Barnet FC is to introduce a larger "sterile area" on the East Terrace with effect from the next home game against Chester City on Saturday, March 15 - and the club will also redouble efforts to recruit and train more of their own stewards whose numbers have dwindled and forced the club to rely more on agency staff.
There is also to be an immediate overhaul of the access to the provision of medical care at Underhill to ensure that St John Ambulance personnel can instantly reach any supporter requiring assistance.
These improvements follow a meeting about segregation issues between chairman Tony Kleanthous and seven concerned supporters after the game against Peterborough United.
Less than 24 hours later Mr. Kleanthous, after discussions with new Barnet FC stadium manager Del Baker and chairman of Barnet FC Supporters Association Keith Doe, issued the above statement on segregation and crowd safety detailing the improvements to be made.
Mr. Doe said: "I hope that this ends the recurring flashpoints between home and away supporters. The BFCSA is committed to working with Tony Kleanthous and the club to improve the enjoyment of all Barnet supporters during their visits to Underhill.
"The closure of the middle section will disappoint some supporters, but it is currently the best way to improve overall safety".
The chairman explained the reasons for the changes. He told www.barnetfc.com: "Barnet FC is very much a family club and I will do everything in my power to ensure that this remains the case. The incidents at the Peterborough game are not typical of a normal match day at Underhill, but clearly steps have to be taken.
We succumbed to the wishes of Barnet supporters and allowed them to occupy the Central East Terrace but this has now become a flashpoint. Rival supporters have been goading each other and what started as light hearted banter has now escalated to coin throwing which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. The introduction of a larger sterile zone on the East Terrace should help deter those supporters who just wish to antagonise each other.
Further, if for any reason a spectator requires medical attention they should receive it as quickly as possible and we must ensure that we learn from these experiences.
Traditionally we have been able to use the same stewards week in - week out and a good rapport had developed between them and our supporters. Unfortunately, changes in legislation and qualification requirements have meant that we have had to employ more agency stewards and we need to find a way to reverse this trend."
Keith Doe added: "It is disappointing that the club needs to take such steps to ensure the safety of all supporters while at Underhill. The measures taken may further advertise the inadequacies of the ground as a sustainable Football League stadium".
Dennis Signy and David Bloomfield
