Barnet's Manager - Paul Fairclough

By Nathan Jackson
August 4 2008

Paul Fairclough certainly has an excellent record at non-League level. However, much like most other managers that have an excellent record in the non-league, Fairclough's record in the Football League certainly isn't the best. Can he finally have a successful League season at Barnet?

Born in Liverpool in 1950, Paul Fairclough started at his hometown club but was quickly released into the world of non-league football, representing Wealdstone, St Albans City and Cheshunt during his playing career. He became a teacher of IT at Onslow St Audrey's School in Hatfield after his playing days came to an end.

He became manager of Hereford Town in 1988 and lasted two seasons before being taken to Stevenage Borough. He quickly became a success at ‘Boro, winning the Ryman Division two by amasing an incredible 107 points, scoring 122 goals and having a winning record at home of 100%. A year later and they won a second successive promotion, unbeaten at home and promoted to the Ryman Premier Division.

Stevenage managed to go 45 games at home without losing, a very impressive record indeed, but controversy was about to hit. Fairclough guided Stevenage to the Conference title but the FA denied them entry to the Football League due to having an insufficient ground. It's amazing saying that now considering that Dagenham and Accrington have both been let in with their grounds.

Fairclough's final season in charge during his first spell at Stevenage fell in the 97/8 season and they made headlines that season for holding Premiership "giants" Newcastle United to a draw and taking them to a replay. They held their own at St James' Park before eventually going out 2-1. Fairclough soon left the club.

He returned in 2000 and sent the club on a run to the FA Trophy Final in 2002. However, they lost 2-0 to Yeovil Town and Fairclough left the club for a second time this time to become manager of the National Game XI. He achieved moderate success before being appointed as Barnet's manager.

Barnet won the Conference in his first full season in charge, maintaining Fairclough's reputation as one of the best non-League manager's around. However, his time in the League has been a mixed bag. He has taken Barnet far in both cups but has been distinctively average in League Two, facing a few relegation battles.