Underhill - Barnet

Barnet - Underhill

Last match I ever went to at Underhill: Barnet 2-2 Gillingham, Tuesday 16th August 2011, League Two.

10 FACTS ABOUT THE FORMER HOME OF BARNET FC, UNDERHILL:

1. The ground opened in 1907 against Crystal Palace, which the Bees won 1-0.

2. Both sides met again in a Pre-Season Friendly in the 2007-08 season, this time the Eagles winning 3-2.

3. The record attendance at Underhill was 11,026, against Wycombe Wanderers on 23rd February 1952 for an Amateur Cup tie.

4. Underhill had seven stands. On the bottom end of the ground was the South Stand which was opened recently. The East Terrace was split into three sections, with the home fans allocated the two southernmost parts and the remaining section allocated to away supporters. Adjacent to the East Terrace stood the North East Family Stand with covered seating for away supporters. The tiny North Terrace backed onto Westcombe Drive, where residents could watch the action. The Main Stand was flanked by two smaller stands, the North West Terrace and Family Stand.

5. Barnet opened a new 1,016 seated stand in 2008 to replace the temporary structure which had stood in it's place for over 10 years. The stand was 1st used for the FA Cup victory over Swindon Town.

6. The club have announced that work is underway in order to erect four new corner floodlights, which will be 25 metres high and have a 500 Lux value as opposed to the current 350. The eight old pylons dating from 1962 have been removed. Work was completed prior to the opening pre-season game of the 2010-2011 season against Arsenal and the stadium capacity was again increased to 6,023 as a result.

7. In 2014, Super League rugby league team London Broncos were training at Underhill with their gym and offices being based there.

8. It was also home to Arsenal reserves from 2010-2012. Edgware Town played their opening games at Underhill in 2014-15 whilst their Silver Jubilee Park ground was being refurbished.

9. The nearest London Underground station to Underhill was High Barnet on the Northern Line. It was no more than a 10 minute walk to the ground.

10. The last ever game at Underhill was against Wycombe Wanderers in April 2013. It was a 1-0 win for the Bees, with Jake Hyde scoring the winner in the 81st minute in a sell-out crowd of 6,001. Barnet then moved away from Underhill into their new stadium at The Hive. Demolition of Underhill started in 2018 to make way for a secondary school.

MY VISITS:

VISIT 1: Barnet 2-2 Gillingham 13/12/08

VISIT 2: Barnet 1-2 Gillingham 23/11/10

VISIT 3: Barnet 2-2 Gillingham 16/8/11

I went to Underhill 3 times whilst watching Gillingham, back in 2008, 2010 and 2011. I must admit, I do miss Underhill in some ways, but I can understand why the club moved, but that was mainly due to Barnet council not helping them out etc. I did enjoy my visits to Underhill when I did go as luckily I didn't see Gillingham lose there at all. My favourite one was of course the 2-1 win after we won away for the first time on the previous Saturday at Oxford after going so many months without winning a single away, followed up by the win at Barnet on the following Tuesday. The away stand at Barnet was terracing, although you had the choice of seating in a little corner behind the goal. I sat my first time there and then my last 2 visits I was in the terracing end. Since my last visit in 2011, Barnet have suffered relegation to the Conference and then got promoted back to the Football League as Champions at their new ground The Hive. Barnet moved to the Hive back in 2013 and is also home to London Bees the home of Women's football. As to this day of typing (May 2016) Underhill currently does exist and to my knowledge, it is currently un-used although The London Broncos Rugby team did used to train there but heard they don't anymore. Luckily I did visit Underhill lately (January 2016) whilst ticking off the Hive and it did bring back some memories. From what I could see at the time, the grass on the pitch at Underhill was a little bit overgrown but not too much.

These were currently taken in January 2016 by myself before heading off to The Hive where Barnet currently play now. Underhill currently exists to this very day.

PHOTOS FROM 2018: