9th Nov 2008 @ Fulham
First match after many years of following from afar, arrived at Craven Cottage with great anticipation, where we went out and played heartlessly, losing 2-1. Of the 12 that played for us that day, 6 would be gone within a year, and we'd be in the Championship.
Barton had just come back from a long suspension, and 6 months in the clink before that. And a plague of injuries before that. And on that day he was the only one that played with any grit. After the match everyone sulked off to the locker room with their heads down, except for Barton. He jogged over to the visitor's stand, waved a little boy to come over and he gave him his shirt. Spent time talking with the supporters, thanking and encouraging them. I was very impressed with him, and (almost) everything he's done since that game has affirmed what I saw from him that day, as opposed to what the press had been pumping out about him, and still does.