Graham Stack insists winning the Conference title with Barnet was better than winning the Premier League as part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team at White Hart Lane in 2004.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper pulled off a stunning save with the Bees leading Gateshead 2-0 at The Hive on Saturday, ultimately denying the Heed a route back into the game during their most threatening period.

A brace from Mauro Vilhete had steered Martin Allen’s side into a position of strength and despite Bristol Rovers’ 7-0 shellacking of Alfreton Town, Barnet lifted their third and final Conference title.

And for Stack, who was the deputy to German international Jens Lehmann during the Gunners’ 2003/04 title-winning season, winning the Conference trumps landing the Premier League at the home of arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

“I won the Championship with Reading playing seven or eight games and cup games. I won the title with Arsenal in the ‘Invincibles’ season being on the bench. I've played in Europe twice but this for me is the best feeling I've ever had,” gushed Stack.

“Eleven years today I won the league at White Hart Lane with Arsenal and that was incredible given the company I was in but this is just really difficult to describe.

“I've been fortunate. Some of the boys are young and still learning. I've had success and have been part of good teams. To do what we've done in the hardest league in the country is not easy and we've done it.”

And Stack, who passed the 100 appearance mark for the Bees earlier this season, knows promotion will be even more significant for the younger members of the squad.

He explained: “I've not experienced anything like it. It is career changing; not so much for myself but for some of the young players and for the younger players that are coming through at 17, 18 at development level.

“It's going to change their outlook and the club's outlook. We're back in the Football League and we deserved it.”

The stopper continued by heaping praise on head coach Martin Allen: “You can have all the players, you can work hard and have luck, but if you haven’t got a manager who believes in all of you and drives you on when things aren't going quite your way [it means nothing].

“We struggled in January. But he's given us guidance, reassurance and leadership. He's precise about what we do and how we play. The manager deserves a lot of credit.”

Having worked under Arsene Wenger, Stack is well-placed to judge the qualities of Allen, who gave the former Republic of Ireland youth cap his first job in coaching at the start of this season.

“Martin Allen has similar traits to other managers,” stated Stack. “I've worked with Mick McCarthy, Steve Coppell, Arsene Wenger and Dennis Wise but Martin Allen is his own man. He's got his own way of getting his messages across and his way of training.

“In my first year as a coach in any capacity I've learnt an awful lot being in his office, sitting with him, talking on the phone regarding the team, training and players. I've learnt an awful lot. It's been a fantastic year learning and developing as a coach.”

Stack’s memories of the Football League are coloured by disappointment. Despite his dramatic penalty save against Wycombe Wanderers in the final game at Underhill, the Bees were relegated at Northampton Town a week later and now the self-confessed Queens Park Rangers fan is keen to prove a point once more.

“People talk about the penalty save at Underhill but it's not a good memory for me as we got relegated a week later,” said Stack. “I was heartbroken over the summer and found it hard to get going.

“I did but I've had a bite back today. I feel as if nobody is too good for this level but I felt I deserved the chance to play in the Football League as I felt the whole squad deserve it.”