Although football has been played in Barnet since 1888 it wasn't until as recently as 1965 that the town's premier club turned professional and began to make their name in the old Southern League.
The Hertfordshire club really caught the headlines following the appointment of charismatic manager Barry Fry in 1986 and a particularly exciting era was rewarded with the Conference title in 1991 and automatic promotion to the Football League.
Better still, just two seasons later a third-place finish behind champions Cardiff City and Wrexham saw Barnet promoted to English football's third tier.
The elevation proved a step to far, though, and the Bees made a quick return to the basement after finishing bottom of the pile.
Our first-ever game against the Bees took place that campaign with County wining the New Year's Day clash 2-1 thanks to a brace from Kevin Francis.
The return came in the April when the promotion-chasing Hatters were held to a goalless draw after Danny Bergara surprisingly named a defensive line up against a side that were to finish 57 points behind his team.
Our next three games at Underhill were also end-of-season affairs with plenty riding on them.
Who will ever forget the final away game of 2005-06 when around 1,500 travelling fans attracted Barnet's biggest gate of the season. After a 4-0 hammering at Torquay in the week County were staring the Conference in the face but a battling goalless draw in Hertfordshire, followed by the same result seven days later on that never-to-be forgotten afternoon against Carlisle saw Jim Gannon lead the Hatters to the greatest of all escapes.
A quiz question now. Who ended County's Football League record-winning run of nine games with no goals conceded? Barnet, on March 10, 2006. When Tes Bramble headed the Hatters into a 33rd minute lead 10-in-a-row was definitely on but a massive deflection - ironically hitting Bramble - from Oli Allen just before half-time saw Wayne Hennessy concede his first ever goal after an incredible 854 minutes; the Bees eventually ran out 3-1 winners.
Then, in 2007-08, County, again chasing automatic promotion, lost 2-1 despite a fine goal from Tommy Rowe. The Hatters were hoping Hereford United would slip up at Brentford leaving the door open for Gannon's men to claim third place. But, as the game was being played at Underhill, the Bees' tannoy announcer took great delight in relaying the news that the Bulls had scored twice in the opening 36 minutes at Griffin Park; the incident, unsurprisingly, didn't go down well with the travelling hordes!
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| BARNET FACT FILE |
| Record League win |
7-0 vs Blackpool, Division 3 2001/01 |
| Record cup win |
6-1 vs Newport Co, FA Cup 1st round 1970/71 |
| Record defeat |
1-9 vs Peterborough, Division 3, 1998/99 |
| Most points (2 for a win) |
|
| Most points (3 for a win) |
79 - Division 3 1992/93 |
| Most goals in a season |
81 - Division 4 1991/92 |
| Highest scorer (season) |
24 - Dougie Freedman 1994/95 |
| Highest scorer (career) |
47 - Sean Devine 1995-99 |
| Most goals in one match |
4 - Dougie Freedman vs Rochdale 1994/95 & Lee Hodges vs Rochdale 1995/96 |
| Most international caps |
4 - Ken Charlery, St Lucia |
| Most League appearances |
263 - Paul Wilson 1991-2000 |
| Youngest player |
17y 71d - Kieran Adams, 1994/95 |
| Record transfer fee received |
£800,000 from Crystal Palace for Dougie Freedman 1995/96 |
| Record transfer fee paid |
£130,000 to Peterborough for Greg Heald 1997/98 |
| COUNTY V BARNET |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
| Home |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
| Away |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
