LONDON (Reuters) -Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur fans may be anxiously praying for a trophy parade at the end of this season, but Barnet ensured there will be silverware in north London this year after sealing the National League title on Saturday.
Barnet won the National League for a record fourth time since the division's official formation in 1979 with a 4-0 home win over Aldershot Town at The Hive Stadium.
It caps a remarkable turnaround for the Bees under manager Dean Brennan who was appointed in September 2021 the season after the club were spared from relegation to the sixth tier of English football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barnet won the National League thanks to two penalties from Mark Shelton and a Callum Stead brace in their penultimate match of the campaign, giving them 99 points from 45 matches, six points ahead of York City who will contest the playoffs.
Barnet, who count international greats Edgar Davids and Harry Kewell as former managers, also have their sights set on returning to their home borough having been forced to leave their Underhill stadium in Barnet, north London in 2013.
Plans have been submitted for a new stadium close to their old site. The club currently play in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. With their return to the Football League secured, fans dream of bringing Barnet back home to complete a huge success for community football support.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
