Barnet FC are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Sam Cowler on a one-year deal.

Having already spent a period with the club following a loan spell, Cowler is no stranger to Barnet and admits that he is delighted to be back:

“I’m very pleased to be back. I was here for a short time when I came on loan a couple of years ago under Martin Allen and he did a great job, so I am really looking forward to working under him again.

“I also played with the youth team along with Jamal Lowe, George Sykes and a few others when we came second in the league so I am used to playing with a few of the boys and know them quite well.”

“We were already training here the last time I was with the club but the surroundings are quite a bit different to then in terms of the stadium. The facilities here are fantastic and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting on the pitch once the season starts and seeing what The Hive is all about.”

Having been a scholar at West Ham United before spending brief spells on loan at Wycombe, QPR and Barnet without making an appearance, Cowler signed for the Bees in the summer of 2012 after leaving West Ham.

He got his first taste of first team football with the during the 2012/13 season, making his debut in the 2-1 defeat away to Fleetwood after Graham Stack was sent off before starting the following game at home to Exeter and also going on to play in the FA Cup first round defeat to Oxford United in November. 

Cowler would leave for pastures new at the end of the season, signing for Bishop’s Stortford in the Conference South. However, after starting the season as first choice the 21-year-old endured a campaign that was interrupted by serious injuries.

Fully-recovered, the young keeper is now looking forward to getting back underway with Barnet ahead of what promises to be an exciting season:

“I suffered a couple of injuries last season, breaking my hand around Christmas time and then damaging my ankle ligaments after I returned in February. I only started training again during this pre-season so it’s like a fresh start for me.

“I’m aware that Stacky is well-established as number one and my role for the time being will more than likely be helping him as his number two. However, I’ve got belief in my ability and think I can push him all the way.

“Barnet are a club on the up and I want to be a part of that. I’ve been really impressed with everything since I’ve been here. The boys are fit and focused, there’s a lot of exciting players here and I believe we can really achieve something special this season.”