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How Barnet are Tearing Up the National League
Blogs

How Barnet are Tearing Up the National League

09/03/25 12:45

Barnet are taking the National League by storm

Barnet FC, a club that looked destined to stay in the fifth tier forever, are nine games away from a return to the EFL. The Bees have 82 points, 79 goals scored, 32 conceded and five losses all season, which has left them 11 points clear at the top of the table. It’s only a matter of games before a long-awaited return to the EFL, but how have Barnet created such a buzz at the Hive this season?

Representing the London borough of Barnet and currently based in Edgware, Barnet first entered the football league in 1991, and have spent 21 of the last 34 seasons in the third or fourth tier. The bees' current stint in the National League is their longest since ‘91, now into their seventh straight season in non-league’s highest division, and is one of the longer stays in the league.

Life in the fifth tier

There has been a shift in attitude around the club over the last couple of seasons, finishing in a playoff position two seasons in a row, Barnet were unfortunate to see their 5th and 2nd place finishes both end in playoff semi-final defeat. However, despite being the second best team in the 2023/24 season, many expected Barnet to have another drop off with many former EFL clubs like Forest Green Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale and Southend their competition.

The 2024/25 National League title race has ended up being between Barnet, Forest Green and York City, but in recent weeks the Bees have pulled clear of the other pair with some impressive stats. The North London club are the leading goalscorers out of the entire top five divisions of England and have been unstoppable at home, winning 16, drawing three and losing none.

The side crazily have not lost in the league since October, with their five losses of the season all coming in the first few months of the season. In their last 12 games the Bees have earned 32 points, scoring 28 and conceding two. If they remain unbeaten for the last nine games, they will break Crawley’s record of the longest unbeaten streak (30) going 31 without defeat.

Key players

These stats have not happened without the players and squad that Dean Brennan has constructed over the last few years. The centre forward spot has been taken by a few strikers this season, Nicke Kabamba finally left the club for Bromley after scoring 54 league goals in two and a half seasons. He was smartly replaced by Neil Ndlovu who has scored five goals since he was drafted in a couple of months ago. Callum Stead has also been a consistent supply, with 19 goal contributions in all competitions throughout the season.

Nick Hayes was another winter departure that Barnet dealt with, replacing him with Owen Evans on loan from Cheltenham. Evans has kept nine clean sheets in his 10 games since joining Barnet, conceding a single goal, the 28-year-old might be someone they choose to sign permanently if the Bees are to be promoted.

After coming so close to promotion last year, transfers were a make or break heading into this season. Summer signings of Anthony Hartigan, Myles Kenlock, Ryan Glover and Nikola Tavares have been useful additions in all areas of the pitch with all four of them playing over 2,300 minutes. Kenlock in particular in recent weeks has been a level above, and Hartigan was a clever move as someone with EFL experience, both will be in the picture heading into their potential League Two campaign.

Back to Barnet

With their fantastic home form this season, it is a shame that the citizens of Chipping Barnet (where the club was previously based over 5 miles away) have to travel since moving from Underhill over a decade ago. The club introduced the ‘Back to Barnet’ campaign in 2024, in an attempt to build a new Underhill stadium back to the EN5 area code.

Whether in Edgware or Barnet, League Two or the National League, the Bees are one of the lower league’s most notable clubs, especially in the London scene, and if they keep up their strong form, are set to win the National League for a record fourth time.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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