Last month, Barnet announced plans to return to Underhill just 11 years after leaving their old ground for the Hive. The Hive has long been a source of contention among Barnet fans due to the fact it is outside the London Borough of Barnet with many fans believing they had effectively sold their soul for a new, shiny stadium.
At the time, club chairman, Anthony Kleanthous said:
“Our initial three-year tenure at The Hive was extended indefinitely by Harrow Council but I always felt that if it were possible, then Barnet FC should return to the home from where it took its identity.
“During the long months of COVID, I busied myself with trying to find a way to bring the Club back home and met with Barnet Council to ask for their support in locating a suitable site on which I could build a new stadium. I undertook to fund the full cost of construction so that we could progress without any funding delays.
“After months of searching, it became clear that the best site was the one we originally identified at South Underhill and so we asked our architect to revisit these proposals.”
After the initial excitement at the announcement, the club and its supporters were delivered a hammer blow when the local said that the project was unlikely to ever get off the ground because the club were looking to build on ‘green belt land'.
Barnet fans raise money for new stadium
In response to the council's verdict, Barnet fans have come back firing and have set up a crowdfunder campaign to push the ‘Bring Barnet Back' movement. The initial target was £500 but the figure now stands at £5,000 as supporters look to use funds to promote the project online and in the local area.
One of the Barnet fans leading the campaign, Charlie Cassen, said:
“We knew from the moment of the announcement we had to make a stand. There's never been another situation in the history of the club where every single fan, staff member and player have had the same vision. The Hive is not where we belong. Barnet need to be playing in Barnet.”
This weekend, the supporters will unveil a ‘Bring Barnet Back' banner will be unveiled during Barnet's match with Solihull as they look to heap the pressure on decision-makers in the local area.”