendon Batson
03 January  Nigel Worthington and Lyndon Lynch
04 January  Marcus Bignot
05 January  Dave Jones
06 January  Bobby Robson and Martin Hunter
07 January  Mark Schwarzer and Zesh Rehman