The FA Trophy was introduced in 1969 by the Football Association for non-league clubs and the final was to be played at Wembley Stadium. The idea was to give professional, or semi-professional, non-league clubs the chance to play at Wembley and to give them their own major knockout competition. Since 1965, when Barnet had left the Athenian League to join the Southern League and turned semi-professional, the Bees had been unable to play in the FA Amateur Cup which they had won in 1946 and been runners up in 1948 & 1959.
Naturally, Barnet, who were a Southern League Club, entered the competition in the first season, 1969-70. They were drawn away to Rushden Town in the 3rd Qualifying Round and won 5-0 with goals from two goals from Billy Meadows and a hat trick for Les Eason.
In the 1st round proper, Barnet were drawn away at Bath City and won 4-3 with Les Eason scoring and Colin Powell getting a hat trick. In the 2nd round, Barnet won 2-0 at home to Hereford United with Meadows and Eason scoring. In the 3rd round, Bromsgrove Rovers were beaten 2-1 at Underhill with Powell and Meadows scoring in front of 2640 fans.
In the quarter-finals, Barnet thrashed Mossley 8-1 with goals from Eason (3), Meadows, Powell (2) and Ricky George (2). The Semi-final was played at Stoke City's old Victoria ground where Barnet met Macclesfield Town. Unfortunately, Barnet lost 1-0 and missed out on the chance of a visit to Wembley.
Macclesfield were the Northern Premier League defending champions and were a very good side and were very well organised, making sure that Barnet's flare players, such as Powell were kept subdued and Barnet found goal chances very few and far between. Young scored in the 15th minute for Macclesfield and that goal was enough to take them to Wembley where they became the first club to win the FA trophy by beating Telford United 2-0.
The Barnet side in the semi-final was; McClelland, Lye, Jenkins, Ward, Embery, King, Powell, George, Meadows, Eason (Gregory), Ferry.
The following season, 1970-71, Barnet went out in the 1st round proper losing 3-0 away at Kidderminster. However, the following season turned out to be Barnet's most successful ever season in the tournament.
Barnet were drawn away at Southern League, Dover Athletic in the 1st round and won easily 6-0 with a hat trick for Lou Adams, two for Colin Powell and one for Les Eason. Barnet keeper, Jack McClelland even saved a penalty in a match where the last four goals came in a spell of just 15 minutes.
In the 2nd round, the Bees drew 0-0 away at Lowestoft Town and then won the replay at Underhill 5-1 with goals from Les Eason (2), Lou Adams, Colin Flatt and an own goal. The match was played in the daytime due to industrial action which led to a number of power cuts in the days of the three day week. In the 3rd round, Barnet travelled to Northern Premier League side, Wigan Athletic who were to be elected into the football league in 1977. Nearly 5,000 fans saw Barnet win 2-1 in a highly dramatic encounter. Wigan missed two penalties before Fletcher put Wigan ahead but 15 minutes from time, a Les Eason cross was headed back by Dickie Plume for Colin Flat to hit home the equaliser and six minutes from time, Peter Jenkins and Colin Powell combined to set up Flatt to score the winner.
In the 4th round, the Bees were drawn away at southern League, Dartford and, in difficult conditions, won through to the semi-finals, winning 2-0 with goals from Colin Powell and Les Eason.In the semi-final, Barnet met Telford United, from the APL, at Northampton's old County Ground and won 1-0 thanks to a last minute penalty, successfully converted by Dickie Plume. Barnet were on their way to Wembley.
In the final, Barnet didn't really do themselves justice and although the Bees started quite well with Colin Powell in fine form and Stafford's defenders having to resort to fouling him on a number of occasions to keep him at bay, once just outside the penalty area. However, it must be said that Stafford had the best of the play in the first half once they had settled down and created a number of chances. Gerry Ward had the best effort for Barnet hitting a shot just over the bar. Ten minutes before half time, Les Eason hit a fine shot on the turn from within the penalty area that brought out a fine save by the Stafford keeper, Aleksic.
At half time, the match was goalless and Barnet started the second half quite well but Stafford eventually took control of the match and ran out worthy 3-0 winners.
The Barnet side was; McClelland, Lye (Capt.), Jenkins, Ward, Embury, King, Powell, Ferry, Flatt, Plume, Eason. Sub: Adams.
