Harry Pritchard

One to live long in the memory

It seems Downhill Second Half and myself had a similar idea, a tribute to Harry Pritchard. The news breaking last week left me short of time to compile some notes together and the piece from themselves was excellent.

‘Pritch’ was at the time I felt a solid, steady signing for us. An improvement on those before him at the club and one it seemed Eastleigh might regret letting go, their loss, our gain hopefully.

Given rave reviews to me by his former gaffer Ben Strevens, it seemed we had a winner here and I even managed to talk Lee Crocker and Nick Patel into sponsoring him, I can’t remember who the boys were going for but I pulled rank and said we’ve got a good one here at the beginning of the season.

And boy, he didn’t disappoint did he! 16 goals from midfield was a hell of a number to contribute in his first season, ten was the number he aimed for every season, but similar to Curtis Weston in 2014/15 he was the go to man for goals beyond the main striker.

Clearly though it was how and where those goals came out. DSH certainly provided us a good chunk of them, what really baffled me was the amount of runs across the near post from a Dale Gorman delivery did he get the right amount of contact to score and sides never picked it up.

Maybe I should give him ounces of credit for the run being on the money always, and if it wasn’t a goal scoring touch it was the perfect flick on for attacking at the far post, it became his trademark in black and amber.

Goals against Wealdstone you never forget, they live long in the memory. Away at Gateshead I wasn’t there but I’ve seen them and it’s no wonder they’re high up the list too.

The strike in the eliminator against Boreham Wood was hitting the net at the right time, but not even he could drag us fully back into the game and onwards.

Last season was very much a different prospect. I felt initially Zak Brunt in the team diluted his attacking game, almost nullifying him and needing to re-invent himself on the pitch.

That seemed to show in a slower start to find the net, I for one never wavered that he would get off the mark and the words of encouragement I know he appreciated that it would happen.

We saw another side to the game of Pritch, 2-0 down at Dorking and Dean moves him to a left sided centre back role, excelled and didn’t let us down, that low maintenance impact the gaffer talked about.

He adapted his game around those beside and advancing in front of him and still returned ten goals last season, target achieved. However, we all saw he wasn’t fully fit to start against Solihull Moors last May, sadly the last time in a Barnet shirt.

I knew as you would expect a possibility Pritch wouldn’t pull on that shirt again, plenty I am told across the game that need to kept in the private domain and I respect that, hence the contact book I have.

I was willing it not to be the case but sadly life dictates otherwise. I won’t lie, I was truly gutted, but why? I mean, players pass through our club year on year, I’ve sponsored players longer than I care to remember and they’ve moved on, Pritch though struck a chord.

I know he appreciated our support back in January when news came to light of his FA charge, that Saturday afternoon at Welling Utd with the skipper’s armband, he didn’t shirk, he stood tall as our captain and we as supporters responded.

Life is full of making mistakes, experiencing failure and such like, having that support through tough times must’ve meant a lot when you question yourself, your choices etc.

A gent of a man to know, as are our first team squad, humble, down to earth and a reminder you are as much a person as they are, hence the likes of Dale Gorman and Ben Wynter came for a chat before and after Woking’s pre-season visit to Horsham over the summer.

It was fantastic to see Pritch had a moment or two on the pitch after the Southend Utd game, one I wasn’t able to be at, but as you would expect we’ve shared a few messages on social media and we’re planning maybe a thing or two, so watch this space! Well, apparently at the very least he’s buying a beer, so as it’s in print now Pritch, no getting out of that one……..

I will finish by saying it’s not often you see a single player glowing tribute, I’m not sure it’ll become a standard thing for either myself or DSH, who knows when the scribe will strike next.

So, for the last time, Pritch you’ve made a lasting impression on so many across the Bee Army, don’t be a stranger to The Hive and our best wishes go your way to get that body fit, what a guy to know!

I’ll leave you with his image below, cheers Pritch!