Barnet FC have announced plans to return to Barnet after a 10-year ‘exile’ in Harlow.
It comes as chairman Anthony Cleanthus announced plans to build a brand new stadium on the site of the club’s former home in north London.
The club has been based at The Hive in Edgware since 2013, having moved from their previous stadium in Underhill.
Underhill Stadium has been the club’s home ground for over a century since 1907, but they were forced to move due to lease disputes with the City Council.
Underhill has long been demolished, but Cleansus has announced plans to build a new stadium on the original site.
For now, the new ground is known as South Underhill and WSP planning consultants have been instructed to begin a pre-application process before building the new stadium.
In a statement from the club, Mr Kleanthus said: “During the long months of coronavirus, I have been busy looking for ways to bring the club back home and have met with Barnet Council to ask for their support in finding a suitable site to build on. ” he said. new stadium.
“I have pledged to fund the entire construction cost so that the work can proceed without any financial delays.
“After several months of research, it became clear that the best site was South Underhill, which we had originally identified, so we asked our architects to reconsider these proposals.
“This new plan is a redesigned and streamlined version of our original planning application for the South Underhill site.”
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The plan would see a new school built adjacent to the stadium, with access to two multi-purpose games areas and a recreation zone beside the stadium.
The club also plans to develop a stadium next to the site where the new stadium will be built.
Barnett is expected to provide an update on the planning process by the end of this month, and Mr Kleanthus added: “We hope that with the full support of Barnet FC fans, local residents and the council, we can get our great club back where it belongs.” ”
The club left Underhill in 2013 and was also relegated from the Football League, but returned to the EFL between 2015 and 2018.
Back in the National League, the North London side will be hoping the new Underhill can once again spearhead their return to league football.
Barnet currently sit third in the National League and are spearheaded by former Celtic and Norwich City star Gary Hooper.