Crest of Barnet Football Club

Barnet

The Bees

A photo of Barnet Football Club
© Michael Ripley, licensed under CC BY NC-ND 2.0

Barnet Football Club, nicknamed “The Bees,” is a non-league football club based in Edgware, Harrow.

Established in 1888, they currently compete in the Vanarama National League, which is part of the fifth tier of English football. The team calls The Hive Stadium their home ground.

Established in 1888, the club has a rich history in non-league football. They played at Underhill from 1907 to 2013 before moving to The Hive. The club had success in the Athenian League in the 1920s and 1930s, with notable player Lester Finch. Post-WWII, they won multiple regional cups and participated in the first live televised BBC game. They joined the Southern League in 1965, turning professional.

Barnet became founding members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979. Barry Fry’s management led them to the Football League in 1991. They experienced fluctuating fortunes, including relegation and promotions in the subsequent years. Under Paul Fairclough, they reclaimed their Football League place in 2005.

In recent years, Barnet’s performance has been mixed. They faced relegation to the Conference in 2013 but won the Conference title in 2015 under Martin Allen, returning to the Football League. Despite solid performances, they were relegated again in 2018. Darren Currie took over as head coach, becoming a fan favorite. The 2019/20 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Barnet secured a play-off spot, though they were eliminated by Notts County in the semi-final.