The original Barnet club which ceased to exist in 1902, made their single FA Cup appearance in the preliminary round in 1898 with an away match against the 1st Coldstream Guards losing 3-4 on the day.
The rest of Barnet's early history of the FA Cup is largely about Barnet Alston, formerly Alston Works FC, who were the first club to play at Underhill, moving there in 1907. They made their FA cup debut in 1905 losing 3-0 away at South Weald. Their first cup run of any note was in the 1908-09 season, as a London League side,when they reached the 5th qualifying round, beating Enfield on the way 7-1 at Underhill!!! However, their cup run came to an end with a 3-0 defeat at home to professionals, Exeter City. The Barnet Alston side that day was; Mitchell; Draper, Farris; Lawrence, Maydell, Howell; Seabrook, Wright, Purvis, Giallenne, Ridley.
The following season, Barnet Alston reached the 4th qualifying round beating St. Albans City on the way and were drawn to play Southend United away. Barnet Alston put up a creditable performance in front of a 3,000 crowd but finally went down 5-2, Carvossa scoring twice for the Bees, whose side that day was; Carter; Reynolds, Saggers; Reed, Maydell, Howell; Seabrook, Carvossa, Aylott, Giallenne, Ridley.
The following season, St. Albans got their revenge beating the Bees 2-1 in the 1st qualifying round. In 1911-12, Barnet Alston again had a reasonable cup run reaching the 5th qualifying round before losing 5-0 away to Sutton Junction. Tufnell Spartan were beaten 9-0 in the qualifying round and St. Albans were defeated again this time by 2-1. This season was interesting as there were two Barnet sides competing. Barnet FC, formerly, Barnet Avenue, were beaten 4-2 in the preliminary round by Luton Clarence. Ironically, Barnet Alston defeated the same side 1-0 in the next round. In this period, Barnet Alston played a variety of teams from Luton. There was, as well as Luton Clarence, Luton Alliance and Luton Trinity!!!
In the final FA Cup season in this period which took place at the time of the outbreak of WW1, Barnet Alston reached the 6th Qualifying round before losing 4-0 to Croydon Common. After this the war ended the competition until peace resumed in 1919.
On the resumption of football following the end of WW1, Barnet Alston changed their name to Barnet FC and were members of the Athenian League. In the league, Barnet were rarely out of the top half and were champions in 1931 and 1932. However, the club's league form didn't often carry over into their FA Cup performances.
In the seasons immediately after the war there were some good results such as the 8-0 home win over Vauxhall Motors, yet another Luton club, in 1920 and in 1923, another 8-0 win over Apsley. In both of the first post war seasons, Barnet were knocked out early on in the competition by St. Albans City.
It was not until the 1924-25 season that Barnet had a decent run in the competition. The Bees reached the 6th qualifying round beating such local sides as Edmonton, Wood Green Town and Hampstead Town!! They went out to Exeter City, again, by 3-0 at home.
This fine cup run had a very good spin off for the club as in the following season they entered the FA Cup at the 4th qualifying round stage rather than the preliminary rounds as had been the case before. There were also no 5th or 6th qualifying rounds. Success in the 4th qualifying round would mean progress to the 1st round proper of the competition for the first time. And so it turned out as Redhill were defeated after a replay and the Bees were drawn away at Brentford in the 1st round proper. Barnet lost the match 3-0, but the following season, they reached the 1st round again after knocking out Slough. Again this was as far as Barnet were to go as they lost 3-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
After that, Barnet were back to the preliminary rounds again, but a run to the 4th qualifying round in 1930-31, where they lost 2-1 away at Kingstonian and winning the Athenian League championship, enabled Barnet to come into the 1931-32 competition at the 4th qualifying round stage again. This time, Dulwich Hamlet were defeated 2-1 at home and the Bees were drawn against QPR at home in the 1st round, unfortunately losing 7-3!!!
Two years later, Barnet reached the 1st round again after beating Wimbledon 3-1. This time they were drawn away at Southern League side, Cheltenham Town. After going behind in the 1st minute of the match, the Bees equalised through Richardson and Bees legend, Lester Finch came close to putting Barnet ahead before Cheltenham regained the lead before half time. Early in the second half, Barnet had a good spell and Sutton, Marchant and Richardson all had chances to put the Bees level but in the end the home side took control and ran out comfortable 5-1 winners. The Barnet side that day was, Ansley; Wade, Garrett; Smith, Jarrett, Sutton; Marchant, Richardson, Morris, Markwell, Finch.
The rest of the 1930's, up to the onset of the Second World War, were disappointing. Despite a side containing a number of talented players such as Lester Finch, who was capped by England, Irish international, Jim McCarthy, Dennis Kelleher and Ian MacFarlane who was capped by Scotland, Barnet failed to impress in the competition. Indeed, the period was notable for some desperately poor results, the club losing 5-2 to Harwich & Parkeston in 1935, 6-2 to Leavesden Hospital in 1936, 6-2 again to Golders Green (now Hendon FC) in 1937 and 5-2 at home to Hoddeston Town in 1938. The latter result was particularly surprising bearing in mind the fact that Barnet finished as runners up in the Athenian League that season. The best result was a 7-0 home victory over Welwyn Garden City at home in 1938. In 1939, Barnet defeated Berkhamstead Town 2-1 in the Extra Preliminary Round, but the competition ended there as war was declared against Germany and the FA Cup was suspended for the next six years.
After the end of the Second World War, the FA Cup resumed in 1945 and Barnet started the competition with a 4-1 preliminary round win over local rivals, Edgware Town. The Bees continued in the cup all the way to the 1st round proper, beating rivals, Enfield 5-0 on the way. In the 1st round they lost a two legged tie, 3-7 on aggregate to QPR.
Two seasons later, they came into the competition at the 4th qualifying round, losing 3-1 to this Saturday's opponents, Gillingham. Ron Phipps scored Barnet's goal in the only FA Cup tie played before between the two sides. Barnet had been Athenian League champions the season before and went on to regain the title that season too.
The year after, Barnet reached the 1st round again, this time losing 6-2 at home to Exeter City, Ron Phipps and Dennis Kelleher scoring for the Bees. Barnet had a poor spell in the FA Cup during the early fifties and it was not until 1954 that they reached the 1st round again, this time losing 4-1 to Third Division, Southampton in front of almost 7,000 fans at Underhill. The Bees fought hard in the match but never quite matched their opponents' class, Rudolf scoring the Bees' goal. In the preliminary round they had beaten Royston 11-0!!
That was Barnet's only FA Cup run of note in the fifties and it was another seven years before the club reached the 1st round again, in 1961, again falling at this stage, this time 1-0 way at Weymouth. Two years later, in 1963-64, Barnet reached the 1st round again. They started the competition in the 1st qualifying round where they defeated Stevenage Town 4-2, Tony Harding scoring a hat trick. In the 4th qualifying round they beat Wycombe Wanderers 6-3 after being 3-0 down at one time. In the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn away at football league side, Torquay United, losing 6-2, Figg and Richards scoring for the Bees. The Barnet side that day was, Goymer; Warman, Voyce; Picking, Hill, Casey; Drake, Brimacombe, Figg, Harding, Richards.
The following season, 1964-65, Barnet reached the 1st round proper again and were drawn at home to Southern League side, Cambridge United. This time goals by Tony Harding and Reg Finch were enough to give Barnet a 2-1 win and send them into the 2nd round proper for the first time, where the Bees met Enfield away. The first match was drawn 4-4 with 2 goals from Figg and one each from Morris and Finch. In the replayed match at Underhill, 3 days later, two goals from Reg Finch and one from Roger Figg gave Barnet a 3-0 win over Enfield and sent them into the 3rd round for the first time in their history where they were drawn at home against Preston North End, who only the previous spring had been FA Cup finalists. Barnet went 2-0 down, but pulled back to 2-2 with goals from Figg and Whyte. But with Roger Figg a passenger and no subs in those days, the Bees were under pressure and an unlucky own goal by Terry Casey broke Bees' hearts and won the game for the 2nd division side by 3-2.
In 1966, Barnet, now playing in the Southern League, reached the 4th qualifying round before losing 2-1 to old rivals, Enfield. However, the following season they reached the 1st round proper again, beating Clapton 9-0 and Windsor & Eton 7-1 on the way, Les Eason scoring four goals in the Clapton match. In the 1st round, Barnet were drawn away to fellow Southern League side, Hereford United losing 3-2 with Eason and Searle scoring for the Bees.
Barnet's fine runs in the FA Cup meant that they were entered in at the 4th qualifying round for the 1968-69 season and after seeing off Enfield 4-0, with Roger Figg scoring a hat trick, the Bees disappointingly went down in the 1st round to Brentwood Town after a replay. The following season, after Wycombe Wanderers were disposed off, Barnet reached the 2nd round of the competition for only the 2nd time in their history, beating Walton & Hersham 1-0 with a goal from Billy Meadows before going down 2-0 at home to Sutton United.
The following season, Barnet reached the 3rd round again for the second time in their history. They beat Lowestoft Town in a replayed 4th qualifying round match, before then defeating league side, Newport County by an astonishing 6-1, Ricky George scoring a hat trick. In the 2nd round, Les Eason scored the only goal of the game at Slough Town, before the Bees went down 1-0 at home to Colchester United in the 3rd round.
Barnet were now regularly making the 1st round FA Cup draw and in 1971-72 they knocked out Hendon to reach the 1st round where they met Southern League side, Kettering Town, winning 4-2 with two goals apiece for Ben Embury and Les Eason. In the 2nd round, in front of over 4,000 fans, Barnet went ahead in the 2nd minute against Football League side, Torquay United, through Flatt, but the Gulls eventually proved too strong winning 4-1.
The following season, Barnet did not have to qualify, as reward for making the final of the FA Trophy. After beating non-league sides Banbury United and Bilston Town, Barnet were drawn away to high flying, Division Two side, QPR, who had the likes of Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis playing for them. The Bees gave a wonderful performance holding the league side to a 0-0 draw and almost won it when a shot from Colin Powell hit the bar shortly before the end. However, QPR were too strong in the replay winning 3-0.
In 1975, Barnet were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division and had to go through the qualifying rounds again. However, in 1977-78 having regained their place in the Southern League Premier Division and with former Chelsea, Tottenham and England legend, Jimmy Greaves, in the side, the Bees reached the 1st round proper again, this time losing 2-1 at home to Peterborough United in front of over 5,000 fans, Dennis Brown scoring for the Bees.
In 1978-79, Barnet reached the 1st round proper again, a Jimmy Greaves goal defeating Edgware Town in the 4th qualifying round. Barnet were drawn at home to play Woking, but after the first two matches were drawn 3-3, the Bees went down in the 2nd replay 3-0 to the Surrey side
In 1979, Barnet were admitted to the Alliance Premier League, which was the original name for what is now the Nationwide Conference and was the top tier of non league football. With this new status came automatic entry to the FA Cup at the Fourth Qualifying Round stage which, naturally, meant that the Bees were likely to make the 1st round proper on a more regular basis.
Alliance Premier, Barnet were knocked out at the first time of asking by Wycombe Wanderers, losing 2-0 at home. The following season, the Bees were taken to three matches before seeing off Aylesbury and then taken to a replay by Minehead in the 1st round proper, before being drawn to play Peterborough United at home.
The next year, 1981-82, Barnet reached the third round for the first time since 1973, beating Corinthian casuals in the 4th Qualifying Round, before knocking out Harlow Town 1-0at home in a replayed1st round match and then Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at home, getting revenge for the defeat in 1979. The Bees then put in a fine effort drawing 0-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 3rd round, before going down 3-1 at the Goldstone Ground in the replay, Gary Sargent scoring the Bees' goal.
There then followed some indifferent seasons, the best effort being a 0-0 draw at home to Bristol Rovers in the 1st round in the 1983-84 season. Rovers were in the third division of the football league (League One nowadays) and were expected to win easily, but after a nervous start, Barnet had the best of the match with Barnet striker Stewart Atkins coming close twice, though at the end Bees' keeper, Gary Phillips had to save smartly when the Bristol rovers' striker, White raced through the Barnet defence. The Barnet side that day was, Phillips; Brown, Millett, Baldry, Pittaway; Stein, Margerrison, Docker; Mahoney, Ragan, Atkins.
In the replay, Barnet gave a determined display creating a number of chances but went down 3-1, substitute, Nicky Evans scoring the Bees' goal following a pass from John Margerrison.
The following season, Barnet lost 3-0 away at Plymouth Argyle, but in 1985, the Bees were humiliated losing 7-0 at home to arch rivals, Enfield. The final seasons before promotion to the league saw Barnet back having to qualify from the 1st Qualifying Round. In 1986, Barnet went out at that stage losing 2-0 at home to Dulwich Hamlet, though in the league Barnet were to finish 2nd at the end of the season. Indeed the club finished 2nd in 1988 and 1990 as well. In 1987-88, Barnet reached the 1st round before going down to league side, Hereford United 1-0 at home. The following season saw Barnet go out in the 3rd Qualifying Round rather surprisingly to Grays Athletic 1-0 at home.
In 1989-90, Barnet reached the 1st round by beating this Saturday's opponents, Burton Albion in the 4th Qualifying Round. The match at Burton was drawn 2-2 with Geoff Cooper and Gary Bull from the penalty spot on target for Barnet in front of a 1435 crowd. Gary Bull scored the only goal of the game as Barnet won the replay 1-0.
In the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn away to 3rd division side, Bristol City and gave a quality performance in front of over 7,500 fans. Barnet nearly scored in the 8th minute when Gary Bull missed a good chance, heading wide, but despite dominating large periods of the game, the home side ran out 2-0 winners. The Barnet side that day were, Guthrie; Wilson, Stacey, Poole, Reilly, Payne (Clarke), Stein (Gridelet), Murphy, Bull, Cooper, Bodley.
In 1991, Barnet won promotion to the 4th division of the football league by winning the GM Vauxhall Conference. In what was to be their last season in the top tier of no-league football for 10 years, Barnet reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1982. After beating Clapton, Braintree, Harlow and Heybridge in the qualifying rounds, the Bees beat Chelmsford City after a replay in the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn at home to Northampton Town, who, at the time, were at the top of the 4th division. In front of over 5,000 fans, the home side outplayed their league opponents and were unlucky not to win, the game ending goalless. Many people thought that Barnet had lost their best chance of getting through to the 3rd round, but in front of nearly 6,000 fans, Barnet won the replay at Northampton 1-0 thanks to a Kevin Durham goal. The Barnet side was, Phillips; Wilson, Cooper, Bodley, Nugent, Richardson, Stein (Durham), Clarke, Bull (Murphy), Willis, Hayrettin. In the 3rd round, however, Portsmouth proved much too strong for the Bees winning 5-0 at Underhill.
In the first league season, Barnet reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup again, defeating Tiverton Town and Enfield in the first two rounds before going down 3-1 at Charlton Athletic.
Now they were a league side, Barnet did not have to go through the qualifying rounds and entered at the 1st round. In 1992-93, Barnet were promoted to the 3rd division, but in the FA Cup they were knocked out at the first stage, losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth after drawing the first match at Dean Court.
The off the pitch financial problems that lead to most of the first team squad and manager, Barry Fry leaving following promotion nearly led to the club folding and indeed they may have done so but for their good fortune in getting drawn at home to Premiership club, Chelsea when they reached the 3rd round again having disposed of non-league sides, Carshalton Athletic and Crawley Town in the earlier rounds.
Barnet chose to play their home tie at Stamford Bridge in order to maximise revenue and for safety reasons and shocked Chelsea by holding them to a goalless draw. Indeed, Bees' striker, Kelly Haag, came close to winning it for the Bees. Chelsea won the replay 4-0 against a gallant Barnet side, but the tie have saved the club's future, even though the club were relegated back to the 4th division at the end of the season.
That season was very much the highlight of this period as far as the FA Cup was concerned. The next two seasons, Barnet were knocked out both times in the first round by Conference club, Woking and in 1996-97 after knocking out Farnborough Town following a replay, Barnet lost to Wycombe Wanderers again following a replay.
In the next three seasons, the club went out at the 1st round stage to Watford by 2-1 in 1997-98, non-league Hednesford Town by 3-1 in 1998-99 and to Burnley by 1-0 in 1999-2000. In 2000-01, Barnet came within five minutes of going out at home to tiny Hampton & Redbridge. Losing 1-0 they snatched an undeserved win with goals from Tony Richards and Darren Currie. In the following round they went down 2-1 at Walsall and at the end of the season they finished bottom of the league and were relegated back to the Conference.
Following relegation from the Football League, Barnet were coming to terms with being a non-league side again. In the first Conference season, Barnet had to play in the 4th Qualifying round, not being a league side anymore and they were drawn away at Havant & Waterlooville. Following an initial 1-1 away draw, a hat trick from Wayne Purser saw the Bees win the replay 3-0. Barnet, however, went out in the 1st round proper when, following a 0-0 draw at home to Carlisle United, they lost the replay 1-0.
The following season, the Bees didn't even make the 1st round, going down, surprisingly, 2-0 at home to lowly, Tiverton Town. In 2003-04, Barnet made the 2nd round proper of the cup. After seeing off Bracknell Town 3-0 away in the 4th Qualifying round with goals from Ian Hendon, Joe gamble and an own goal, they then beat Stalybridge Celtic following a replay. In the first match at Underhill, Barnet went 2-0 up with goals from Peter Beadle and Joe Gamble before allowing the Unibond League side to pull back to 2-2. In the replay, two Guiliano Grazioli goals were enough to see the Bees through 2-0, though Shane Gore had to save a penalty.
In the 2nd round, Barnet faced a trip to Yeovil Town, who were in the Football league for the first time after winning the Conference the previous season. After going a goal down, the Bees equalised through a fine Peter Beadle goal from an Ismail Yakubu cross, but were then blown away by the Somerset club, going down 5-1. The Barnet side that day was; Gore; Hendon, Plummer, Maddix, King; Strevens, Lopez, Gamble, Yakubu; Grazioli, Beadle.
The 2004-05 was to be an outstanding season for the Bees in the Conference, but sadly, not in the FA Cup. After a 2-1 home win over Farnborough Town in the 4th Qualifying Round with goals from Richard Graham and Ismail Yakubu, Barnet went out in the 1st Round Proper following a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Southern League, Bath City. Liam Hatch scored the only goal for the Bees.
In the first season back in the league, following promotion from the Conference, Barnet went out at the opening stage losing, a little unluckily, 1-0 at home to Southend United, despite an outstanding performance from keeper, Ross Flitney.
The following season, 2006-07, proved to be Barnet's best ever season in the FA Cup. In the 1st round, the Bees were drawn way at Conference North club, Gainsborough Trinity and went ahead early on thanks to a Dean Sinclair goal. The home side kept going though and finally equalised in the second half and had the Bees struggling before Tresor Kandol, surprisingly on the bench, was brought on and settled the match with 2 goals as Barnet won 3-1.
The 2nd round brought a home draw with League One side, Northampton Town and Barnet were 1-0 down at half time to a goal by former Bees hero, Scott McGleish. However, a magnificent second half performance saw Northampton completely blown away as goals by Ian Hendon, Dean Sinclair, Magno Viera and Adam Birchall on his full debut saw the Bees through 4-1.
In the 3rd round, Barnet were drawn at home again, this time to Championship side, Colchester United. Again the home side fell behind in the first half, this time to a Jamie Cureton goal, but in another magnificent 2nd half performance, Barnet pushed back their opponents from two divisions above them with first an equaliser from Ismail Yakubu and then a wonderful winner from Jason Puncheon to send the Bees fans wild with a 2-1 win and the club through to the 4th round for the first time. The Barnet side that day were; Harrison; Hendon, King, Yakubu, Nicolau; Cogan, Sinclair, Bailey, Graham; Puncheon, Birchall. Subs: Hatch, Hessenthaler, Warhurst, Grazioli, Flitney.
The club were a bit disappointed with another Championship side in Plymouth Argyle in the 4th round draw, but pleased to be at home and there was a feeling that maybe the club could make the 5th round for the first time in their history. Unfortunately, after looking the better side in the first half, the Bees went down 2-0 to bring their splendid cup run to the end.
In 2007/08, the 1st round draw saw Barnet drawn at home to League One side, Gillingham and the return of ex Bees, Simon King and Barry Cogan. Not for the first time, Barnet were a goal down at half time but came back to win 2-1 with goals from Ismail Yakubu and Liam Hatch.
In the 2nd round, Barnet were drawn away at Conference club, Burton Albion. Barnet went ahead in the first half when a cross from Nicky Nicolau was finished off by Liam Hatch. Burton should have levelled the game just before half time when they were awarded a penalty but Lee Harrison saved easily from the spot. Burton finally grabbed a late equaliser through substitute Darren Stride and Barnet were left to hang on with 10 men after Nicky Nicolau was sent off after a second bookable offence.
In the replay, Adam Birchall scored in extra time to give Barnet a 1-0 win. In the 3rd round, Barnet gained a replay at Swindon with a 1-1 courtesy of another Adam Birchall goal and won the replay on penalties after the match finished 1-1 after extra time. A Paynter own goal for the Bees. In the 4th round, Barnet went down 1-0 at home to Bristol Rovers, who won with a Ricky Lambert goal after Jason Puncheon had missed a penalty in the early minutes for Barnet.
In 2008/09, Barnet were drawn at home to Rochdale in the 1st round and the two sides drew 1-1 with Ismail Yakubu scoring for the Bees. In the replay at Spotland, goals from Albert Adomah and John O'Flynn put the Bees 2-0 up before Rochdale hit back and eventually won 3-2 after extra time ending Barnet's interest in the competition for another year.
In 2009/10, Barnet were drawn at home to Darlington in the 1st round at Underhill and won 3-1 with two goals from John O‘Flynn and one from Micah Hyde. In the 2nd round, a late O’Flynn penalty gave the Bees a 2-2 draw away at Accrington; Ismail Yakubu scoring the first Barnet goal. However, the Bees gave a dismal display in the replay at Underhill going down 1-0.
In 2010/11, Barnet were draw at home to Charlton Athletic at Underhill and drew 0-0, being somewhat unlucky not to win. In the replay at the valley, the Bees outplayed their League One opponents but a superb display by Charlton keeper, Rob Elliott kept the Bees out and a Reid goal for the Valiants meant that Barnet went out of the tournament 1-0.
In 2011/12, Barnet travelled to non-league, Southport in the 1st round winning 2-1 with goals from Clovis Kamdjo and Charlie Taylor. In the 2nd round, Barnet lost 3-1 at home to MK Dons; Izale McLeod scoring for the Bees.
In 2012/13, a weakened Barnet side went out to Oxford United, losing 2-0 at Underhill in the 1st round.
Last season, Barnet won their 4th Qualifying round game at home to Concord Rangers 3-0 with two goals deom Dani Lopez and one from Keanu Marsh-Brown. Barnet lost 6-0 away at League One, Preston in the 1st Round with Marsh-Brown being sent off early on.
In the 4th Qualifying Round this season, Barnet beat Conferece South club, Chelmsford City, 4-1 at The Hive in a replayed game after the original game had ended goalless. Barnet's goals came from John Akinde, David Stephens, Curtis Weston and Luke Gambin.