IAN FUSEDALE

Another of the Barnet Football Club family has sadly passed away - Ian Fusedale

With the current world crisis caused by the Coronavirus, heartbreak is everywhere but it is with more sadness to report that an ex Bee Ian Fusedale passed away from the effects of Covid 19 in Barnet General Hospital on Wednesday 8^th April. His close friend Ricky George rang me with the news. Ian made 147 appearances in the early 1970's for the club scoring 8 times.

Ian was born in November 1944 in Wood Green. Straight from school he joined Tottenham Hotspur as an apprentice eventually signing a full professional contract in 1963. He played regularly in Spurs' youth team, reserves and A team alongside future Bees Ricky George, Ben Embery, and Jimmy Lye but he never made a first team appearance. 

Tottenham Hotspur 1964-65 with Ian middle row far left

He joined Cambridge City in 1965 before arriving at Underhill in March 1971 and his first appearance was in place of club captain Gerry Ward who was injured. Some serious Barnet A list players were in that team including Les Eason, Paddy Powell, Gordon Ferry and incredibly the three players mentioned above!

Ian was one of the “Famous 15” in 1971-72 who won the Southern League Cup, were runners up in the FA Trophy final and lost to Torquay Utd in the FA Cup 2^nd Round.

Ian retired from football in 1975 although continued to play local football. Spending more time with wife Beryl, the family and Enfield Golf Club, he worked successfully as a Director for the London Clock Company.

I met up with him and some of his old comrades at The Old Manor in Potters Bar after watching An Evening with John Motson at the Wyllyotts Theatre – always fun to be present in the company of heroes re-telling stories of the club. More recently we had a beer and a chat at Billy Meadows funeral in December 2019. He was also a regular in the Barnet FC Lunch club that used to meet a couple of times a year in The Old Manor when those faces from the Southern League days would get together for a meal and a pint.

It is alarming to say that Ian was as fit as any 75 year old could be, playing regular golf and comfortably retired. After experiencing Corona symptoms at home he very quickly succumbed to them but passed peacefully.

Barnet FC have asked me to send their sincere condolences to the family and thank Ian for his contribution to our club.

Stay safe,

Reckless.