The Hive
League Two
October 31, 2015
Ground No 178
AFTER an ongoing tour of non-league grounds, today took me to the heady heights of League Two. I was helping a good mate celebrate his completion of the current 92 and we had a terrific day out.
All the online matchday guides recommended a trip to JJ Moons, close to Kingsbury tube station, two stops away from Canons Park, the closest Underground station to The Hive. And who were we to argue?
We found a good number of others enjoying a pre-match tipple in there two and, after a couple of pints of Old Peculier we joined them on the short hop to the ground.
Directions to The Hive are clear as you exit the tube station and entrance to the stadium is via the club's training ground which sits in the shadow of the ground.
Originally planned as the new home of Wealdstone, The Hive became Barnet's new home after the Bees fell out with their landlords at Underhill.
They still plan to move back to the borough of Barnet, however, and had to seek a 10-year change to the condition that prevented the ground's use for League football when they won promotion from the conference.
The 2,684-seat West Stand is the most imposing feature of the ground, and the only feature that looks permanent.
The temporary nature of Barnet's current home is particularly evident in the modest South Stand where even the terraced steps are metal. You could imagine them being unbolted, loaded onto a lorry and reassembled elsewhere once the Bees have buzzed off.
The facing stand is a mirror image, although it was devoid of anything but visiting supporters' flags today with the travelling City fans all taking up residence in the main stand seats.
The area to the right of the South Stand is dominated by a large building housing The Hive's banqueting suite, gym, club shop, dressing rooms, players' lounge and directors' suite. In front are the posh seats.
Both sets of fans were in good voice throughout and whoever inherits The Hive when Barnet have gone will be onto a winner.
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