The History of Barnet Football Club
The Bees Rise from Amateur Football to the Football League
Jan 7, 2009
Barnet Football Club formed in 1888, known beforehand as Woodville Football Club and New Barnet Football Club. They became founder members of the North London League in 1892 and enjoyed instant success.
Barnet were runners-up of the North Middlesex League Division 2 in 1895, runners-up in the North Middlesex Division 1 in 1896 and North Middlesex Premier Division champions in 1897.
The club gained promotion to the London League Division 2 and took the championship in 1898, spending the following seasons in London League Division 1 before ceasing to exist in 1901.
Barnet Avenue Football Club, an amateur side in the area continued to attract support from the local residents and renamed themselves Barnet FC in 1904. They were great believers in the amateur game and remained playing in the Amateur Football Association.
Another local team, Alston Works AFC played in the London League, becoming champions in 1907 and moving to a new ground at Underhill. In 1912, Alston Works and Barnet Avenue FC merged playing in the Athenian League as Barnet and Alston FC.
Following the First World War, the club renamed themselves as Barnet Football Club in 1919, a name they still hold today. They still use Underhill as their home ground and are nicknamed The Bees.
Barnet Become a Founder Club of the Athenian Amateur Football League
As inaugural members of the Athenian League in 1912, Barnet FC continued to play their football in this competition for over 50 years. However, it was not until 1931 that Barnet achieved their first Athenian League Championship, but were to win it again the following year.
The club then had to wait 16 years before tasting success again, winning the FA Amateur Cup in with a 3-2 final win over Bishop Auckland, two Athenian League Championships and the London Senior Cup in the couple of years following World War Two. Barnet also reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup in 1959 but lost to Crook Town 3-2.
The Bees Turn Semi-professional and Enjoy Success
In 1965, Barnet turn semi-professional with their first game at this status ending in a 10-1 win over Hinckley United. The club went on to become Champions of the Southern League Division 1. Barnet's first season saw them finish in a respectable fifth place, but they did reach the final of the Southern League Cup, only to lose over two legs to Guildford City.
After the introduction of the FA Trophy in 1969, Barnet reached the final of the competition in 1972, but lost at Wembley to Stafford Rangers 3-0. The same season saw the club reach the final of the Southern League Cup, eventually beating Hereford United 7-6 through a penalty shoot out.
In 1975, Barnet were relegated back to the Southern League Division One South, but were crowned Champions in 1977 and returned to the Southern League Premier Division. Jimmy Greaves was a famous name to grace Barnet's colours during this time as his career ended.
Barnet Join the Alliance League in the Pursuit of League Football
Barnet were given a place in the newly formed Alliance Premier League in 1979 and finished as runner-up in 1986 under manager Barry Fry in his second spell with the club. Barnet were to finish as runners-up again in 1987, 1988 and 1990 but eventually won promotion to the Football League in 1991 by winning the newly named GM Vauxhall Conference.
In 1993, Barnet finished in third place of Football League Division 3 and claimed the remaining promotion place, but manager Barry Fry left to join Southend United. Barnet consolidated their position in Division 2 for the following few seasons but were relegated in 1996. Despite two play-off finishes in five years, Barnet returned to the Conference in 2001.
It took four years for the club to return to League Football after winning the Conference Championship in 2005 under manager Paul Fairclough.
Barnet have since consolidated their position in Division 3 and have re-established themselves as a Football League club.
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