The Mayor of Barnet (Councillor John Marshall) recalled on Wednesday evening the time he took Denis Compton, the outstanding post-war Middlesex and England batsman, back to his old school in Bell Lane, Hendon.

Compton, who also played football for Arsenal and England (like his elder brother Leslie), wrote in the visitors' book at the school:"This is where it all began".

Compton and Graham Hill, the former world motor racing champions, were both brought up in Hendon and always recalled their local roots.

The Mayor recalled the story of Compton's return to his old school at the launch of the first Kickz project in the borough of Barnet at Underhill Junior School.

Some 30 youngsters turned up at the school despite the weather and were happily playing football in the rain when guests arrived for the launch.

They were later rewarded by Barnet players Joe Devera, Michael Leary, Rob Beckwith, Danny Hart, Neal Bishop and Kenny Gillet joining in with them.

Hart went to Underhill Junior School and still lives in the Underhill area. The Mayor, helping kick off the project, coined the headline 'From Underhill to Underhill' and hoped that Kickz would produce more sporting achievers.

The project is based at the school and is a partnership between the Barnet FC Football in the Community scheme, the Borough of Barnet, the police, Underhill, the Football Foundation and the Safer Neighbourhood teams.

Dennis Signy, chairman for the launch ceremony, introduced the Mayor, Janet Matthewson to talk about the Underhill project, head teacher Naz Goddard, Barnet manager Paul Fairclough and Police Inspector Steve Salter, who told the Barnet players that they were role models to the youngsters.

The Barnet FC involvement in this high profile community project was praised by the speakers.

Dennis Signy