After promoting the BringBarnetBack campaign for the last six months supporters say that they have been amazed by the enthusiasm they have found within the town for a possible return of Barnet Football Club to a new stadium in Underhill.

Detailed plans are due to be published by the end of the year or early next year following an announcement in February by the club’s owner Tony Kleanthous that he is prepared to meet the cost of moving from the club’s current base at The Hive Football Centre, midway between Edgware and Stanmore.

Keith Doe (left), a founder member of the group – seen above with Robin Bishop of the Barnet Society – says their aim is to get the views of local residents and community groups on how best to work together to build a united campaign for the club’s return.

“Underhill is our spiritual home. We have had tremendous feedback. It is all very encouraging,” said Mr Doe.

“Right across the town there is a recognition that we have missed out so much since we lost Barnet Football Club a decade ago.”

Planning consultancy WSP has been commissioned to prepare an application to build a stadium for 8,000 spectators on the sports field of the Ark Pioneer Academy, a new school which was constructed at Underhill on the site of Barnet FC’s former stadium, vacated in 2013.

Mr Kleanthous is offering to share use of a new stadium complex and car park with the Ark Academy which he says would be provided with sports areas for pupils and assistance in easing week-day traffic congestion generated by the school.

BringBarnetBack acknowledge the challenges ahead.

Barnet Council has already indicated that approval for a new stadium at Underhill within the Green Belt is “highly unlikely” – a warning reinforced by council leader Barry Rawlings who says he could not envisage the Department of Education agreeing to the loss of Ark Academy’s sports field.

Mr Doe, who as a child watched his first match at Underhill in 1988, says he would love to be able to take his two boys to see Barnet FC playing again where the club belongs – he is standing beside what the campaign hopes might become the site of a new stadium.

“I do take them with me to The Hive, but it is not the same as a stadium here at Underhill where we could recreate the family atmosphere so many of the fans remember and cherish.

“Tony Kleanthous recognises this is what the supporters want. He also accepts that this would build the kind of attendances that Barnet FC really needs if the club is to prosper.”

As a group of loyal supporters, BringBarnetBack accepts there will have to be some flexibility about the site for a new stadium.

“We realise it might not be possible to use the Ark Academy’s sports field but there is plenty of space within the whole area of Barnet Playing Fields (off Barnet Lane) and as a group we want to look at all the possibilities and work with the community.

“Our job is to speak to the community and then be a conduit between the town and the club. We want local football back at Underhill, not somewhere like Copthall, and we realise that might mean a compromise,” said Mr Doe.

In his meeting with the Barnet Society, Robin Bishop, who leads on planning and the environment, said he knew many local residents would like to see the return of the Bees to Underhill and local groups would like to get engaged in working out a solution.

Mr Bishop thought a possible key to making progress would be for the club to offer the local community more than just a new stadium.

“There will need to be a positive contribution to the town.

"Barnet Playing Fields are in the Green Belt, so a new stadium would have to be ecologically friendly and enhance their biodiversity.  The playing fields are an attractive but currently fragmented open space, so ideally any development would also offer a more joined-up use of local community facilities.”

Mr Bishop thought the club should also think what it could offer the local community, perhaps a multi-sports facility with a welcome and space for other sports as well as football.

As part of its consultation process BringBarnetBack is hoping to meet other groups such as the Barnet Residents Association and the Chipping Barnet Town Team.