After 11 previous visits to Underhill, the former home of Barnet FC, i thought i'd take the chance on this Millers free Saturday to visit their new ground, The Hive, incase they rejoin the Football League, to keep up my 92 current League grounds record. Following a 4 train, 4 and half hour journey, i arrived at Barnet at 10.50 via Sheffield, London St Pancras, West Hampstead Thameslink and Canons Park. Loads of Soccer schools were strewn around on the Training complex, on numerous pitches and the whole place was full of kids, parents, coaches and i would imagine, scouts. I went and bought my ticket (£23) and 3 programmes (£3 each), then took some photo's around the complex and of the exterior of the Ground, then went into the very spacious Hive bar for a drink. Following that i went round to the Players entrance to acquire the 8 autographs that i set out to get. The 8 i got were Martin Allen (a *****cat off the pitch) Gary Waddock, Graham Stack (Arsenal keeper when we lost at Highbury in 2003) Curtis Weston (Think he still had some of Andy Warrington's face tissue on his boots ) Charlie McDonald, Luisma Villa, John Akinde (Hat-trick hero today) and former Miller Andy Todd.....had a little chat with him outside and he is chuffed with the strides we have taken since Tony Stewart took over. I then returned to the bar to watch the second half of the Sky game, Plymouth v Portsmouth on one of the many big screens in there. I got talking to a Barnet fan with his lad, and had a very pleasant hours natter with him. For the stand i was in, you left via the back door of the bar which leads straight onto the Ground itself and your ticket is just scanned by a Lady on the door....making sure not to lose the ticket as it needs scanning everytime you leave if you go back in for drinks, food or the loos. More photo's inside the Ground and a good look round. The line for the overground tube i caught from West Hampstead to Canons Park runs parallel with the larger of the 2 stands across from where i was sat, and every tube (one every 2 or 3 minutes) is clearly seen from the inside of the Ground....something to watch i suppose if you're a trainspotter and the pitch action isn't too clever. Behind both goals are shallow covered terracing. Barnet went into the game 6 points clear at the top of the Vanarama Conference, whilst AFC Telford lay rooted at the bottom. The gap didn't take too long to show as Barnet took the lead inside the first minute, leading goalscorer John Akinde heading home a Lee Cook cross. Akinde was brought down in the box in the 18th minute and got up to shoot home his second to leave Telford with a mountain to climb. However, a trip to the toilet for yours truly usually guarantees a goal, and as i returned from my mission of importance on 35 minutes, a glance at the scoreboard on my return showed that Telford had reduced the arrears thanks to a Sean Cooke goal. Half time with the hosts leading 2-1 and it was game on. Telford hung on until the 83rd minute when sub Charlie McDonald was brought down in the area for the giant centre forward John Akinde to put the ball away for his hat-trick and that was game over. 7 minutes, plus 5 added on later, and the ref blew to end the game. Barnet 3 AFC Telford 1, and the 81 away followers in the crowd of 1671 trudged out of the Ground to make there weary way home. I arrived home at 10 after a seemingly never ending journey home, and the story in pictures of my day out can be seen on the link
It was £17 on the terracing behind the goals and £20 in the stand opposite.....but the £23 in the stand i was in did seem a bit steep....i suppose you're paying for the privilages of the bar during the game.
It only seems two minutes ago that we played Barnet at Underhill - how long have they been at the new ground for? Have some happy memories of Barnet - remember my 25th birthday when we absolutely walloped them, can't believe that that was 21 years ago!!
As others have said, it seems a bit much for Conference football at 23 quid!
I'm glad you chose Barnet for your "international weekend break" because it will probably be a ground that the Millers will not be visiting for a long while, and there's every chance that some of us will never visit, so a look through your photos gives us all a chance to see what the place is like!
My thoughts on the ground are that it looks a bit basic and a bit "rushed", with limited space/seating behind both goals, which they'll most likely regret if they get their league status back, (which looks likely at the moment)
Thanks everyone. i really appreciate those kind words.
The good thing about this Ground is there is so much room on 3 of the sides for expansion with it being built at the side of a park.
The only side that can't be built on (The Tube side) already has a fairly adequate stand, but i'm sure if they reclaim Football League status that the ends will be improved upon.
Thanks everyone. i really appreciate those kind words.
The good thing about this Ground is there is so much room on 3 of the sides for expansion with it being built at the side of a park.
The only side that can't be built on (The Tube side) already has a fairly adequate stand, but i'm sure if they reclaim Football League status that the ends will be improved upon.
That sounds great then zip, they dont have to overstreach at the moment but potential to grow as and when, perfect.
That side next to the overland Tube line looks great, any other stands built to that spec would be great for them, it looks to proportion and at a good angle for viewing the play on the pitch.
