Barnet FC Ladies - A History
Barnet F.C. Ladies entered into a partnership with Barnet FC in 1998. Although separately affiliated, the Club is fully supported by and run in conjunction with Barnet Football Club.
The origins of the club however date back to 1975, when it was formed as District Line Ladies F.C. The club's formative years were spent in the lower divisions of the Hounslow & District League (now the Greater London Regional Women's Football League). Fortunes improved with the arrival in 1981 of John Jones, who guided the club to promotion through the various tiers of the competition. John remained as Manager until February 2004.
In 1991/92 District Line won the Greater London League's Premier Division and were subsequently promoted to the Women's National League Division One South. This Division was also won, at the first attempt in 1992/93 and therefore promotion to the Premier Division was achieved, thus establishing the club as one of the Country's top ten women's teams.
During the close season of 1993, the club entered into a partnership with the Isthmian League club Wembley F.C. and changed their name to Wembley Ladies. The newly re-named club consolidated its place in the top flight, finishing 4th in 1993/94 and 5th the following season, when the League had changed its title to the F.A. Women's Premier League.
In 1995/96 Wembley Ladies finished 6th in the Premier Division, but the highlight of the season came in winning the F.A. Women's Premier League Cup, defeating Doncaster Belles in the Final, on penalties, at Barnet F.C.
The following year was again marked by achievement in national cup competitions, when Wembley Ladies reached the Final of the F.A. Women's Cup. The Final was played on the ground of West Ham United F.C. and Wembley Ladies lost a tight match 0-1 against Millwall Lionesses.
Wembley Ladies won the Middlesex County F.A. Ladies Senior Cup four times in succession between 1994 and 1997. In the Final of this competition they defeated Millwall Lionesses 3-0 in 1994, Arsenal Ladies 3-0 at Highbury in 1995 and Chelsea 2-1 in both 1996 and 1997.
At the end of the 1996/97 season the club ended its association with Wembley F.C. and whilst retaining its name, moved its home ground to Hanwell Town F.C. The 1997/98 season ended with the disappointment of relegation to the South Division of the F.A. Women's Premier League.
However, it was at this time that the club entered into a partnership with Barnet F.C. and henceforth became known as Barnet F.C. Ladies. The new association meant the First Team moved to a new home ground at Underhill. This placed them in the unique position for a women's club of playing their home matches on a Nationwide League ground. The new arrangement meant the club encompassed the existing Barnet Ladies F.C., who had themselves enjoyed a successful history in the Greater London Regional Women's League. However, to this day an influence of the old Barnet Ladies remains at the club.
The 1998/99 season was one of consolidation. Barnet finished outside of the relegation positions of the South Division, finishing the season with a string of fine results. The 1999/2000 season saw further improvement and the club finished in a mid-table position.
The following year Barnet were among the pace-setters in the F.A. Women's Premier South Division, their brave promotion challenge only faltering in the fixture congestion of the last three weeks of the season. It was also a successful season in the cups. The Bees reached the Quarter-Final stage of both the AXA FA Women's Cup and AXA FA Women's Premier League Cup. In addition, they defeated the holders Fulham Ladies to win the Middlesex Women's Senior Cup for the fifth time.
The 2001/02 season saw Barnet involved in a season long battle against relegation which was ultimately won with one match of the season remaining. However, many young players joined the club during the course of the season and also during the summer, a fact that stood the club in good stead for an improved showing the following season.
Barnet FC Ladies eventually finished the 2002/03 season in fifth position, but were only one point away from clinching runners-up spot. The young Barnet team was widely praised for its brand of football during the campaign and boasted a defensive record bettered only by the league champions.
Last season saw Barnet FC Ladies surrender its position in the FA Women's Premier League for the first team in over a decade. However, they will start the 2004/05 season in the South East Combination League with a squad of talented young players, confident that they can make a realistic promotion bid.
CLUB HONOURS
F.A. Women's Cup Finalists 1996/97
F.A. Women's Premier League Cup Winners 1995/96
WFA National League Division 1 South Champions 1992/93
Middlesex County FA Women's Senior Cup Winners 1993/94, 1994/95,
1995/96, 1996/97,
2000/01
Finalists 1997/98
Reebok Cup Winners 2000/01
Greater
Premier Division Champions 1991/92
Division 1 Runners Up 1990/91
Division 2 Champions 1987/88, 1989/90
League Cup Finalists 1987/88, 1990/91
1991/92
Russell Cup Finalists 1985/86
Anniversary Cup Finalists 1983/84
Reserve Team
Finalists 2002/03
FAWPL Reserve Section Div 2 South Runners Up 2002/03
Greater
Division 1 Champions 1993/94
Russell Cup Winners 1991/92, 1993/94
FULL INTERNATIONALS
Kelly Smith.
