Bishop signs pre-contract with Notts County

Barnet midfield player, Neal Bishop travelled today to sign for League Two rivals, Notts County. Bishop will officially become a County player on 1^st July when his current contract with Barnet runs out.

Bishop joined Barnet in the summer of 2007 from York City where he had been their player of the year and had played for the England C team, which was managed by Barnet manager at the time, Paul Fairclough.

Bishop had begun his career at Middlesbrough as a youngster, but had failed to make it through into the first team and ended up in non-league football playing for a number of clubs including Whitby Town, Scarborough and Gateshead before moving to York.

Bishop made his league debut for Barnet on the opening day of the 2007/08 season at Morecambe and quickly settled into the Barnet side as a regular part of the Bees' central midfield, originally alongside Michael Leary. However, following Leary's injury early in the season at Brentford, Charlton youngster, Josh Wright arrived on loan and Bishop and Wright quickly formed an excellent midfield partnership that was to last for the rest of the season, only interrupted when Wright briefly returned to Charlton early in December.

Bishop was proving also to be a popular player with the Barnet fans and played a large part in Barnet's surge into the play-off places during September and October. Unfortunately, Paul Fairclough's young side couldn't sustain this form. However, the club finished 12^th at the end of the season, the highest position that Barnet had achieved since returning to the league in 2005. Bishop also played his part in helping barnet reach the 4^th round of the FA Cup for the second successive season.

One of the disappointing aspects of Bishop's season was his lack of goals. Bishop scored just two goals in his first season at Underhill. His first came in December in the home match against Macclesfield Town, when Barnet came back from 2-0 down early on to draw 2-2, with Bishop scoring the equaliser late on in the game. Jason Puncheon's fine cross was met by Bishop with a diving header to score his first ever league goal. Bishop didn't score again until the following April when he scored in the 2-0 away win at Accrington. Adam Birchall played the ball across the penalty area for Bishop to head home.

Bishop was injured in the Accrington game and many fans felt that it might be the last time they'd see Bishop in a Barnet shirt as it had become clear that Bish was feeling somewhat homesick and might be looking for a club nearer home.

However, at the beginning of season 2008/09, Bishop was till at Underhill, though some fans felt that his performances at the start of the season gave the impression that he wanted away from Underhill. However, Bishop soon settled down and gave a number of strong, solid performances in a side that was floundering badly during the first half of the season. Indeed, it was Bishop's third goal for the club, in the 1-0 away win at Grimsby Town in September that gave Barnet their first win of the season after having taken just one point from the first seven matches. It was to prove Bishop's last goal too as he didn't score another goal for the rest of the season.

Bishop did, however, have a good second half of the season under Barnet's new caretaker manager, Ian Hendon and some sterling midfield performances helped Barnet climb the table away from the relegation area and towards safety, finally finishing the season in 17^th place. Many fans felt that Bishop might win the player of the year award but in the end, he was voted in 3^rd place behind John O'Flynn and Albert Adomah.

Unfortunately, rumours were revived that Bishop would not sign another contract for the Bees, with his current two year contract due to expire in June. However, Ian Hendon, now full time Barnet manager, was optimistic that Bishop would stay at Underhill. This, sadly, proved not to be the case and Bishop decided a move nearer home, to Notts County was too attractive to turn down. Many Barnet will be extremely disappointed at Bish's departure but I am sure that all would wish him the best for the future and give him a warm welcome when he returns to Underhill with Notts County.