Barnet F.C.
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| Full name | Barnet Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Bees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Underhill Stadium Barnet England (Capacity 5,568) |
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| Chairman |  Anthony Kleanthous |
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| Manager | Paul Fairclough |
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| League | League Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | League Two, 12th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Barnet Football Club are an English football team from High Barnet, in England, who currently play in Coca Cola Football League Two.
In March 2004 they were in one of the play off positions of the Football Conference but failed to gain promotion to League Two, the lowest flight of the Football League. In the 2004-05 season they won the Football Conference, to return to the Football League after an absence of four years. Before that they had been members of the Football League for ten years.
Barnet's most eventful season was the 1992-93 season. They were on the verge of expulsion for failing to pay their players' wages as well as failing to meet a deadline for a £50,000 fine. In spite of these problems, Barnet won promotion to Division Two. But the Bees were unable to sustain themselves at this level and went down after one season with just five wins all season.
Barry Fry was the manager who secured Barnet's promotion successes in the early 1990s. Subsequent managers of the club include Ray Clemence, Terry Bullivant, John Still and Tony Cottee.
A number of Barnet players have gone on to represent Premiership clubs. They include Dougie Freedman, Marlon King, Andy Clarke, Linvoy Primus and Maik Taylor. Jimmy Greaves also played for the club before retiring.
[edit] Club history
[edit] Early years (1888-1901)
Barnet FC were formed in 1888, having formerly been known as New Barnet FC (1885-1888) and Woodville FC (1882-1885). They were known as "The Hillmen" and played in New Barnet before moving to Queens Road in 1889. Initially they played friendly games before becoming inaugural members of the North London League in 1892-93. They went on to have success in the North Middlesex League division II (1894-95 runners-up), division I (1895-96 runners-up) and the premier division (1896-97 champions). Promoted to the London League Division II, Barnet became champions in 1897-98 and spent the following seasons in London League Division I before ceasing to exist in the 1901-02 season.
[edit] Barnet Avenue & Barnet Alston (1901-1919)
Two local clubs, Barnet Avenue FC (formed 1890) and Alston Works AFC (formed 1901) continued to attract support. Barnet Avenue renamed themselves Barnet FC in 1904 and as staunch believers in the amateur game they shunned the London Football Authority in favour of the Amateur Football Association.
Alston Works AFC, later Barnet Alston FC, became champions of the London League in 1906/7. In 1907 they moved to the clubs current ground at Underhill, Barnet Lane. Their first match was a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace FC on September 14th 1907. After merging with the Avenue team in 1912 they spearheaded the new Athenian League as Barnet and Alston FC. After the First World War in 1919 they became the third instance of Barnet FC. This team continues today.
[edit] The Athenian League years (1912-1965)
For over 50 years Barnet FC competed in the Athenian League. Inaugural members in 1912/13 they were league champions no fewer than seven times between 1919-1965 before turning professional in 1965.
During the 1920s Barnet consolidated their amateur status in the Athenian League under team secretary Tom Goss. He arranged for junior players from Tottenham Hotspur to play for the club including Taffy O'Callaghan, Willie Evans and Bill Whatley, all of whom eventually became internationals, between them gaining 17 Welsh caps.
The 1930/1 season saw Barnet gain their first Athenian League Championship to be repeated again the following season. Included in the team at that time were George Hughes and Fred Garrett, full backs; Reg Wright (England), centre-half; and Arthur Morris, Jack Richardson and a Barnet and England legend Lester Finch in the forward line.
In the two seasons after World War II, Barnet won the FA Amateur Cup (beating Bishop Auckland 3-2), the Athenian League Championship twice, and the London Senior Cup. The side included five internationals in Ted Bunker, George Wheeler, Dennis Kelleher, Ron Phipps and Lester Finch. In the 1958/9 season, their young team coached by George Wheeler, reached the FA Amateur Cup final for the third time, but were beaten 3-2 by Crook Town.
In October 1946, the first live televised football match was broadcast by the BBC from Underhill. Twenty minutes of the game against Wealdstone were televised in the first half and thirty five minutes of the second half before it became too dark. In 1947, Barnet FC played Sing Tao Sports Club, winners of the Hong Kong Football League at Underhill. They were the first Chinese club to ever play in the United Kingdom. Barnet won 5-3.
[edit] Non League Years (1965-1991)
In 1965-6 Barnet turned semi-professional. Before the season commenced, manager Dexter Adams made two astute signings. He persuaded Les Eason, then 20 years of age, to join from Finchley and then acquired amateur international Barry King from Hitchin, who became the first player to sign professional forms for the club. The first game finished in Barnet’s favour, a 10-1 win over Hinckley Athletic. Les Eason went on to score 31 goals in his first season as the club became champions of the Southern League Division I.
Promoted to the Southern League Premier for 1966-7 the club ended up 5th but had reached the Southern League Cup final only to lose to Guildford City over two legs. In 1969-70 the FA Trophy was introduced and Barnet reached the semi-final before losing to Macclesfield 0-1 at Stoke. The club reached the third round of the FA Cup the following season, but lost 1-0 to Colchester, who went on to knock out Leeds in the next round. That year's cup run included a 6-1 first round win over then Fourth Division Newport County, equalling the competition's all-time record for a win by a non-league side over league opponents.
The 1971-2 season proved one of the most successful. Using just 15 players for 80 competitive matches Barnet reached Wembley in the FA Trophy, losing 3-0 to Stafford Rangers and reached the final of the Southern League Cup, drawing 2-2 with Hereford on aggregate. The replay, played next season, was a 2-2 draw but Barnet went on to win 7-6 on penalties. In 1972-3 Barnet put up a tremendous fight against Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup. The match at Loftus Road ended 0-0 and the replay at Underhill drew in excess of 11,000 spectators. Rangers eventually won 3-0.
In 1975 Barnet were relegated back to the Southern League Division One South but two years later they won the championship and returned to the Southern League Premier. It was during this period that many famous names played for the club including Jimmy Greaves, Marvin Hinton, Bob McNab, Terry Mancini and John Fairbrother. Jimmy Greaves, although playing in midfield, still ended the season leading goal scorer with 27 goals.
By virtue of their Premier Division positions in seasons 1977-8 and 1978-9 Barnet were given a place in the newly formed Alliance Premier League. In the first three Alliance seasons, Barnet just avoided relegation, but in 1982-3 they finished 15th and a year later 9th. Then in 1984-5, when it looked like Barnet would face relegation, manager Barry Fry left to take charge at Maidstone United. The season was resurrected under the guidance of ex-player Roger Thompson losing only one of their remaining thirteen league games.
In season 1985-86 they finished 14th but reached the final of the Bob Lord Trophy only to lose to old friends Stafford Rangers. Dom MacAllister replaced Roger Thompson and then in July 1986, Barry Fry returned, much to the delight of the supporters. He led Barnet to their best league position for many years finishing runners-up in the GM Vauxhall Conference scoring 86 goals.
Despite turbulent times off the field, during season 1986-7 the club maintained their scoring, again finishing runners-up, Scarborough taking the automatic position into the Fourth Division. Lincoln City came down but in 1987-8 they returned ahead of Barnet in the championship. 1988-9 was another indifferent season, at one time looking like relegation prospects the team secured 8th place, in the process using no fewer that 47 players! Amazingly 1989-90 saw Barnet yet again finish runners-up in the GM Vauxhall Conference. This time it was Darlington that took the top spot
A good run in the 1990-1 FA Cup culminated in a home defeat by Portsmouth in the 3rd round. A win in the last game of the season against Fisher Athletic finally saw Barnet promoted to the Fourth Division of the Football League.
[edit] Promotion to the league (1991)
Barnet F.C. joined the Fourth Division of the Football League on winning the GM Vauxhall Conference championship in 1991. Their early reputation was of playing fast, attacking football,[citation needed] a reputation only enhanced by their first ever league match (which they lost 4-7 to Crewe Alexandra), and a 5-5 draw to Brentford in the league cup in their next match. In their first season of league football the club reached the promotion playoffs but lost to Blackpool in the semi finals.
[edit] Financial nightmare and promotion (1992-1996)
The 1992-93 season saw controversy at Underhill as Barnet chairman Stan Flashman regarding club accounts and players' wages, resulting in some nationwide back page headlines. Flashman also brought his son, Mark, to the club as a reserve goalkeeper. In spite of the financial problems, Barnet finished third in the new Division Three and secured the final automatic promotion spot. Manager Barry Fry, however, left Barnet with a handful of games remaining and was replaced by his assistant Edwin Stein, who himself then left to join Fry in the summer at Southend United. Goalkeeper Gary Phillips took over as manager during a difficult summer in which Barnet marginally survived a vote of expulsion by a Football League EGM, and lost the vast majority of their promotion winning side in a tribunal which nullified the players' contracts. Phillips cobbled together a squad from the few remaining player and free transfers. In January 1994 Phillips was assisted by former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, but were still relegated from Division Two. In August 1994 Ray Clemence became sole manager for two seasons, finishing 9th and 11th in Division Three. Then at the start of the 1996/7 season Ray Clemence left to become England goalkeeping coach leaving Terry Bullivant in charge.
[edit] Relegation (1996-2001)
Barnet's first season in Division Two ended in relegation and Clemence left in 1996 to be replaced by Alan Mullery (after a brief caretaker stint by Terry Bullivant and Terry Gibson). During the years up to 2000 Barnet established themselves in the basement division reaching two playoff semi-finals under new manager John Still, losing to Colchester United and Peterborough United respectively. But the club lost its league status in 2001 after ten years following a season which had seen Still resign and briefly be replaced by Tony Cottee before Still was reinstated. Still resigned again shortly after Barnet's return to the Conference and was replaced by Peter Shreeves.
[edit] Life in the Conference (2001-2005)
Shreeves left after one year to be replaced by Martin Allen, who in turn left the club in March 2004 (to take charge at Brentford). Former Stevenage Borough manager Paul Fairclough replaced Allen for the remainder of the 2003-04 season, including the play-off matches against Shrewsbury Town, which was taken to penalties after a 2-2 aggregate score (Barnet won 2-1 at Underhill, Shrewsbury Town winning 1-0 at Gay Meadow), with Shrewsbury Town winning 5-3 on penalties. The following season, 2004-05 , with Fairclough at the helm, the Bees went one better than the previous season and were crowned Champions of the Nationwide Conference and regained their football league status, after amassing an impressive 86 points in the season, and scoring 90 goals with it. Barnet also finished 12 points ahead of their nearest rival, Hereford United.
[edit] League comeback (2005-)
The 2005-06 season started brightly, with Barnet leading League two after four games, but results started to slide soon after. A timely cash injection was secured with a Carling Cup trip to Manchester United in October. 5,000 fans made the trip up to the Theatre of Dreams, where Barnet lost 4-1, perhaps partly due to a controversial dismissal of goalkeeper Ross Flitney; the referee later apologised for the 2nd-minute red card. The new year saw a further slump in form for Barnet, with only 1 win in the first 12 games of 2006. Relegation was always a possibility but good end of season form kept the Bees up. 3 home wins and a dramatic 2-1 victory at already relegated Rushden and Diamonds - Barnet's first away win since August - left Barnet finishing the season 5 places and 5 points above the relegation zone, yet only 12 points out of the playoffs.
The 2006-07 season started poorly for Barnet, but a mid-season rally saw them finish 2006 in mid-table and the season in 14th place. A good run in the FA Cup also saw them reach the fourth round of that competition for the first time in their history, beating Championship side Colchester United 2-1 in the third round and Northampton Town 4-2 in the second round before losing 2-0 to Plymouth Argyle at home on 27 January.
2007-08 saw Barnet improve further as they finished 12th with 60 points. [1]
[edit] Current Season (2007-08)
The 2007-08 season started poorly, with only a solitary point coming from matches in August, but on 1 September Barnet beat Bradford City 2-1, and that win was the catalyst to a 10-game unbeaten run in the League with six wins and four draws. Recent form has been less auspicious, however, seeing Barnet slump from play-off contention to flirting with relegation. Barnet finished 12th
In the FA Cup first round proper, Barnet upset League One team Gillingham, beating them 2-1 at Underhill. In the second round proper Barnet needed a replay to beat Burton Albion. They again needed a replay against Swindon Town in the third round proper, both matches finising 1-1. After a goalless extra time, Barnet won the game on penalties 2-0, after Swindon failed to score a single penalty. Barnet played Bristol Rovers in the fourth round proper, only the second time in their history they have made it this far in the competition, losing 1-0, with Jason Puncheon missing a penalty for the Bees.[1]
In the League Cup, Barnet went out at the first attempt, losing 5-2 to Norwich City.
In the Football League Trophy, Barnet received a bye into the Second Round, where they got beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the Withdean Stadium.
[edit] Club crest and nickname
The clubs current crest was designed in the 1950s and contains the green hill of High Barnet and the red rose, white rose and crossed swords representing the 1471 Battle of Barnet, a pivotal battle in the Wars of the Roses.This Badge was designed by the chairman at the time Mr Sidney Robert Price.
Mr Sidney Robert Price has only recently been recognised as the man behind the Barnet Badge. A fact how ever well known by generations of Prices' from Sidney Robert Price down to Barry Price, James Price,James Price jnr,Jack Price and Harry Price.A part of Barnet Football Club history will live on forever with the Price Family.
The club's nickname of "The Bees", reflected in their amber and black shirts, is likely to have come from the location of apiaries close to the Underhill ground in the early years of the 20th century.
[edit] Club vs. Council
Despite success on the pitch, off it Barnet FC have struggled to improve their ground. A plan to move to Copthall Stadium in Mill Hill was blocked by a Government Planning Inspector and a proposed move to South Underhill has been quashed.
There have always been problems with the ground, Underhill, which is in need of modernisation. A controversial sale of the ground's freehold in 2002 to the Club by the London Borough of Barnet has failed to produce any changes to the stadium. Meanwhile, the council have publicly said they will do what they can to help the club but this help has never materialised; indeed, many KBA supporters consider the loss of the local council seat to the Conservative Party to have been detrimental to their cause. Attempts by the club to sort out the ground issue, either by making improvements to the current site or by finding a site elsewhere in the borough, have so far failed.
The Keep Barnet Alive (KBA) movement has been central to fighting Barnet FC's corner on this issue.
Recent negotiations with Barnet Council have now resulted in a new planning application to modernise the existing ground. This includes rebuilding both the north and south stands to comply with the League requirement of 2000 additional covered seats. After some modifications this application was passed by Barnet Council's planning committee in December 2007 and building work commenced on a new South Stand. The building work progressed at incredible speed and it took a month for the new stand to be built. Work also took place on a new North Stand, this involves a small, temporary, covered structure, just to the right of the North Terrace. Away fans will use this seating.
[edit] Players
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Notable players
For a complete list of former Barnet players with Wikipedia articles, see Category:Barnet F.C. players.
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[edit] Honours
[edit] Amateur
- North Middlesex League division II, runners-up 1895
- North Middlesex League division I, runners-up 1896
- North Middlesex League premier division, champions 1897, Barnet Avenue FC, runners-up 1900
- London League division II, champions 1898
- North Middlesex League premier division (Northern), Barnet FC (Avenue), champions 1904,
- London League, Barnet Alston Works AFC, champions 1907
- Chiswick League, Barnet FC (Avenue), Champions 1908
- Middlesex County Amateur League (Premier), Barnet FC (Avenue), champions 1911
- Athenian League champions 1931, 1932, 1947, 1948, 1959, 1964, 1965; runners-up 1938, 1960, 1962, 1963
- FA Amateur Cup winners 1946; runners-up 1948, 1959
- London Senior Cup winners 1938, 1941, 1947; runners-up 1963
- London Charity Cup winners 1947, 1960, joint 1963
- Herts Charity Cup winners 1908, 1912, 1914, 1920, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1933,1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953,1960, 1962, 1964, 1965; runners-up 1951, 1954
- Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Winners 1965,1963,1961,1958,1950,1949,1948,1946,1945,1942
- Herts Charity Shield winners 1930, 1931
- Middlesex Senior Cup winners 1932, 1933
- Middlesex Charity Cup winners 1925, 1927
- Herts & Middlesex League Cup winners 1945
- Channel Islands Victory Cup winners 1939, 1947
- John Guin Cup, Luxembourg winners 1962
- Will Mather Cup winners 1947
- Alloway Bros Memorial Trophy winners 1960
- Westminster Hostpital Cup winners 1964
[edit] Professional
- Southern League Division 1 champions 1966
- Southern League Cup Winners 1972; runners-up 1967
- Southern League Division 1 (South) champions 1977
- Football League Division Four promotion 1993
- Football Conference champions 1991, 2005; runners-up 1987, 1988, 1990.
- FA Trophy runners-up 1972
- Clubcall Cup/Bob Lord Trophy winners 1989; runners-up 1984
- Micky Mays Memorial Trophy winners 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985
- FA Cup 4th round 2007, 2008
- Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Winners 2007,1996,1993,1992,1991,1986
[edit] Club Records
- Record Attendance: 11,026 v Wycombe Wanderers. FA Amateur Cup 4th rd. 1951-52
- Record League Victory: 7-0 v Blackpool, Division Three, 11 November 2000
- Record League Defeat: 1-9 v Peterborough United, Division Three, 5 September 1998
- Most League Goals in Total: Arthur Morris, 403, nine seasons 1927-36
- Most League Appearances: Les Eason, 648, 1965-74,1977-78
- Transfer Record (Received): £800,000 from Crystal Palace for Dougie Freedman
- Transfer Record (Paid): £130,000 to Peterborough United for Greg Heald
[edit] Managers
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[edit] Notes
- ^ Barnet 0-1 Bristol Rovers. BBC Sport (26 January 2008).
[edit] External links
- Barnet F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News - Recent results - Upcoming fixtures - Club stats
- Vital Barnet
- Official Barnet Website
- Barnet Football Club Supporters Association
- Barnet Football Club Supporters Association Team
- Barnet Football History Website
- This Is Bees
- Keep Barnet Alive Website
- Barnet Kits from the Past
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