Barnet Football Club: Introduction
Barnet Football Club is a professional football club based in Barnet, North London, England. They have a long and varied history, having oscillated between different divisions, with occasional success in reaching the English Football League (EFL).
The team currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. The staff at the Fanbase wish the club and supporters all the best for the future. Below is our detailed overview of the club.
Before we continue, here is a link to the club’s official website.
Key Details
- Founded: 1888
- Nickname: The Bees
- Stadium: The Hive Stadium, located in Canons Park, North London, with a capacity of around 6,500.
- Club Colours: Black and Amber
- Current League: National League (5th tier of English football)
- Chairman: Tony Kleanthous
Barnet Football Club: History
Early Years
Barnet Football Club was founded in 1888 as Woodville FC before changing its name to Barnet in 1912. For most of their early history, the club competed in the amateur leagues. They played in the Athenian League and later the Southern League, achieving modest success.
Entry into the Football League
The 1990-91 season was pivotal for Barnet, as they won the Conference (now National League) and were promoted to the Football League for the first time. Their debut season in the Fourth Division (now League Two) saw them finish seventh and reach the playoffs. Barnet stayed in the Football League until 2001, when they were relegated back to the Conference.
Return to the Football League and Further Relegations
After several years in non-league football, Barnet returned to the Football League in 2005, having won the Conference National. They remained in the Football League until the 2012-13 season, when they were relegated to the Conference National again, despite having notable figures like Edgar Davids on the team as player-manager.
The club enjoyed another brief return to the Football League in 2015, but relegation followed again in 2018, placing them back in the National League.
Barnet Football Club: The Hive Stadium
Barnet originally played at Underhill Stadium, which was their home from 1907 until 2013. The ground had its charm but was outdated and did not meet modern football standards. The club moved to The Hive Stadium in 2013, located in Canons Park, which provides much better facilities.
The Hive is a multi-sport complex with state-of-the-art training facilities, and it also serves as the training ground for various other clubs and organizations, including some youth and women’s teams. Generally speaking, the atmosphere can be traditionally warming for visiting fans.
Barnet’s nickname is The Bees. Indeed, their close neighbours Brentford have the same nickname. Likewise, their other close neighbours, Watford, have the nickname of The Hornets. So, it appears there’s a buzz about the place. Pardon the pun but we couldn’t help it!
Notable Achievements
- Conference/National League Titles: Barnet has won the Conference title three times (1990-91, 2004-05, and 2014-15).
- Promotion to Football League: 1991, 2005, 2015
- FA Trophy Finalists: 1972
Although Barnet has no big honours to speak of, they have a whole host of minor ones. For example, they have won the Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup 7 times.
Key Managers
Over the years, Barnet has had several notable managers:
- Barry Fry: One of the most memorable managers in Barnet’s history, Barry Fry led the club to its first promotion to the Football League.
- Martin Allen: Known as “Mad Dog,” Allen had several spells at Barnet and was instrumental in some key survival and promotion efforts.
- Edgar Davids: The Dutch football legend served as Barnet’s player-manager from 2012 to 2014.
Barnet Football Club: Rivals
Barnet’s main rivals include:
- Stevenage: A rivalry that developed during their time in non-league football and continued in the Football League. There is also a degree of rivalry with Watford as well.
- Enfield and Boreham Wood: Historically local rivals.
Barnet FC has some friendly rivalry with Arsenal, where pre-season friendlies were regular.
Recent Years and Current Status
Barnet has found itself mainly in the National League since its relegation from the Football League in 2018. The club has endured fluctuating form and management changes, striving for stability. Chairman Tony Kleanthous, who took control of the club in 1994, has overseen Barnet through periods of highs and lows, including stadium moves and multiple promotions and relegations.
Despite these challenges, the club remains hopeful of returning to the Football League, continually investing in its infrastructure and squad.
Club Philosophy
Barnet has traditionally been a community-focused club with a strong emphasis on youth development. Their move to The Hive and the establishment of top-tier training facilities has allowed the club to improve its youth system. They run an extensive community program aimed at encouraging grassroots football in North London.
Notable Players
Several players have made significant impacts during their time at Barnet, including:
- Paul Fairclough: A key figure in Barnet’s history, managing the team during multiple spells and leading them to promotion.
- Paul Warhurst: Former Premier League player who ended his career at Barnet.
- Giuliano Grazioli: A fan favourite who was instrumental in Barnet’s 2005 Conference National win.
- Edgar Davids: A legendary footballer globally, Davids’ involvement with Barnet brought considerable attention to the club, although the results on the pitch were mixed.
Barnet Football Club: In Summary
Barnet FC is a club with a rich history, having experienced the highs of Football League participation and the lows of non-league football. Their move to The Hive represents the club’s ambitions to improve both on and off the field, with hopes of re-establishing themselves in the Football League in the near future.
Despite their fluctuating fortunes, Barnet remains an important part of the North London football scene, with a passionate fan base that continues to support the team through thick and thin.
Promote Barnet Football Club
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You can join in with the football banter here by making your own football news articles on the soccer blogs. For example, how well is Barnet FC getting on and how can the team improve?
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Barnet Fans Forum
After you have finished here at the Fanbase Blogs, pop over to our massive Football Forum. There you can involve yourself in even more football banter with like-minded supporters. We only want the friendly type of football banter, of course.
On our gigantic message boards, we include the Barnet Fans Forum so that you can promote your football team.
Now that you understand what we are all about at the Football Fan Base, start writing about your team.
Other supporters are writing about their favourite football teams; do you want to be left behind? Promote Barnet today and have your say!
**Information updated on September 11, 2024.
