Another new season begins and, yet again, Barnet are in trouble and, as usual, the trouble is their ground, the aptly-named Underhill Stadium. With a capacity of around 5,500 it's too small for Football League regulations and from 2004 it's going to be too small for the Conference as well. What to do? The club made plans (not for the first time) - with the support of the then Labour-controlled local council - for an ambitious new 9,999 capacity stadium to be built on green-belt land, always likely to be a controversial option. Support was forthcoming from all relevant authorities and even Ken Livingstone approved the scheme. All was looking good but then the roof fell in thanks to unfortunately-timed (from a BFC point-of-view) local elections - the Tories gained wafer-thin control of the council on a platform of opposing the stadium development on green-belt land and so Barnet are back to square one. Democracy, eh?

The effects on the club are already serious however, and could even be terminal in the long-term. Already the Bees have had their invitation to play in the LDV Trophy withdrawn because Underhill doesn't meet Football League standards (well, okay, no big deal missing out on the LDV perhaps), but much more importantly the Conference have turned down Barnet's request to ground-share with Leyton Orient this season, ensuring that should the club finish as champions or in a play-off position they will not be promoted or permitted to enter the play-offs unless the necessary improvements to Underhill have been made - improvements the club are unable to carry out because planning permission from the local council is not forthcoming. The same local council who have also blocked development of the new stadium? Yep, the very same..... Small wonder then that Bees fans are starting to feel somewhat unloved in their own community.

And yet in many ways it could be argued that Barnet have only themselves to blame for their problems: They were promoted to the Football League from the Conference as champions under the leadership of the legendary Barry Fry in the 1990-01 season following several seasons of being the 'nearly' team, finishing second in the Conference twice previously and almost from the start were given dispensation to bring Underhill up to League standards - something that never happened in the decade they were members of the Football League. Barnet fans may disagree, but from an outsiders point-of-view there never seemed to be a good reason as to why the club couldn't get the ground up to scratch, and now the club seems to be paying the price for that decade of inertia off the pitch. Their tenure in the League was - let's be honest - largely undistinguished with the Division 3 play-offs being reached twice and one solitary season in Division 2 being the high spot. They were relegated back to the Conference on the final day of the 2000-01 season following a 3-2 home loss to fellow strugglers Torquay United in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,532 with hundreds locked out of the ground - if the Bees had taken all 3 points from the game then it was the Devon side who would have been relegated in their place, a bitter pill to swallow.

Like most other ex-League clubs, Barnet have remained full-time after dropping down to the Conference. Former manager John Still has now left the club and has been replaced by former Spurs and Sheffield Wednesday head coach Peter Shreeves.

Prediction Corner
Under Shreeves stewardship last season Barnet were playing some good passing football and were one of the Conference's more attractive sides to watch. Lack of funds won't help their cause this season however with - at the time of writing - only one addition to last season's squad signed on in the form of striker Junior Agogo, formerly of QPR by way of San Jose Earthquakes. A generally young and full-time squad should prove resilient however even if possibly somewhat under-motivated because of the ground problems. Last season we forecast a 7th-place finish for the Bees - in the event they ended up 5th. We can't see there being too much different this time around. Final Position: 6th.

From all Main Routes:
Exit M25 at junction 23, signposted A1(M) Hatfield, A1081 Barnet. At the roundabout follow signs to `Barnet A1081' onto the A1081 St Albans Road. At the traffic lights/T-junction after 2.5 miles, by KallKwik, bear right into Barnet High Street. At the lights by the church and the `Crown and Anchor' Pub, go straight on into Barnet Hill. After approximately a half a mile turn right at lights just before the `Old Red Lion' into Underhill, then first left into Barnet Lane. Ground is on the left hand side.

Local Pubs :

All information below is provided by the independent Barnet website beesbeesbees.com:

Home Pubs
The Queens Arms, Great North Road Road, Barnet
Welcomes away fans, sells decent, pub food at a good price and has a wide selection of beers including McMullens AK, Country Bitter, Fosters, Stella Artois, Strongbow Cider and Guiness normal and extra cold. Drinks are fairly expensive though! Also has 2 decent pool tables. Car park.

The Weaver - 27 Greenhill Parade, Barnet
Traditional Irish pub with a friendly atmosphere, good food, cheaper drinks than the Queens. It also welcomes away fans but not many go in there. Has a small, cramped pool table. Families welcome and plenty of parking in the side road

Away Pub
The Old Red Lion- Great North Road, Barnet
Very near to the ground and holds the majority of away fans. Because of this I haven't been in there yet. Bar snacks served 11-2:15, TV and darts. Bouncers at the door on match days.

There are many more pubs which welcome travelling supporters that can be found in the town center.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

High, it's London innit, everyone can talk cockney nowadays thanks to Eastenders, gor blimey guvnah, I'll go down to the bottom of our apples and pears. QED.

Top-Tip :

Probably best to avoid all mention of Torquay, and Enfield come to that. Oh, and the local Tory party.....