Barnet Football Club has today announced that they will definitely play one last farewell season at Underhill, their famous home for the last 105 years since they located there in 1907. The Club has now written to the Football League to confirm their intention to continue at Underhill for one more season whilst they make preparation for their permanent relocation. The club will achieve this by pursuing two courses of action –
Firstly – Barnet Football Club have written to Barnet Council requesting a six month extension to the existing cricket club lease which expires this coming December. The club believe this to be a logical compromise which will allow them to continue playing at Underhill whilst legal advice is clarified. The lease on Barnet Cricket Club land, which provides for access into the South of the stadium, runs out in December 2012 but allows for a 125 year extension. Despite a resolution by the Council in February for the Leader to work with the club there has been no further contact thus far between the two parties.
Secondly – The Club is building a new suite of offices at The Hive Training Ground, in Edgware, and preparing for the relocation of all staff during this summer close season. The club will then remove the existing temporary offices situated at the Southern end of the stadium. In the event that Barnet Council refuses the extension, they will use this now open area to create a pedestrian walkway to the Southern turnstiles allowing access into the South and Main Stands. The further requirement of parking for officials will then be met with the support of the Scouts who allow the club to utilise their car park on match days. The club’s decision to build offices at their Edgware training centre, The Hive, means they will see staff currently stationed at Underhill relocated, effectively making The Hive the new home for The Bees.
Chairman, Tony Kleanthous, commented on the plans, “There is an air about the place that I have not felt for over five years with everybody looking up and planning forward. Believe me, no one can wait to get out of those restrictive cabins we have been forced to work in for so long. For confidentiality reasons we have been unable to report on all the discussions taking place in the background but, rest assured, there is much activity off the field at the moment. As always, our supporters will be the first to know once the club is able to announce any future plans. There are a number of people, I hesitate to call them supporters, spreading ridiculous rumours and gossip on message boards and it is important we don’t allow them to divide support at our little club. I have made clear several times that we have no long term ambitions to stay at Underhill and since we announced our intention to relocate we have had much positive communication from those who really value us as a community asset. It’s so nice to talk constructively with people who have a positive attitude about what can be done in partnership with our club.”
About Barnet Football Club
Barnet Football Club is the only Football League Club in North West London. It was founded in 1888 and has played at its home at Underhill since 1907. Having been promoted to the current League 2 in 2005, it has remained a permanent fixture since then. In recent years they have played Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2005 League Cup, reached the 4th Round of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons (2007, 2008) and played in the Southern Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town. They currently sit 19th in League 2.
For additional information on Barnet Football club visit http://www.barnetfc.com