Barnet
Underhill




Ground No. 96
Visited - Saturday 5th August 2006
Result - Barnet 0-1 Torquay United
Competition - Coca-Cola League 2
Attendance - 2827

With a new season starting it was time to get back on the trail of the 92, and after looking down the fixture lists, Barnet seemed a good place to start the campaign at. I had been hoping to visit Underhill in 2005/06, but other games had kept me away from there, and so with its future under threat, I was determined to see it at least once.

As usual, I’d decided to catch the train, setting off early for London, arriving there just before 11am and using the spare time to have a look around Arsenal’s new home, the Emirates Stadium. After having been there, with the tube closed in parts for maintenance work, it was another train journey northwards to Barnet, arriving in plenty of time and making sure to go into the town centre first of all, so I could pay a visit to the club shop before walking down to the ground.

Despite losing its title of ‘smallest league ground’ to Accrington Stanley’s Crown Ground, on first seeing Underhill, it really was a surprise at just how small the ground is. There’s a very non-league feel about the outside, with it being tucked away behind houses on two sides, a cricket pitch behind one end, and only a narrow alleyway running behind the East Stand. Although that description may apply to many larger grounds as well, and indeed provide the character that is so lacking at the new grounds sat in the middle of a car park/retail estate, at Underhill, it didn’t really add to the venue, instead just leaving you with a sense that the club has little impact on its surroundings, which as a football fan is a sad thing to see (although understandable considering the opposition they’ve faced from the local council).

Having gone all around to take pictures, and waiting for the turnstiles to open (about 2:20pm eventually), I made my way in, choosing to stand in the North Terrace behind the goal. The general non-league feel of the ground was continued inside, with the North Terrace itself rather small, and offering little height, or cover. To our left was the East Stand, which was split between home and away fans. This was another small terrace, although had cover in the form of quite a strange pitched roof in the centre, with two more conventional roofs flanking it on either side. Opposite us was the South Stand, which was a temporary stand of seats, whilst to our right was the Main Stand, which was a classic old Grandstand, raised from pitch level and centred on the halfway line, with one tier of seating. To the south of this was the Family Stand, a small all-seated stand, and on the north side of it was another section of uncovered terracing.

After having found a spot to stand, I eventually waited for the game to begin, on what was a scorching hot day. Now, whilst Barnet vs Torquay might not seem like a particularly appealing game to most people, you do occasionally come across a match that despite not sounding the most exciting, turns out to be a real cracker. Unfortunately though, this wasn’t the case with this game. For those of you who have watched ‘Mike Basset: England Manager’, think back to the opening World Cup game against Egypt. Boiling hot conditions, the players seemingly playing in slow motion, fans bored, just wanting to go home, and you have a perfect description of the afternoon’s proceedings. There’s little point trying to summarise it other than to say that Torquay scored with virtually the last kick of the game, whilst I was waiting by the exit gate ready to make a quick getaway once the referee mercifully blew the final whistle. It was the only vague moment of excitement in 90 minutes of football which rank amongst the worst I’ve seen in a long time (quite a statement considering Glenn Hoddle had been Wolves’ manager for the two years previous to this!).

After leaving the ground, I made my way back into London, before coming home later on, arriving back well after midnight.       
    
Overall, despite the game, it hadn’t been too bad a day out, however I couldn’t find myself particularly liking the ground. Whilst I’m not just naturally opposed to smaller/non-league venues like some are, the ground really does look one out of place in the League, and one that I never really found myself warming to. When writing these reviews, I do try to be generally positive, and whilst I didn’t outrightly dislike Underhill, it’s fair to say that it’s probably not somewhere I’ll be returning to in the near future.





Welcome to Underhill


Rear of the North Terrace


Rear of the East Stand


Rear of the East Stand


Rear of the South Stand


North Terrace Turnstiles


The North Terrace


The Main Stand


The South Stand


The East Stand


The North Terrace


The East Stand


The South Stand


The Main Stand


The Club Shop on the High St



Underhill Panoramic





 

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