With thanks to Bees supporter Tony Rayner for his help with this article.

Barnet FC was formed in 1888, having formerly been known as New Barnet (1885-1888) and Woodville FC (1882-1885)

Known as "The Hillmen", they were formed by ex-scholars of Cowley College and Lyonsdown Collegiate School and played in New Barnet before moving to Queens Road in Ravenscroft Park in 1889. Barnet were one of the teams to enter into the new North London League in 1892/1893.

They had a lot of success in the North Middlesex League from then onwards and also competed in the Middlesex Junior Cup, Senior Cup and the London Junior Cup. In these competitions they would face Tottenham Hostpur, and once beat them 5-0. Thames Ironworks were also regular opponents, the name for the dockyard workers who would eventually become West Ham United. As well as these games, Barnet would enjoy competitive fixtures against local rivals Hendon Rovers, Finchley and Barnet Avenue.

They then moved on to play in the London League Division Two, becoming champions in 1897/1898 before ceasing to exist in the 1901/1902 season.

That was not the last of Barnet FC however. In 1890, another Barnet side called Avenue FC progressed well through the Middlesex Leagues and in 1904/1905, they were to rename themselves Barnet FC. Avenue FC and the original Barnet FC became strong rivals and would regularly meet in front of large and vociferous crowds. 

They were to join the Amateur Football Association in 1907/1908 having won the Chiswick League and played home games on Hadley Green, before eventually taking over the old Barnet FC ground on Queens Road. In 1910/1911 they reverted back to the Football Association and in 1912 merged with another local team called Barnet Alston.

Alston Works AFC were another club based in Barnet and formed just before the original Barnet FC dissolved in the 1901/1902 season. They were a works team for the dental manufacturer Alston Works in Chipping Barnet and were known as "The Dentals" or "The Amber & Blacks". In 1904/1905, they turned senior and renamed themselves Barnet Alston FC.

Initially, Barnet Alston played at Underhill Farm, just off Totteridge Lane before moving to the current Underhill site in September 1907. In 1912, they merged with Avenue FC (who were renamed as Barnet FC) to create Barnet & Alston FC and becoming founder members of the Athenian League. After the First World War, the name was changed back to Barnet FC, which continues to this very day.