The words loyal fan' are a hopeless understatement when it comes to describing Steve Percy.

With a Barnet FC tattoo emblazoned on his forearm, he has not missed a competitive Barnet home game since 1968. He even missed his brother's wedding so he could watch his beloved Bees play United Telford United, that is.

And this week, Steve, who turns 50 in May, celebrated his 1,000th consecutive Barnet home game at Saturday's 1-0 victory over Exeter City.

The last home match he missed was 37 years ago, when Barnet thumped Worcester City 5-0. Even now, he feels that being absent for such a big win was disappointing', and it makes him a bit annoyed'.

It seems impossible that he has made it to every single other home game, and that family occasions, such as weddings, anniversaries or birthdays, have not got in the way.

But he revealed: "I was meant to be best man at my brother's wedding, but I couldn't go because Barnet were home to Telford that day, so I went to the reception in the evening.

"He accepted it. He should have got married out of the football season."

Bearing in mind this utter devotion to his team, some might wonder if Steve has room in his life for anything, or anyone, else. But he is married and lives with wife Ann, also a big Barnet fan, in St Vincent's Way, Potters Bar. ("We don't have any children," said Ann. "There's no time for that with all the football.")

She is under no illusions regarding Steve's priorities in life, however.

"I know he puts football before me, but I'm not bothered. We met on the terraces anyway," she said.

Of the 1,000 games he has seen live, there is one which particularly stands out for Steve. In 1973 Barnet played Queens Park Rangers, who were in the old second division at the time, in an FA Cup replay.

Although the official attendance was given as 10,919, Steve thinks this was understating it. "Unofficially, there were easily 15,000 there that day," he said. "It was a third-round replay after we had drawn 0-0 at their place. We lost 3-0 in the end, but the atmosphere was amazing. It was absolutely rammed."

Steve, who has seen the best, and worst, of Barnet down the years, rates the current crop of players as some of the greatest to have worn the black and amber at Underhill.