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The Early Years, 1882 - 1919
1888
Barnet FC was formed in 1888 after previously being called New Barnet FC (1885-88) and previous to that Woodville FC (1882-1885). The "hillmen" or “violet & blacks” were formed by ex-scholars of Cowley College and Lyonsdown Collegiate School in New Barnet. They played in Woodville Road, then Cromer Road, and then at the Victoria Recreation Ground, New Barnet, until they moved to Queens Road, Barnet in November 1889.
They were inaugural members of the North London League in 1892-3 and went on to have success in the North Middlesex League division I I (1894-5 runners-up), division I (1895-6 runners-up) and the premier division (1896-7 champions). They also competed in the London Junior Cup, Middlesex Junior Cup and the Senior Cup competitions from 1896.
The early days saw wins against Tottenham Hotspurs and Thames Ironworks (West Ham) as well as very competitive games against local rivals North Enfield, Finchley FC and Hendon Town. However, their biggest rivals by far were another local team called Barnet Avenue FC. Up to a 1,000 spectators would see these two teams battle it out at the Queens Road ground – the rivalry often extending long into the evening!
1897
Barnet FC then played in the London League division II (1897-98 champions) and London League division I. The London League included Thames Ironworks, Clapton Orient, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspurs Reserves, Millwall Athletic Reserves and Woolwich Arsenal.
1901
After being suspended for 6 weeks by the London Football Authority in 1899 (for paying excessive expenses to amateur players) they struggled to pay off the clubs growing debts. By the 1901-2 season, in a bid to reduce expenses, they leased the Queens Road ground to their rivals Barnet Avenue and dropped back into the North Middlesex League. Unfortunately the debt remained and they dissolved in November 1901.
There were many clubs in Barnet at the time but the next decade would be dominated by two of them – Barnet Avenue FC and Alston Works Athletic FC.
1904
From 1890 another Barnet club called Barnet Avenue FC gradually expanded through the Middlesex leagues as a junior team and winning the Middlesex Junior Cup (1898-9). Formed by ex-scholars of the Christ Church School they became great rivals to the Barnet 1888 team. They played in Hadley, then in Granville Road, Barnet Common, before eventually taking over the original Barnet ground in Queens Road. In 1904-5, after the original Barnet 1888 club had dissolved, they renamed themselves Barnet FC and soon after became a senior side, finishing runners-up in the London League Division II (1905-6). They joined the Amateur Football Association in 1907-8 winning the Chiswick League unbeaten in the process. In 1909-10 they were champions of the Middlesex County Amateur League (Premier Division) as well as winning the Hertfordshire Charity Cup. In 1910-11 they reverted back to the London Football Association and in 1912 they merged with another club in Barnet called Barnet Alston.
1912
Alston Works AFC formed in 1901, just two weeks before the original Barnet 1888 club dissolved. They were a works team for the dental manufacturer "Alston Works" in Alston Road, Chipping Barnet. In 1904-5 the "dentals" or "amber & blacks" went senior and became a town club, renaming themselves Barnet Alston AFC. They had much success in the London Leagues against reserve professional clubs including Tottenham Hotspurs, Queens Park Rangers, West Ham, Woolwich Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham.
Initially playing at Underhill Farm, then in a field off Totteridge Lane (now Barnet Lane), before finally settling (in 1907-8) at the present ground at Underhill. On September 14th 1907 they played their first game at Underhill against Crystal Palace winning 1-0 in front of 800 spectators.
In 1908 Barnet Alston were successful in the English Cup (FA Cup) beyond expectations. They won 7-0 against Enfield, 3-2 against Walthamstow Grange, 3-1 against Hounslow, 4-2 against Upton Park, and 4-1 against Shepherds Bush before succumbing to Exeter City. The Southern League team, with several internationals in the team, came to Barnet and won 3-0.
In 1912 they merged with the Avenue team, then called Barnet FC, to form Barnet and Alston AFC. They remained at Underhill under a joint management team headed by the Alston Works president, Mr. Alfred Shilling. For one year they played in violet and black, a throw back to the original Barnet FC colours, but by the start of the next season they resumed the Alston colours of amber & black. In the first season they played in the newly formed amateur league, the Athenian League, as well as the Middlesex League. In 1914 the war intervened and the club faced testing times.
1919
After the First World War they renamed themselves Barnet FC. The Underhill ground had been retained thanks to a few supporters who had paid the rent out of their own pockets.
This club survives today as the premier team in the town.
Continued, Brief 1919-1965
This article was written on behalf of the Barnet FC Official website
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