As if there was ever any doubt as to the level of adulation for Giuliano Grazioli, confirmation arrived when a horde of Barnet supporters serenaded the iconic striker whilst he was live on BT Sport following the Bees’ Bank Holiday win at Dartford.

“I said to my mate just the other night; I said to him that Enfield are s****,

“He said to me what about Thierry Henry; I said to him we’ve got Grazioli,

“Grazioli, Grazioli, Grazioli, Grazioli...”

“I loved it,” confirms the 40-year-old when asked. “I am very fortunate I was liked by the fans and I had a rapport with them. That was built by Martin Allen because he made sure we went into the bar after games to see the fans and speak to the fans. A lot of fans are good friends of mine now and I have a great affiliation with the club.

“The commentator said to me: ‘We’ve never had that before. We knew you were held in high regard but for a pundit to be sung at like that for that length of time.’ It made my day. I left the club three or four years ago now and I will never forget that.”

Sixty-two goals in 112 league starts, one golden boot and above all, one Conference title, will ensure Grazioli is never forgotten by Barnet supporters either.

But the forward, whose history with rivals Stevenage Borough is a footnote in a career which exploded into life at Underhill, always held the club close to his heart even before joining in a swap deal for Junior Agogo in the summer of 2003.

Said Grazioli: “There are not many people out there who can say they have played for and managed the side they followed as a child.

“When it’s a club so close to home for you it means a lot more. It made such a difference to me and maybe that is why I took home a lot of the stress, the issues and worries at the time. But it meant that little bit more because I have got family and friends who support the team as well – and I have made friends whilst I was at the club.”

Grazioli, who is now a national account manager for an online comparison site, refers to Barnet as “we” or “us” throughout the duration of this interview. If Barnet supporters still hold the former striker dear, the feeling is very much mutual.

Like every other Barnet fan this week Grazioli has been eagerly counting down the days until Saturday’s promotion shoot-out against Gateshead at The Hive.

“The fans I speak to now we are so excited already, we are counting down the days already,” enthused Grazioli. “The fact Rovers only got the point on Saturday with two minutes to go; if one side’s confidence has gone, it is Bristol Rovers’.

“To concede a goal that late on and have the opportunity to go into the game with it in their hands, they must be devastated.”

Times Series: Picture: Action ImagesPicture: Action Images

So what does the former caretaker boss make of the current crop?

“I have been to a couple of home games and away games as well. We are strong, organised side and Martin has done a fantastic job. The strength right through the middle with the likes of Curtis Weston and Akinde [is important].

“On the bench he has people like Luisma (Villa) and Luke Gambin who can add that little bit of spark but you can’t come away from the fact John Akinde has been the lynchpin and a fantastic signing for Barnet.

"Would we still be up there without his goals? I am not too sure.”

When Grazioli hit 29 goals to guide the Bees towards their second Conference title in 2005, the title was clinched with a 3-1 win against Halifax at Underhill.

Much like the 2004/05 vintage, Barnet blew the opportunity to seal the deal away from home a week earlier by drawing at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday – not that Grazioli regrets the 2-0 loss at Northwich Victoria now.

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“That is one thing where I look back and I am so glad we got beat that game (Northwich Victoria) because it was so fitting to finish it at Underhill,” he explained. “The trip away to Northwich we brought a lot of fans and it would have been nice but to bring it back to Underhill was just the icing on the cake.

“To have myself, Ben Strevens and Simon King scored the three goals – the boys who used to travel in together – made it more fitting.

“It was a great occasion I will never ever forget. And because it was something I had waited my whole career to do, in front of all my family and friends, for the club I followed as a boy, made it very worthwhile.”