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National Game Awards: These Barnet boys will go down in club folklore

Dean Brennan believes every member of his title-winning Barnet side will go down in the club’s folklore as the Bees were named Team of the Year at the National Game Awards, in association with Isuzu.

WINNING TEAM: Barnet trio left to right: Danny Collinge, assistant boss Connor Smith and player/ coach Jerome Okimo PICTURE: Matt Bristow

Dean Brennan believes every member of his title-winning Barnet side will go down in the club’s folklore as the Bees were named Team of the Year at the National Game Awards, in association with Isuzu.

The boys from the Hive topped the National League with 102 points – surpassing a century of points for the first time in the club’s 137-year existence – to gain promotion back to the English Football League after a seven-season absence.

After heartbreak in the play-offs during the last two campaigns, Brennan never lost faith in his side and knew they had what it took to go up automatically this time around.

“At the start of the season, we set a target of 100 points to get promoted,” said the 44-year-old, who replaced Harry Kewell as Bees boss in 2021.

WINNING TEAM: Barnet trio left to right: Danny Collinge, assistant boss Connor Smith and player/ coach Jerome Okimo
PICTURE: Matt Bristow

Team of the Year: Barnet FC – Brennan praises his title winners

“We knew Chesterfield got 98 points last season and when we looked around at the competition this time – Forest Green Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Southend, big clubs like that – I just had a feeling it would take a big number to give us a chance.

“It was a tall order, but from the first day of pre-season, I could see that the players were prepared to go to the limit to achieve it.

“From that day forward, I knew that I could take this group to that sort of level, and they have never stopped working and making those sacrifices for me.

“Everything we have asked them to do, they have done.

“Every player who was here this season will go down as a legend at this football club, because Barnet has been around for 137 years and it has never, ever, ever got over 100 points.

“So, to do that has been an amazing achievement and whilst it is now time to look forward to next season, what happened this year should never be forgotten.

“These lads are all legends, and we are immensely proud to have that recognised by winning Team of the Year. As a club, we are all incredibly honoured.”

BEE-LIGHT! Legendary former Barnet boss, Paul Fairclough presents the NGA award to Bees duo Danny Collinge, left, and Jerome Okimo

HAPPY DAYS: Barnet celebrate another goal in their title race

Delight

Popular defender Danny Collinge and player-coach Jerome Okimo, who accepted the award on behalf of the club – expressed their delight with how the season had panned out, but insisted the focus will now be on their upcoming campaign in League Two.

Defender Collinge – who marshalled the Barnet backline into the division’s meanest by only conceding a league-low 38 goals, while chipping in with four goals – said: “It is amazing for the club to win this award.

“I could not be happier for the management team, for the staff, for the chairman and the players,

“We had a really good couple of weeks, so it is nice to come here and be recognised in this way.”

When asked about the 2025/26 campaign, Okimo added: “Work has started for next season, as a club, we are already planning for that.

“Everyone is looking forward to it, we are certainly going to enjoy it and give life in the Football League a good go.”

READ MORE: National Game Awards: Dean Brennan’s award is a win for the collective

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