Barnet Football Club can confirm that Callum Stead has completed a move to Cambridge United, calling time on a remarkable three years in black and amber.
Stead arrived at The Hive from Brackley Town in the summer of 2023 and three years later, leaves after making 124 appearances, scoring 50 goals and playing a vital role in helping the club to where it is today.
The forward made his Bees’ debut as a substitute in our second game of the 2023/24 National League campaign against Bromley and went on to net his first goal for the club a month later in a 2-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers.
The 26-year-old went on to register 14 more league goals during his first season in North-West London, quickly making a name for himself and becoming one of the first names on Dean Brennan’s team sheet. Braces were bagged against Oxford City, York City, Rochdale and Dorking in a first season to remember for the forward.
Stead continued his goal-scoring prowess and found the back of the net on 18 occasions during our National League title-winning season, including a double in our 4-0 win at home against Aldershot which saw us crowned champions. He ended as the club’s top goalscorer in what will forever be a historic, record-breaking year for Barnet and also took home the Players’ Player of the season award.
Entering League Two for the first time in his career didn’t phase the London-born striker and after notching his first EFL goal in a 2-0 home win against Accrington Stanley, Stead went on to score another 12 goals last season in the league, including five in our final home game of the campaign against Gillingham.
On seeing Stead moving on to the next chapter of his career, Manager Dean Brennan said:
“What can I say about Steady? He epitomizes everything we’ve been about in the last five years. He served us 36 fantastic months and continually gone to the line and now he steps up to the next level which is what he’s always wanted and I wish him nothing but success.
He’s a great kid, gave absolutely everything while he was in a Barnet badge. He fought, he scrapped, he chipped in with important goals and he helped us get to where we are right now.
We wish him well on the next part of his journey; It’s heartbreaking to see him leave, but it’s business and the food chain and Steady’s stepping up it.
Steady is obviously part of the 100 club, a record we all broke together. He was out top goalscorer last season and in the 100 club and that will always make him special to our supporters.”
Stead was known for always chasing a crisp packet, putting his body on the line for the badge, continuously creating chances and always finding a way to put the ball in the back of the net, even when lying on the floor, and for those reasons, he will always be remembered by those associated with Barnet Football Club.
Once a Bee, always a Bee