Former Barnet striker Ben Strevens recalls his part in the Bees' last title win, a decade ago this month

And what that record alone doesn’t detail is the fact four of those came in the five games leading up to and including the decisive win over Halifax at Underhill which finally landed the Conference title.

Strevens’ contribution to that most memorable of seasons was, however, underlined by his equaliser against the Shaymen to set Paul Fairclough’s men on their way to a 3-1 victory and an unassailable lead at the summit.

Reflecting on the first of two Conference title wins in his lengthy career, the 34-year-old – now at Barnet’s divisional rivals Eastleigh – recalls the final stretch fondly.

He mused: “I was quite fortunate because I had not scored that many goals all season but in the run-in I scored for four games in a row and ended up scoring a goal on the day we won it at home, so that goal stands out the most.

“That season I pretty much knew if everyone was fit it was going to be Hatchy (Liam Hatch) and Graz (Giuliano Grazioli) up front together and I was not going to play much.

“I spent most of the season playing right midfield. It was not my favourite position but I was just happy being in the team and whenever Hatchy was injured – he had quite a few injuries that season – I just ended up going back up top with Graz.”

The Edgware-born attacker added: “We all got on well. It was a good group and Graz was one of the stand-out characters in the group. Everyone loved him and everything he did for us. It was just a good spirit there; we all wanted each other to do well.”

It was defender Simon King who put Strevens in touch with me and the pair – plus Grazioli car pooled to training and are still in touch now – a rarity even among close-knit groups due to the ever-changing nature of the game.

“I went to Graz’s thing the other week where he had the bar [at The Hive] named after him – which is thoroughly deserved – and I try to speak to him and Kingy whenever I can,” explained Strevens. “Not so much with Hendo (Ian Hendon) any more – I think he is quite busy with West Ham.

“You keep in touch where you can but it is hard when you are doing other things,” he conceded.

And whilst there were lasting bonds formed in the dressing room at Underhill during that period, there were also rather more fractious relationships.

Strevens and boss Paul Fairclough did not see eye-to-eye and he is not the first member of the side to speak of a strained relationship between certain squad members and the man who delivered League football once more.

And when it came to leaving Underhill for Crawley Town in 2006, a significantly older and wiser Strevens accepts some of the blame for his exit.

“The ending was a little bit my own fault,” he rued. “I got into trouble off the field – which I can’t go in to – but me and Paul did not really have a good relationship from the first moment he walked through the doors at the club, to be honest.

“He had a little bit of a perception manager of me from something which happened when he was England ‘C’ manager,” Strevens explained. “I was in the standby squad and I did not realise I had to phone up to find out whether I was in the squad or not, so I think he had the impression of me that I did not care and was maybe a little bit big time.

“When he first came in we did not get on well and there was a whole thing where I had been promised a contract by Martin Allen and he took it back from me. It was a tough situation.

"I got on with him because he was my manager and it was a working relationship, but without being too disrespectful, of all the managers I have had throughout my career he was the one I got on with the least.

“He did well for the club but I am not sure too many of the boys were overly keen on him but he did a good job – you can’t deny that. He was a little bit difficult at times,” he added.

Picture: Action Images

Having joined Dagenham & Redbridge and won promotion to League Two in 2007, Strevens marked his first match against his first professional club by scoring for the Daggers in a 1-1 draw at Victoria Road.

“It was weird really,” said Strevens. “I left Barnet in not the greatest circumstances due to the manager at the time.

“So when I scored I was buzzing I scored against my former manager but I had respect for the fans and they did not really know what had gone on behind the scenes, so I did not celebrate.

“I always felt quite supported because I was a local lad.”

Picture: Action Images

Having played against the Bees for the Spitfires this season, Strevens is well-placed to pass judgement on the current crop, who face Gateshead on Saturday knowing a win will see them win the club’s first promotion in a decade.

“I have played for Martin (Allen) a couple of times now – during his spell as manager at Barnet and a couple of years ago at Gillingham – and they are a typical Martin Allen team,” stated Strevens.

“He looks as though he has got a good team spirit and togetherness. They have got a couple of standout players and John Akinde is having a great season. They are just good, hard-working and tough to play against.

“Fingers crossed they get over the line this weekend because they deserve it; they have been top for almost the entire season so for them not to do it now would be a bit of a gutter.

“I think they deserve to win it this year and hopefully they do."