The FA Trophy was introduced in 1969 by the Football Association for non-league clubs and the final was to be played at Wembley Stadium. The idea was to give professional, or semi-professional, non-league clubs the chance to play at Wembley and to give them their own major knockout competition.
Naturally, Barnet, who were a Southern League Club, entered the competition in the first season, 1969-70. They were drawn away to Rushden Town in the 3rd Qualifying Round and won 5-0 with goals from two goals from Billy Meadows and a hat trick for Les Eason.
In the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn away at Bath City and won 4-3 with Les Eason scoring and Colin Powell getting a hat trick. In the 2nd round, Barnet won 2-0 at home to Hereford United with Meadows and Eason scoring. In the 3rd round, Bromsgrove Rovers were beaten 2-1 at Underhill with Powell and Meadows scoring in front of 2640 fans.
In the quarter-finals, Barnet thrashed Mossley 8-1 with goals from Eason (3), Meadows, Powell (2) and Ricky George (2). The Semi-final was played at Stoke City’s old Victoria ground where Barnet met Macclesfield Town. Unfortunately, Barnet lost 1-0 and missed out on the chance of a visit to Wembley.
Macclesfield were the Northern Premier League defending champions and were a very good side and were very well organised, making sure that Barnet’s flare players, such as Powell were kept subdued and Barnet found goal chances very few and far between. Young scored in the 15th minute for Macclesfield and that goal was enough to take them to Wembley where they became the first club to win the FA trophy by beating Telford United 2-0.
The Barnet side in the semi-final was; McClelland, Lye, Jenkins, Ward, Embery, King, Powell, George, Meadows, Eason (Gregory), Ferry.
The following season, 1970-71, Barnet went out in the 1st round proper losing 3-0 away at Kidderminster. However, the following season turned out to be Barnet’s most successful ever season in the tournament.
Barnet were drawn away at Southern League, Dover Athletic in the 1st round and won easily 6-0 with a hat trick for Lou Adams, two for Colin Powell and one for Les Eason. Barnet keeper, Jack McClelland even saved a penalty in a match where the last four goals came in a spell of just 15 minutes.
In the 2nd round, the Bees drew 0-0 away at Lowestoft Town and then won the replay at Underhill 5-1 with goals from Les Eason (2), Lou Adams, Colin Flatt and an own goal. The match was played in the daytime due to industrial action which led to a number of power cuts in the days of the three day week. In the 3rd round, Barnet travelled to Northern Premier League side, Wigan Athletic who were to be elected into the football league in 1977. Nearly 5,000 fans saw Barnet win 2-1 in a highly dramatic encounter. Wigan missed two penalties before Fletcher put Wigan ahead but 15 minutes from time, a Les Eason cross was headed back by Dickie Plume for Colin Flat to hit home the equaliser and six minutes from time, Peter Jenkins and Colin Powell combined to set up Flatt to score the winner.
In the 4th round, the Bees were drawn away at Southern League, Dartford and, in difficult conditions, won through to the semi-finals, winning 2-0 with goals from Colin Powell and Les Eason. In the semi-final, Barnet met Telford United, from the APL, at Northampton’s old County Ground and won 1-0 thanks to a last minute penalty, successfully converted by Dickie Plume. Barnet were on their way to Wembley.
During the next few seasons, Barnet fared poorly in the competition. In 1972-73 they were drawn away at Nuneaton Borough and drew 0-0. They then drew 2-2 in the replayed game at Underhill, Colin Powell and Dickie Plume scoring for the Bees and the match went to a 2nd replay at Banbury where Barnet were hammered 5-0.
The following season, 1973-74, Barnet went out in the 1st round again, this time away at Hastings United who won 1-0. The following season they went out again at the first attempt, this time at home to Isthmian League club, Hitchin Town who won 1-0. In 1975-76, Barnet were held 2-2 by Harwich & Parkstone at home in the 3rd Qualifying Round with goals from Billy Meadows and Williams. Barnet then lost the replay 5-0 to a side who were in the Isthmian League, 2nd division. .
In 1976-77, Barnet had to start in the 1st Qualifying round as there FA Trophy record had been so poor since the Wembley final of 1972. They were drawn away at Hampton and won 5-2 with goals from Dennis Brown (2), John Fairbrother and Williams (2). In the 2nd Qualifying Round, Barnet travelled to Leytonstone and won 4-2 with goals from Ray Aggio, Dennis Brown, John Fairbrother and Tucker. In the 3rd Qualifying Round, Barnet met Wealdstone at home and drew 1-1, Williams scoring for Barnet. In the replay at Wealdstone, Barnet won 3-1 with two goals from John Fairbrother and one from Dennis Brown. In the 1st Round proper, Barnet went down 1-0 at home to Wycombe.
The following season, 1977-78, Barnet were again made to start in the 1st Qualifying Round but this time thy lost 4-2 at home to Isthmian League, Carshalton Athletic. Jimmy Greaves and Derek Brown scored for Barnet.
The following season, Barnet drew 1-1 away at Wembley, who were in the Isthmian League Division 1, in the 1st Qualifying Round, George Cleary scoring for Barnet, but in the replay at Underhill they lost 3-2 despite goals from Cleary and Jimmy Greaves. At the end of that season, Barnet were elected to the newly formed Alliance Premier League.
1979-80 saw the club have their best run in the tournament since they reached the final in 1972. they were drawn at home to fellow APL club, Wealdstone in the 1st Qualifying Round and the match ended goalless. The replay was drawn too, this time 1-1 with Steve Turner scoring the Barnet goal. The 2nd replay was held at Underhill and the Bees finally won through, winning 2-0 with goals from Bob Booker and Chris Smith.
In the 2nd Qualifying Round, Barnet travelled to Isthmian League Division One side, Leytonstone & Ilford, a club that later evolved into the Redbridge half of current League Two side, Dagenham & Redbridge. Goals from Turner and Booker gave the Bees a 2-1 win and in the next round they won 1-0 away at Isthmian League Premier Division side, Hayes with Chris Hullett scoring the only goal.
In the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn away to local rivals, Hendon, another Isthmian League club, and drew 1-1 with a goal from Steve Oliver. Barnet won the replay 1-0 at Underhill, Steve Robinson getting the goal for the Bees. In the 2nd round, Barnet beat APL side, Bangor City 4-1 with Steve Turner grabbing a hat trick, two of the goals coming from the penalty spot. Elwyn Roberts scored the other Barnet goal. However, Barnet’s cup run came to an end in the 3rd round with a 2-1 defeat away at Nuneaton Borough, Steve Robinson getting the consolation goal for the Bees.
The following season saw the Bees go out again at the first attempt, losing 1-0 in the 3rd Qualifying Round at home to Harlow Town of the Isthmian League. 1981-82 was no better with the Bees going out at the same stage, this time away at Hendon, the Greens wining 2-1 with Barnet’s goal coming from Colin Barnes.
1982-83 did, at least, see Barnet get through the first stage, winning 2-1 in the 3rd Qualifying Round at home to Metropolitan Police of the Isthmian League, Division One. Stewart Atkins and Colin Barnes got the Barnet goals. In the 1st Round proper, Barnet won 2-0 away at Woking, then a struggling Isthmian League Premier Division side, with goals from Peter Brown and Steve Ragan. However, in the 2nd round, Barnet went down 2-1 at home to Ilkeston Town in a match better known for the terrible behaviour of the visiting supporters. Colin Barnes scored the Barnet goal.
The next season, 1983-84, saw Barnet reach the 4th round of the FA Trophy. In the 3rd Qualifying Round, Barnet won 3-1 away at Isthmian League, Hayes with two goals from Steve Mahoney and one from Stewart Atkins. In the 1st Round proper, Barnet were drawn at home to again to Dartford, who were to end the season as Southern League Champions and win promotion to the Alliance Premier League. The Bees won 3-0 with goals from John Margerrison, John Docker and Nicky Evans.
In the 2nd round, Barnet beat Northern side, North Shields 4-1 with two goals apiece for Stewart Atkins and Nicky Evans. The Bees progressed through the 3rd Round with another home win, this time against Kidderminster, who had won promotion to the APL the previous season, Steve Ragan and Stewart Atkins scored the goals. However, the Bees went out at the 4th Round stage losing 1-0 away at Northwich Victoria in a close fought match.
In 1984-85, Barnet were drawn away at Dagenham in the 1st Round and drew 3-3. This was before the daggers had merged with Redbridge Forest and the Bees goals came from John Margerrison, Steve Mahoney and Steve Ragan. In the replay at Underhill, Barnet won 3-2 with goals from Eddie Stein, Steve Mahoney and Steve Ragan. In the 2nd round, Barnet won 1-0 away at Gretna courtesy of an Ian Ferguson penalty. Barnet went out in the 3rd round following a gruelling four match tie against Runcorn. After a goalless draw in the first match at Runcorn, the replay at Underhill ended in a 1-1 draw with Steve Mahoney scoring for Barnet. The 2nd replay was also at Underhill and ended goalless. Finally, in the 3rd replay, the tie was settled with Runcorn winning comprehensively 4-0 at Runcorn.
1985-86 saw Barnet lose 1-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers, but the following season saw the Bees reach the 4th Round again. In the 1st Round they won 6-0 at home to Wokingham Town from the Isthmian League, Premier Division. Barnet’s goals came from John Margerrison, Steve Mahoney, Gary Roberts and a hat trick for Nicky Evans. In the 2nd Round, the Bees were held 1-1 at home by another Isthmian League side, this time, Hitchin Town. Dave Sansom scored for the Bees. In the replay at Hitchin, Barnet won 5-0, with goals from Evans, Sansom (2) and Roberts (2). The 3rd round tie against Boston United went to three matches. The first match ended 1-1 at Underhill with Sansom scoring for Barnet. The replay at Boston ended 3-3 with Sansom scoring again and Andy Beattie scoring twice for the Bees. In the 2nd replay at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium, Barnet won 3-0 with Sansom scoring twice and Eddie Stein scoring the other. Barnet then went out in the 4th round to a shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Southern League side, Fareham Town.
In 1987-88, Barnet were drawn against Isthmian League, Windsor & Eton in the 1st Round. The first match at Windsor ended in a 1-1 draw with Barnet’s goal coming from Keith Alexander. In the replay at Underhill, Lee Payne and Dave Sansom scored in a 2-1 win for the Bees. In the 2nd round, were held to a goalless draw at home to Southern league, Bromsgrove who then knocked the Bees out of the tournament by winning the replay 3-1, Dave Sansom scoring the Bees goal. That was the last time that Barnet managed to win an FA Trophy match prior to winning the Conference title in 1991 and gaining promotion to the Football League, going out in the 1st Round in all three seasons.
In 1988-89, Barnet were held 1-1 by Southern League, Gravesend, Richard Nugent scoring for Barnet and the same player scored Barnet’s goal in the replay. However, Gravesend won the match 2-1. The following season, 1989-90, Barnet lost 2-0 away at another Southern League side, this time, Weymouth and in the promotion season, 1990-91, Barnet were knocked out by Farnborough, who ended the season as Southern League champions and were promoted to the Conference just as Barnet were leaving it. Andy Clarke and Paul Richardson scored for Barnet but the bees lost 3-2 at Underhill.