Mike Brazier, founder and long-time goalkeeper for East Barnet Old Grammarians, died on 26 August at the age of 93.

He set up the football club with friends after leaving school and they made their debut in Division 2 North of the London Old Boys’ League in the autumn of 1948 but won that division in their second season. They climbed steadily up the ladder, reaching the Premier Division and winning the Championship for the first time in 1957/58. East Barnet followed that with a second title in 1959/60, by which time they had four teams, each of which won their league title or finished runners-up. 

Mike appeared no less than 14 times for the League representative eleven and served with distinction on the League Committee. What he lacked in height as a goalkeeper he made up for in strength, sure handling and intelligent use of the ball. In the mid-1960s his first-team career was drawing to a close and he played six seasons for East Barnet’s third team, including 1967/68 when they won every single game in Division 2 North and 1970/71 when they claimed the Division 1 North title. Remarkably, now in his forties, Mike was recalled to the first team which then won the Premier Division Championship for the third time in 1971/72.

In 1977/78 the club made the move into the Southern Amateur League and the following season Mike was part of the third team that won their division. In 1980 he celebrated his thousandth game for East Barnet, playing against a representative eleven that included all four of his sons. His remarkable achievement was celebrated by Brian Moore on ITV’s flagship football programme, The Big Match. All 4 of his Son’s would go on to play for the club for many seasons.

Mike continued to play an active part in the club’s activities throughout the decades, even once he had stopped playing regularly. He continued to remain fit, though, running four marathons from his fifties onwards, and played in East Barnet colours in every decade from the 1940s to the 2020s. At the age of 92, and now suffering from dementia, he characteristically dived for the ball despite having promised his son he would not. He considered the pitch at East Barnet as his spiritual home.

The funeral will be held on Thursday 12th September, 11.30am at West Herts Crematorium, WD25 0JS.

The wake, following the funeral will be at the East Barnet Old Grammarians clubhouse, EN5 2PU.