Alston Works Athletic Football Club, 1901 to present date.

“I did not suppose they would be a second Tottenham Hotspurs just yet, but they could be a second Iron Works team...” - Comments from President Alfred Shillings at the first AGM, October 1902.

In November 1901, in fact only two weeks prior to the original 1888 Barnet FC dissolving, a local employer in Alston Road started three football teams; A first XI and two reserve teams called average 18 and average 17. Initially the first team is called Alston Works Athletic FC which later became just Barnet Alston FC. Then after a merger with the Barnet Avenue team in 1912 it become Barnet and Alston FC. Finally after the First World War the club became just Barnet FC.

The general manager of the Dental Manufacturing Co., Ltd., was Mr. Alfred Shilling. Mr Shillings had an artificial tooth factory in New Barnet for a while (which came to a very unfortunate end after the equipment literally exploded through the roof) before moving to Alston Road in High Barnet.

Mr Shilling was a keen football supporter and as a vice-president of the recently dissolved Barnet FC was obviously keen to preserve football in the district. He formed the football and athletic club for the benefit of his staff and became the clubs first President. Mr W. Morley was the first secretary. On November 16th 1901 Mr. Shilling kicked the ball to start the first match, a 3-0 win over New Barnet PSA reserves. The team wore the amber and black colours albeit in a number of different styles.

Alston Works Athletic FCThe company leased a field from Lord Strafford in Totteridge Lane (Barnet Lane today) for the athletics although this was not being used in the summer of 1901. During the initial seasons 1901/02 and 1902/03 games were played at Underhill Farm in fields behind the Old Red Lion public house. In time for the 1903/04 season they had moved to the works athletics pitch in Totteridge Lane. At the AGM in July 1904 Alston Works ceased to be a works club and became a town club changing their name to Barnet Alston FC.

In 1904/05 as a senior side they joined the London League Division II. For this season and the following 1905/06 season it was a period of consolidation and adjustment to the quality of the sides they were playing. However, these two seasons see them progress to the London League Division I.

Barnet Alston 1906-7The 1906/07 season was a success (winning eleven of their fourteen games, losing none, only conceding seven goals and scoring 45) and as champions of London League Division I were subsequently promoted to the Premier Division of the London League.

In September 1907, Barnet Alston vacated the Totteridge Lane ground and moved to a new ground at Underhill. This was a three acre site enclosed by a 7ft fence with a dry cinder path to the road and a small enclosure for members. Their first league match (London league Premier, 14th September 1907) was a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace in front of 800 fans. Their first season in the London League Premier Division (1907/08) was to be a tough one as Barnet Alston were the only amateur club in the league.

Barnet Alston FC 1911-12Season 1908/09 saw only eleven points from eleven games. However, they had a good run in the FA Cup and were eventually drawn at Underhill to Exeter City. Exeter tried bribing Barnet Alston to play at Exeter (a practice banned by the FA at a later date) but they declined the offer. Exeter brought a strong side, which featured international players, and they beat Barnet Alston 3-0. Barnet Alston went on to win the Hertfordshire Charity Cup that season

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In July 1912 the board voted to merge with Barnet FC (alias the Avenue side) and form Barnet and Alston FC. They joined the inaugural season of the Athenian League along with Tuffnell Park, Catford Southend, Finchley, Grays Athletic, Chelmsford, Enfield, Chesham and Romford Town. In the first season they played in violet & black, in a throw back to the original Barnet FC, but from thereon they reverted to the Alston colours of black & amber.

Runners up in 1912/13 (ahead of Finchley and Enfield) and sixth in 1913/14 they established themselves as a leading London amateur side.

Barnet FC 1919-20In 1913 they embarked on their first European tour - two games in Jersey and one in Guernsey. They left Thursday morning before the Easter holidays and returned the following Tuesday.

At the start of the 1914/15 season war in Europe had broken out. After the war the Athenian League was resumed and the club renamed themselves to just Barnet FC. This club survives to the present day...

 

All material copyright Tony Rayner @2006 and/or KickIt Books

This site is in no way connected to Barnet FC and the views expressed here are my own interpretation based on my research. The official Barnet FC history is available on the clubs web site.