AFC Telford United
AFC Telford were founded in 2004 after Telford United went into liquidation at the end of the 2003/04 season. Telford had, ironically, been one of the favourites to win promotion that season. Next season’s matches between Barnet and Telford will be the first since December 2003 when the Bees won 2-1 at the Buck’s Head.
AFC Telford were placed in the Northern Premier League Division One for the 2004/05 season and they reached the play offs after finishing 3rd. In the play offs, Telford beat Eastwood Town 1-0 in the semi-finals and then defeated Kendal Town 2-1 in front of a record crowd of 4125.
In 2005/06, Telford finished 10th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and the following season, they reached the play offs again after finishing 3rd and were promoted after defeating Marine 2-0 in the semi-final and Witton Albion 3-1 in the final to reach the conference North.
In 2007/08, Telford reached the Conf North play offs but lost 4-0 on aggregate to Barrow. The following season, they reached the play offs again but lost 1-0 to Gateshead in the final. In 2010/11, Telford finished 2nd to make the play offs again and this time they were successful defeating Guiseley 3-2 in the final.
However, their stay in the Conference National only lasted two seasons before they were relegated, but last season they went back up as Champions of Conference North under new manager, Liam Watson, former boss of Southport.
Barnet FC played many times against Telford United and also when that club went by the name of Wellington Town; the club is actually based in Wellington. The first time they met was in the 1966/67 after the Bees had won the Southern League Division One title in their first season after turning professional. Les Eason and Tony Turley scored the Barnet goals in the Southern League Premier Division match that Barnet won 2-0. The return encounter was drawn 3-3 with Barnet’s goals coming from Roger Figg, Les Picking and Turley.
The following season, Eason scored twice in a 5-2 defeat at Buck’s Head, but the game at Underhill ended in a 2-2 draw, Gerry Ward and Anderson scoring for Barnet. 1968/69 was the last season Barnet played Wellington Town as they changed their name to Telford United therefore becoming more reflective of the new town. Barnet won 3-2 at the Buck’s Head with goals from Figg, Eason and Ward (from the penalty spot), while the game at Underhill ended in a 3-3 draw with two goals from Billy Meadows and one from Figg.
Barnet’s first match against Telford United was away at Buck’s Head in the Southern Premier in August 1969 with Telford winning 5-3, Meadows scoring twice and Eason the other. The game at Underhill ended in a goalless draw after the original match had been abandoned due to fog with Barnet leading 4-2.
In 1970/71, Telford won 2-0 at Underhill, but the Bees got revenge by winning the return 4-0 with two goals from Lou Adams and one apiece for Eason and Colin Powell. That season, Telford won the FA Trophy by beating Macclesfield Town 2-0 at Wembley.
In 1971/72, the teams met three times. In the league, the match at Underhill ended in a 1-1 draw, Colin Flatt scoring, while Telford won 3-2 at home, Peter Jenkins and Eason scoring for Barnet. The clubs also met in the FA Trophy semi-final at the County Ground, Northampton with Barnet winning 1-0 thanks to a Dickie Plume penalty. Barnet lost the final 3-0 to Stafford Rangers at Wembley.
The following season, Telford did the double over Barnet winning 2-0 at Underhill and 1-0 at Buck’s Head and in 1973/74, Barnet won 2-0 at Telford with goals from Steve Tom and Billy Meadows, while the meeting at Underhill was drawn 1-1, Moss scoring for Barnet.
In 1974/75, the game at Underhill was goalless and Telford won the return fixture 2-0. At the end of the season Barnet were relegated to the Southern League Division One North but in 1976/77 they won the Division One South and came back up to the Premier Division.
In 1977/78, Barnet lost 2-0 at Telford but a Borthwick goal gave the Bees a 1-0 win at Underhill. 1978/79 was the last season, for both clubs, in the Southern League as they both became founder members of the new Alliance Premier League. John Fairbrother and Jimmy Cleary scored in a 2-1 win at Telford, but Barnet lost 4-1 at Underhill, Russell Townsend scoring for the Bees.
In the opening APL season, Barnet completed the double over Telford, winning 4-1 at Underhill with goals from Chris Hullett, Chris Smith, Steve Brinkman and Steve Robinson and the Bees won 2-1 at Buck’s Head with goals from Elwyn Roberts and Brinkman (a penalty).
In 1980/81, the game at Telford was goalless and then two Robinson goals gave the Bees a 2-1 win at Underhill. In 1981/82, Billy Holmes scored the only goal of the game at Underhill and then Barnet did not score in the next five meetings with Telford, losing the return that season 3-0, then Telford beat Barnet 3-0 home and away in 1982/83 and in 1983/84 both matches ended goalless.
However, that season the two clubs also met in the APL Cup at the semi-final stage, Barnet winning 8-2 on aggregate after a 5-0 win at Underhill ( Steve Mahoney 3, Steve Ragan, Trevor Parker) and a 3-2 win at Buck’s Head (John Margerrison 2, Stewart Atkins).
In 1984-85, Telford won both league games 1-0. In 1985/86, Glyn Creaser and Nicky Evans scored in a 2-2 draw at Buck’s Head but Telford won 2-1 at Underhill, Johnson scoring for the Bees.
The following season, 86/87, Evans scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Underhill and Dave Sansom scored the only goal at Buck’s Head. Telford won 2-0 at Underhill in 1987/88 and Barnet won 4-2 at Telford with Gary Abbott grabbing a hat trick and Keith Alexander the other goal for the Bees.
In 1988/89, Telford again won at Underhill, this time 3-1, John Docker scoring for Barnet while Barnet won 3-0 at Buck’s Head, Gary Bull scoring twice and Frank Murphy the other. Barnet completed the double over Telford in 1989/90, Bull and Murphy scoring again in a 2-1 win at Underhill and Bull scored twice in a 3-1 win at Telford, Andy Clarke scoring the other Barnet goal.
In 1990/91, both games were drawn, 1-1 at Telford, Roger Willis scoring for Barnet while the game at Underhill was goalless. Barnet won the Conference title at the end of the season and did not play Telford again until 2001/02 after Barnet were relegated from the Football League in 2001.
In 2001/02, two Mark Arber goals gave the Bees a 2-1 win at Telford, while the game at Underhill ended goalless. In 2002/03, Mark Gower, Toby Oshitola and Ben Strevens scored in a 3-0 win at Underhill and Gower score in the game at Buck’s Head but Telford won 2-1.
Telford were highly fancied to win the Conference in 2003/04, but the season ended in the club being liquidated. Barnet did the double over Telford winning 2-0 at Underhill on the opening day of the season with goals from Ian Hendon and Strevens and winning 2-1 at Buck’s Head with goals from Geoff Pitcher and Giuliano Grazioli in the last ever meeting between the original club and Barnet. At the end of the season, Barnet reached the play offs but lost to Shrewsbury Town in the semi-final.
Earlier this season, the two clubs drew 2-2 at the Bucks Head.
Players who have played for both Telford United and Barnet include Scott Tynan, who played in goal in Barnet’s 2004/05 championship winning team.