ALBERT ADOMAH

A talent, who wore the black and amber of Barnet FC for two and a half seasons and could light up a game in an instant.

Albert Danquah Adomah was born in Lambeth, South London on 13th December 1987 to Ghanain parents, growing up in Shepherds Bush. By the age of 15 Albert was developing his football skills in a 'Street Wardens Football Project' in Ravenscroft Park.

"I asked to join in and from there it developed into playing every Sunday for two or three years. I always knew I had the skills to be a professional footballer but the street project really helped me to develop them.” said Albert.

 Aged 18 Adomah joined Chiswick based Old Meadonians FC, but was soon spotted by then Harrow Borough manager Dave Howell, a Barnet legend and part of our promotion winning team in 1990-91. Owsey says, “Albert played in the Allied Counties Youth League for me at Borough but it was very obvious he had real talent and would easily make the step up to first team football. He possessed so much skill and great instincts but more importantly at Ryman League level incredible pace, he would leave defenders standing. He came to Borough as a winger but Ken Charlery, my coach (another Barnet connection – Reckless) suggested we play him through the middle and then he started to score a hat-ful of goals”. Albert made over 100 first team appearances at Earlsmead scoring over 50 goals. He was the focus of numerous You Tube videos submitted by Harrow fans most of them illustrating how he would easily skip past opponents and then crash the ball home!

Dave was certain Albert was destined for great things, “The time was right to allow him to develop and I knew that Paul Fairclough's strategy at Barnet would be right for him. For a start the pitch surface at Underhill was fantastic, and he would thrive on it.”

Barnet secured his signature in January 2008, and Fairclough said at that time “Albert has got a future and a half. If there is a more exciting player in the league then show him to me. Clubs are already looking at him. He has so much belief and he is the sort of player people will happily pay money to see”.

Albert made his Barnet debut at Edgar Street Hereford on Wednesday 30^th January 2008 in the following Bees line-up:

Harrison, Porter, Devera, Yakubu, Gillet, Adomah, Wright, Bishop, Nicolau, Puncheon and Akurang. Subs: Birchall, Thomas, Carew, Hendon and Trebes.
Barnet won the game 2-1, the opening goal scored by Albert on 52 minutes the ball falling kindly for him following a deflected long range effort from Cliff Akurang. Albert seemingly without nerves coolly finished off the post. Nicky Nicolau grabbed the winner late in the game. He went on to make 22 appearances scoring 5 times.

Over the following two seasons Albert regularly grabbed the headlines with his stylish performances on the right wing partnering either Yannick Bolaise or Albert Jarrett on the left supplying the ammunition for strikers John O Flynn and Paul Furlong. “Albert, Albert, Albert” would be chanted from the stands after a typical jinking run which would send a buzz around the ground. Whenever you spoke to Albert he always had a smile on his face and incredibly quick with repartee. According to both Ian Hendon and Neal Bishop his sense of humour was held in high regard in the dressing room. “He would have in tucks” said Bish.
Both Blackpool and Watford were by now showing serious interest in his abilities and scouts from Championship clubs were routine visitors to the Underhill main stand. Therefore it seemed a little strange that Adomah didn't move on in the Summer of 2008 or shortly afterwards for that matter especially with the clubs dreadful start to that season.

More speculation about his moving was rife the following summer as Albert was again linked with a transfer to Blackpool. On the final day of the transfer window Barnet Chairman Tony Kleanthous released a press statement that talks had broke down within just two hours of the deadline. It was later revealed that an offer from Norwich City had also been rejected but Albert stayed on and started the season in fine form, along with the rest of the side. Barnet had a particularly brilliant early season winning five matches in a row with memorably Adomah scoring direct from a free kick at Torquay. Now sponsored by legendary BBC commentator and Bees fans John Motson he suffered a painful nose injury at Macclesfield not surprisingly his form dipped for a while thereafter.
Barnet also struggled for form and were battling relegation for the rest of that season. A win-less steak of 13 games didn't help matters but a final day 1-0 win at home to Rochdale secured the clubs Football League status for another year. The game on Saturday 8^th May 2010 proved to be Adomah's final appearance for the Bees.
Barnet: Cole, Devera, Gillet, Breen, Deen, Hughes, Adomah, Hyde (M), Vilhete, Upson, O'Flynn. Subs: Jarrett, Furlong, Deverdics Carpenter, Yakubu, Leach and James.

Despite a significantly improved contract offer from the Bees Chairman, Albert and his agent Tony Finnigan started negotiating with interested parties. "Although Albert has made it clear that he wants to move on, relations between the club and the player remain very amicable. We respect his decision and reluctantly accept his position" said Kleanthous. On 1st July 2010, Albert agreed to join Championship side Bristol City on a three-year deal after impressing Manager Steve Coppell. The fee of £150,000 was eventually set by an independent tribunal. Most Barnet fans were sympathetic towards the fact that Albert certainly deserved to further his career at a higher level and wished him all best.He could often be seen in the Underhill main stand catching up with old mates, greeting supporters with that characteristic smile, and according to Dave Howell he doesn't forget those who have helped him on his way in the football world.

Adomah immediately made the starting line-up for City instantly becoming a firm favourite with the fans not only for his performances on the pitch but reputedly his humorous interviews on the club website. He was awarded the player of the season award at City for the 2010–11 campaign, days after agreeing a new three-year contract which could have kept him at the club until 2014. However on 8 August 2013 Adomah completed a move to Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £1,000,000. He had played 136 times for City scoring 17 times.

The future...well after representing his country Ghana what is left for Albert? Surely he has to go further and become a very famous man, he is good enough that is certain.

Albert still keeps in touch with the Street Wardens Football Project

Albert Adomah Appearances 120 – Goals 20