Barnet F.C.

For a complete list of seasons, see List of Barnet F.C. seasons Early years (1888–1901) Barnet FC were formed in 1888, having formerly been known as New Barnet FC (1885–88) and Woodville FC (1882–85). The club's origins are from ex-scholars of Cowley College and Lyonsdown Collegiate School. They were known as "The Hillmen" and played in New Barnet before moving to Ravenscroft Park in 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. Barnet Avenue and 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 Association in favour of the Amateur Football Association, which they joined in 1907 after winning the Chiswick League. Avenue played their home games initially at Hadley Green before moving to Queens Road. Alston Works AFC, later Barnet Alston FC, were formed in 1901, and became champions of the London League in 1906–07. Formed from workers at Alston Works, a dental manufacturers, they were known as "The Dentals". Their club strip of amber and black is the basis of the current Barnet team strip. In 1907 they moved to the club's current ground at Underhill, Barnet Lane. Their first match was a 1–0 win over Crystal Palace on 14 September 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. In season 1985–86 they finished 14th but reached the final of the Bob Lord Challenge 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 renamed Football Conference scoring 86 goals. Despite turbulent times off the field, during season 1986–87 (the first season of automatic promotion to the Football League for Conference champions) the club maintained their scoring, again finishing runners-up, Scarborough taking the automatic position into the Fourth Division. Lincoln City came down but in 1987–88 they returned ahead of Barnet in the championship. 1988–89 was another indifferent season; at one time looking like relegation prospects, the team secured 8th place, in the process using no fewer than 47 players. They did however win the Clubcall Cup (League Cup), the final being played at Telford United's Bucks Head Ground, by beating Hyde United on penalties after a 3–3 draw. 1989–90 saw Barnet yet again finish runners-up in the Conference. This time it was Darlington that took the top spot. A good run in the 1990–91 FA Cup culminated in a home defeat by Portsmouth in the third 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. The 2008–09 season started poorly, and by late September only the three teams that had been docked points prior to the start of the season had lower league positions. After a run of thirteen games without a win in any competition Paul Fairclough announced his resignation to take up a role as director and leaving the first team duties to his assistant Ian Hendon. Fairclough would take over one last game which resulted in a 2–0 win against another relegation threatened side AFC Bournemouth. Results improved, and before the end of the season Hendon was made permanent boss with a two-year contract. The Bees stayed in Football League Two for the following 2009–10 season, which started with four wins from their first six games. A poor run of form would follow, including a 13-game winless streak, and after five consecutive defeats left the Bees close to the relegation zone, Ian Hendon was sacked in April with two games of the season remaining. Paul Fairclough returned as caretaker manager for the last two games and guided the Bees to safety with a 1–0 win at home to Rochdale on the last day of the season. On 1 June 2010, Mark Stimson was appointed as the new manager and after a poor start to the season was sacked on 1 January 2011. He was succeeded by the ever-present Paul Fairclough; however, he stepped down after only being able to secure three wins in 17 games. He was then succeeded by Martin Allen, who was asked to manage Barnet on a non-contract basis until the end of the season; however, after just 3 matches, he was offered a contract from Notts County and subsequently left for them. With just 5 games left of the season, assistant manager Giuliano Grazioli took over, having been appointed as Assistant manager by Martin Allen earlier. Grazioli was also able to bring in Lawrie Sanchez as an adviser. Grazioli took Barnet to the last day of the season 2 points behind Lincoln City in the relegation zone. Barnet were up against Port Vale in their final match on 7 May 2011 at Underhill and were able to win 1–0 following a penalty scored by Izale McLeod. Aldershot Town's 3–0 victory over Lincoln City meant Barnet finished a point above Lincoln City and the relegation zone. Pitch invasions followed as the club survived on the last day of the season again, as the day was regarded as the "great escape". Following the end of the season, Lawrie Sanchez was appointed as manager. In the 2011–12 season, Lawrie Sanchez steered the side to 3rd from bottom with 3 games to go. He was replaced on 16 April by Martin Allen, who managed to keep Barnet up on the last day of the season following a 2–1 win over Burton Albion leaving Barnet two points above Hereford United and the relegation zone. This was the third consecutive year that Barnet had managed to secure their Football League survival on the last day. Barnet's 2012–13 season started disappointingly, without a single win in August or September. On 11 October 2012, Barnet confirmed a huge coup in signing the former Barcelona and Ajax midfielder Edgar Davids as player and joint head coach alongside Mark Robson. In October Barnet recorded their first win of the season with a 4–0 result against Northampton Town. Near the end of December, Barnet announced that Robson's contract had been terminated, saying: "It was felt that clarification was required regarding the coaching responsibilities at the club and to this end it was agreed that Mark should leave with immediate effect." This left Davids with sole responsibility for the club. The team were then relegated back to the Conference on 27 April 2013, after finishing on 51 points (the highest ever obtained by a team relegated from League 2) and going down due to an inferior goal difference to that of Dagenham and Redbridge, after a 2–0 loss to Northampton. On 19 March 2014, Martin Allen was appointed head coach on a contract running until the end of the 2014–15 season, marking the start of his fourth spell as manager. At the end of the season, Barnet finished top of the Conference Premier and were promoted to League Two. Third Football League spell (2015–2018) In their first season back in the Football League, Martin Allen led the team to a 15th-place finish with a final end of season win away at Crawley Town with a finishing result of 3–0. On 1 December 2016 Allen resigned from his post at Barnet to take up the job at Eastleigh. Rossi Eames and Henry Newman were appointed joint interim head coach with Newman leaving three months later on 14 February 2017. This was followed by the appointment of Kevin Nugent who only lasted two months with one win in 11 games before being parting company with Barnet. This left Eames in the caretaker position of coach until the end of the season with Barnet finishing in 15th place two consecutive seasons. On 19 May 2017 he was then appointed permanent head coach setting a new record making Eames the youngest manager at the age of 32. In November of the 2017–18 season saw Mark McGhee appointed as their new manager with Rossi Eames appointed head of player development. In January 2018 Barnet were sitting bottom of League Two and decided to move Mark McGhee to the Technical Director position and appoint Graham Westley first team coach. Into March and still sitting at the bottom of the table, Barnet decided to sack Graham Westley and reappoint Martin Allen for his fifth spell. It was also reported that Mark McGhee had left the club. Allen turned Barnet fortunes around with five wins out of the next eight matches leaving it to the last day of the season to determine their fate. Barnet won their final match against Chesterfield but with Morecambe drawing leaving both teams on the same number of points, but Barnet were subsequently relegated out of the league due to goal difference. It was confirmed on 10 May that Allen had, once again, left the club. National League (2018–2025) Following the departure of Allen, Barnet re-appointed John Still as their manager for the 2018–19 National League season. On 28 December 2018, Still announced his retirement from management, two days after a 1–0 defeat to Boreham Wood, with the club 15th in the league. Assistant Manager Darren Currie took temporary charge before eventually taking the job on a permanent basis, leading the club to a 13th-placed finish. In the 2018–19 FA Cup, Barnet, despite their status as a fifth-tier team, managed to progress into the fourth round of the competition, winning against Bristol Rovers, Stockport County, and Sheffield United. The 2020–21 season saw Barnet record their lowest league position for many years. They finished within the relegation zone of the National League, but were saved from dropping into the National League South due to the abandonment of the 2020–21 National League North and South mid-season (owing to the COVID-19 pandemic). The team's 2020–21 performance was greatly hampered by the club being badly affected by the pandemic during the first half of the season, and the closure of the club's EFL-funded football academy at the end of the previous season. In the 2022–23 season, they lost to Boreham Wood in the play-off quarter-finals after finishing 5th. The following season Barnet finished in second place to qualify for the play-offs again. In the semi-finals, they were defeated 4–0 by Solihull Moors at home. The 2024–25 season saw the club promoted back to the Football League with a 4–0 victory over Aldershot Town securing the National League title in the penultimate match. EFL League Two (2025–present) In February 2026, Barnet manager Dean Brennan received a nine-game ban from the Football Association for verbally abusing a female referee during Barnet's EFL League Two home defeat by Shrewsbury Town on 6 September 2025, during which he was sent off for dissent by referee Kirsty Dowle. ==Stadiums==

Underhill Barnet's first stadium named Underhill was established in 1907 when the football club were named Barnet & Alston. This was arranged on 100-year lease with Barnet Council. The first ever game at the ground was against another London club, namely Crystal Palace, which ended 1–0 to Barnet. In February 2013, Barnet's move to the new ground was ratified by The Football League. Hive Stadium On 1 August 2007, Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous announced that he had acquired a site in Harrow. The deal would see Barnet contribute £6 million towards an £11 million development, which would include training facilities for Barnet's first, reserve and ladies teams, as well as a 5,000 stadium for nearby Wealdstone. The plan also provides for a second, smaller 'green' 1,000 capacity stadium, for ladies and youth football, as well as a centre of excellence and community use facilities. After a quiet 10 months, an announcement was made on 23 May 2008, which confirmed the plans for the first phase of the development. Costing £3 million, the works included two full size FIFA approved 3rd Generation artificial pitches, senior and youth pitches, car and coach parking, changing facilities for 14 teams, as well as a reception and cafe area. The work would 'provide some of the best training and community use facilities in the country' ending Barnet's nomadic existence in search of areas in which to train. Work began in the Autumn of 2008, once the Football Foundation provided £1 million of funding. Harrow Borough Council also provided £750,000 towards the cost of the project. Worryingly for Wealdstone supporters, the first phases of plans did not include any mention of providing the stadium initially proposed. Wealdstone made a statement after the first phase plans were announced, insisting that the intention still remains to play at PEPF, and that talks were ongoing, although any deal would have to be right for Wealdstone. In April 2009, a delegation from the Barnet Football Club Supporters Association (BFCSA) visited the site and interviewed the man overseeing the construction and continued development, Paul Fairclough. A video made during the tour shows the work being carried out, throwing up some new, previously unknown information about the site, such as the construction of a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and the fact that Highbury's floodlights were currently being stored there! The interview was particularly revealing, indicating that the development is in the first of four planned stages (suggesting a stadium for Wealdstone is still a possibility), that there were hopes to have the England senior team hold training camps there, and that the proposed centre of excellence would cost £250,000 per year to run. There was also some indication of how Barnet could financially exploit the site, and attain a degree of self-sufficiency, as they were in the process of doing a deal with an organisation to rent out the astro turf pitches for £30,000 for one year. In addition, up to £180,000 per year is available to Football League clubs to run their youth systems. In May 2009, it was reported that Harrow Borough and Wealdstone are in negotiation with Barnet to use the training facilities. The training ground is known as "The Hive" and was opened by Fabio Capello and Trevor Brooking on 15 December 2009. Since then, major teams visiting London, such as then-Premier League club Hull City, Italian side Parma, French side AS Monaco and the Egyptian, Brazilian, Chilean and German National Squads, have made use of the training facilities. Proposed New Underhill stadium In February 2024 Tony Kleanthous announced plans to move the club to a new ground built close to the old Underhill site, allowing the club to move back to its home borough. On 14 July 2025, Barnet Council rejected the club's request for planning permission, after council planning officers recommended that the loss of green belt land would outweigh the benefits to the area. Underhill ward's two local councillors, both Labour, were divided on the subject, with Tim Roberts in favour and Zahra Beg opposed. Barnet FC responded that it was "extremely disappointed" with the decision. A petition launched by supporters' group Bring Back Barnet gathered over 2,000 signatures. ==Club crest and nickname==

The club's 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. The badge was designed by Sidney Robert Price who was the chairman of the club at the time. 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. Coincidentally, this nickname is similar to those of two of Barnet's neighbours, Watford ("The Hornets") and Brentford (also "The Bees"). ==Rivalries==

Traditionally, the club's main local rivals were Enfield. The two clubs were amongst the biggest in Non-League during the 1980s and matches between them were fiercely contested. Enfield suffered numerous off-field problems and the original club has since ceased to exist and reformed as Enfield 1893 F.C. in 2007, suffering a split in the past in 2001 after the formation of the breakaway club Enfield Town. As such, the last clash with the original club was in 1991, in the FA Cup, a match which Barnet won 4–1. Other local rivals include Stevenage, Wealdstone, Brentford and Boreham Wood. Barnet have also had a long-lasting friendly rivalry with their "big neighbours" Arsenal, with whom they regularly had pre-season friendlies for several seasons. ==Players==

Squad Out on loan Former players For a complete list of former Barnet players with Wikipedia articles, see :Category:Barnet F.C. players. ==Staff==

. • Chairman: Anthony Kleanthous • Head coach: Dean Brennan • Assistant coach: Connor Smith • First Team coach: Jerome Okimo • Strength and conditioning coach: Liam O'Meara • First-team physio: Jade Doran • Goalkeeping coach: Craig Holloway • Performance analyst: Danny Hutchins • Team Logistics Manager: Kirk Rayment ==Managerial history==

• 2021 Dean Brennan • 2021 Harry Kewell • 2021 Simon Bassey (interim) • 2021 Gary Anderson (caretaker) • 2021 Paul Fairclough (caretaker) • 2020 Tim Flowers • 2020 Peter Beadle • 2018 Darren Currie • 2018 Darren Currie (interim) • 2018 John Still • 2018 Martin Allen • 2018 Graham Westley • 2017 Mark McGhee • 2017 Rossi Eames • 2017 Rossi Eames (interim) • 2017 Kevin Nugent • 2016 Rossi Eames & Henry Newman (interim) • 2014 Martin Allen • 2014 Ulrich Landvreugd & Dick Schreuder • 2014 Paul Fairclough (caretaker) • 2012 Edgar Davids • 2012 Mark Robson & Edgar Davids • 2012 Mark Robson • 2012 Martin Allen • 2011 Lawrie Sanchez • 2011 Giuliano Grazioli (caretaker) • 2011 Martin Allen • 2011 Paul Fairclough (caretaker) • 2010 Mark Stimson • 2010 Paul Fairclough (caretaker) • 2008 Ian Hendon • 2004 Paul Fairclough • 2004 Ian Hendon & Danny Maddix (Joint Caretakers) • 2004 Adrian Whitbread & Damien Doyle (Joint Caretakers) • 2003 Martin Allen • 2003 Peter Shreeves • 2001 John Still • 2001 Tony Cottee • 1997 John Still • 1997 Terry Bullivant • 1996 Alan Mullery • 1996 Terry Gibson • 1996 Terry Bullivant • 1994 Ray Clemence • 1994 Ray Clemence & Gary Phillips • 1994 Gary Phillips • 1993 Edwin Stein • 1986 Barry Fry • 1985 Don McAllister • 1985 Roger Thompson • 1979 Barry Fry • 1976 Billy Meadows • 1975 Colin Flatt • 1974 Brian Kelly • 1974 Gordon Ferry • 1973 Gerry Ward • 1970 Tommy Coleman • 1962 Dexter Adams • 1961 Wally Lines • 1957 George Wheeler • 1956 Ted Crawford • 1954 Steven Campbell • 1951 Lester Finch • 1951 Sonny Weightman • 1945 Lester Finch • 1939 Gerry Kimber • 1937 Bert Fydelor • 1929 Reg Clayton • 1922 Tom Gloss ==Honours==

Source: League • Conference/National League (level 5) • Champions (4; record): 1990–91, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2024–25 • Southern League Division One (level 6) • Champions: 1965–66, 1976–77 Cup • FA Trophy • Runners-up: 1971–72 • Conference League Cup • Winners: 1988–89 • Southern League Cup • Winners: 1971–72 • FA Amateur Cup • Winners: 1945–46 • Micky Mays Memorial Trophy • Winners: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985 • Middlesex Senior Cup • Winners: 1931–32, 1932–33, 2021–22 • London Senior Cup • Winners: 1937–38, 1940–41, 1946–47 • Herts Senior Cup • Winners (19): 1939–40, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2006–07, 2010–11 ==Club records==

• Record attendance in League Two: 6,001 vs. Wycombe Wanderers, 2012–13 • Record attendance: 11,026 vs. Wycombe Wanderers, FA Amateur Cup 4th round, 1951–52 • Record home victory: 10–0 vs. Burton Albion (Southern League Premier Division) 7 February 1970 • Record home defeat: 1–9 vs. Peterborough United, Third Division, 5 September 1998 • Record away victory: 6–0 vs. Lincoln City, 4 September 1991, Fourth Division • Record away defeat: 7–0 vs. Crewe Alexandra, 21 August 2010 • 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 Cup records • Best FA Cup performance: Fourth round, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2018–19 • Best FA Trophy performance: Runners-up, 1971–72 • Best EFL Cup performance: Third round, 2005–06 • Best EFL Trophy performance: Final (southern section), 2011–12 ==References==