‘He was a beast’ – Barnet star recalls being outmuscled by Spurs ace at Wembley as side return to EFL after 7-year break

ANTHONY HARTIGAN was once taught a tough lesson at Wembley by Tottenham “beast” Victor Wanyama as a skinny 17-year-old.

But the Barnet captain is hoping to put that and all his EFL experience to good use as the Bees return to League Two on Saturday after a seven-year absence when they host Fleetwood.

Hartigan, 25, clocked 118 appearances in League One for AFC Wimbledon and another 20 for Newport (on loan) and Mansfield in League Two before dropping into non-league with Barnet.

And he has also played at Wembley twice — including taking on Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in 2018 with the Dons while their new stadium was being built.

He told SunSport: “We got drawn away against Tottenham in the FA Cup so I had a unique chance to play at Wembley. It was an incredible experience to take on Premier League stars live on TV.

“I was only 17 and it was my breakthrough year. I’d only made my senior debut that season so to be walking out under the arch alongside the likes of Harry Kane was surreal.

“Tottenham had a great team then. They also had Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, Kieran Trippier, Mousa Dembele, Son Heung-Min, Victor Wanyama, players like that.

“I was up against Alli and Wanyama. I’ve got a photo of me trying to get the ball off Wanyama, which is funny because I’m like a skinny little boy and he was just a beast! I didn’t stand a chance!

“Our manager Neal Ardley told us the next morning, ‘That’s the standard you must reach if you want to make it to the top.’

“They just do everything so well technically, tactically, physically and mentally. It’s frightening how big a gap it is from our level.”

Hartigan was also on the losing side in the 2021 League Two play-off final with Newport when they were beaten after extra-time by Morecambe.

Not only was the day soiled by the result but the crowd number was limited to only 9,083 because of Covid restrictions.

Hartigan feels he has unfinished business in the EFL, having played regularly for the Dons.

But when he joined Mansfield three years ago, a shoulder injury wrecked his first season there before he was loaned for a year to Barnet, a move he made permanent last July.

However, he has found a home at the Hertfordshire club, starting 89 of his 90 league appearances — and winning the National League title in May.

Now he cannot wait to get his EFL career motoring again with the Bees.

He said: “I had a bit of bad luck going to Manfield. It was the right club for me at the wrong time — but Barnet has definitely proved to be the right team at the right time.

“I’ve excelled here because there are good people around me, I’m getting games under my belt again and the whole environment has been excellent.

“We don’t fear the jump into League Two because this team deserves to be here.

“On a personal level I want to reach the highest level I can and enjoy my football. I’m enjoying my journey with Barnet.”