Barnet gain promotion after four-year absence

After their demotion from the Football League in 2001, Barnet worked tirelessly to bring top football back to their fans.

Last season, Barnet came close to earn an up via the play-offs - finished fourth - but lost on penalties 3-5 after a 2-2 aggregate in the semi-finals against Shrewsbury Town who went on to triumph in the deciders.

Yet, this season Barnet stormed back to promotion by being crowned champions of the Conference, finishing a massive 12 points above runners-up Hereford United.

Most of the officials are still at the Underhill Stadium after they fell from the then Third Division, including manager Paul Fairclough and chairman Tony Kleanthous. However, only one player, local boy Ben Strevens, remains from the relegation side.

The quiet corner of north London was buzzing relentlessly when the Bees were crowned champions after they defeated Halifax Town 3-1 at home with three matches still to be played. Fairclough's free-scoring side had led from the start and after the Easter matches they were 16 points clear of second-placed Halifax.

The club was presented with the Nationwide Conference trophy in the home encounter against Carlisle United. Skipper Ian Hendon and the rest of the squad went on a lap of honour after their brilliant season.

Fairclough said that his side will impress next season and that he intends to keep the majority of the players. Barnet forward Giuliano Grazioli won the National Conference golden boot for his season total of 29 goals.

Barnet's League and Cup results
Barnet 3-1 Forest Green
Farnborough 0-0 Barnet
Halifax 2-3 Barnet
Barnet 4-0 Northwich
Canvey Island. 0-1 Barnet
Barnet 5-1 Morecambe
Tamworth 0-2 Barnet
Barnet 4-1 Gravesend
Barnet 2-3 Burton
Scarborough 1-1 Barnet
Barnet 2-2 Woking
Exeter 0-3 Barnet
Barnet 5-0 Dag. & Red.
Carlisle 1-3 Barnet
Barnet 4-0 York
Hereford 1-1 Barnet
Barnet 3-0 Accrington
Aldershot 2-3 Barnet
Barnet 3-2 Leigh RMI
Crawley 1-3 Barnet
Gravesend 1-3 Barnet
Barnet 0-3 Tamworth
Stevenage 2-1 Barnet
Barnet 1-0 Scarborough
Barnet 2-1 Stevenage
Woking 1-1 Barnet
Barnet 1-0 Exeter
Burton 1-1 Barnet
Barnet 0-2 Hereford
Accrington 4-1 Barnet
Barnet 2-1 Aldershot
York 2-1 Barnet
Leigh RMI 0-3 Barnet
Barnet 3-0 Crawley
Barnet 7-1 Farnborough
Forest Green 0-2 Barnet
Barnet 1-0 Canvey Island
Northwich 2-0 Barnet
Barnet 3-1 Halifax
Morecambe 1-1 Barnet
Barnet 1-1 Carlisle
Dag. & Red. 2-0 Barnet
English FA Cup
Barnet 2-1 Farnborough
Barnet 1-2 Bath City
LDV Vans Trophy
Barnet 3-1 Stevenage
Bristol Rovers 2-0 Barnet
FA Trophy
Barnet 1-0 Farnborough
Carlisle 4-1 Barnet
Conference Cup
Grays 3-0 Barnet

Ground problem

Fairclough was denied promotion from the Conference in 1996 because of ground problems after his side Stevenage Borough had won the championship.

Although Fairclough and Barnet will be among the members of League Two in 2005-06 the club still face an uncertain future if in three years' time they will not upgrade Underhill to Football League requirements.

The club and fans are fighting their latest chapter in a decade-long battle to refurbish or replace their run-down home ground.

The famous slope must be flattened in this period or they face expulsion.

Major rebuilding work at Underhill will be needed and the club will prefer to start from scratch and move to a new venue.

At present, they are at loggerheads with the authorities as a 'Keep Barnet Alive' campaign, a vocal fans group, are accusing the council of 'playing politics with football'.

Barnet FC has stood for more than 100 years and in late 2003 the club announced plans to redevelop Underhill in return for council help to find a new permanent home. Yet, the club is still uncertain about its future, even after the Football Trust promised a grant of £400,000 towards the cost of a new stand.

As things stand, the funding will not be released until the club has planning permission from the council.

First time up

The first time Barnet won promotion to the FL was in 1991 when the club was under the management team of Barry Fry.

Their 4-2 win at Fisher Athletic clinched the Conference championship. After two seasons they won promotion once more, this time to the third grade of the English game.

They returned to the Conference in 2001 after their defeat against Torquay in a relegation decider.