Club History
Last updated : 27 September 2004 By Bm91
Barnet FC was formed in 1888 after previously being New Barnet FC (1885-88)
and previous to that Woodville FC (1882-1885). The "Hillmen" were formed by
ex-scholars of Cowley College and Lyonsfown Collegiate School and played in
New Barnet until they moved to Queens Road ("Ravonscoft Park") in November
1889. Initially they played friendly games in a semi-organised league called
the Olympian league. They were inaugural members of the North London League
 | Barnet Alston Football Club, Season 1907-08, Players Back: W.Draper, Harry Mitchell, O.Linkson, Middle: A.G.Seabrook, A.Brown (capt), A.Maydell, A.E.Howell, Spanker Ridley, Front: Tom Reynolds, E.Harrison, C.Gallienne , Officials right to left: R.W.Sonnex (Treasurer), T.Manners, Geo Gurnett, A.Shilling (president), Clem Ward, L.Long, A.Starbuck, W.Oatley, A.Hawkins, E.Criegg, W.Barker ( Trainer ) , C.Betts, Edwin Jones (Secretary), Geo H.Walters , This picture was taken at the opening of Underhill in September 1907 ,It includes Oscar Linkson who went on to play 50 games for Manchester United |
|
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)
aswell very competitive games against local rivals Hendon Rovers, Finchley
FC and Barnet Avenue. They then played in the London league division II
(1897-98 champions) and division I before dissolving in season 1901-2.
From 1890 another Barnet club called Avenue FC gradually expanded through
the Middlesex leagues and in 1904-5, after the original Barnet 1888 club had
dissolved, they renamed themselves Barnet FC. Formed by ex-scholars of the
Christ Church School they became great rivals to the Barnet 1888 team
; the games often played in front of large and vocal crowds. They joined the
Amateur Football Association in 1907-8 winning the Chiswick League. They
first played in Hadley Green, then in Granville Road High Barnet, before
eventually taking over the original Barnet ground in Queens Road. In 1910-11
they reverted back to the Football Association and in 1912 they merged with
another club in Barnet called Barnet Alston.
Alston Works AFC formed 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 off
Totteridge Lane (now Barnet Lane), before finally settling (in 1907-8) at
the present clubs ground at Underhill. In 1912 they merged with the Avenue
team, then called Barnet FC, to form Barnet and Alston AFC. After the First
World War they renamed themselves Barnet FC.
Several players and officials moved between these clubs but the present club
was formed in 1901 by the Alston Works team. The Barnet FC name has survived
in several forms since 1888.