BIG NEWS ON PRINCE EDWARD
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This means that if the paperwork is completed, work on the new training and recreational facilities for Barnet FC and the London Borough of Harrow on the 44- acre site could begin in October.
Planning permission has already been approved by Harrow Council and Barnet FC is currently preparing an application to open a Centre of Excellence on the site to complement the school and community training programmes which will be available to all residents of the borough under a community use programme.
The Football Foundation is the UKs largest sports charity, funded by the Premier League, the FA, Sport England and the Government. Their award is to help develop the Prince Edward site into one of the most dedicated training sites in Great Britain -- a major centre for developing football talent
The first phase of work at the site will provide two artificial pitches, six grass pitches and first class state-of-the-arts training facilities together with associated changing rooms.
Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous, who has previously revealed that funding with Barclays Bank on the club's side is already in place, commented: "This is the culmination of nearly three years of very hard work".
If all the solicitors working for Barnet FC, Barclays, the Foundation and Harrow Borough cross the 't's and dot the 'i's on the final paperwork, building work on the project can get under way in the next few weeks.
If this happens, work can begin on providing top notch training facilities for the local community and, for Barnet FC and their supporters by the start of next season.
This would spell an end to recent decades of nomadic wandering around Hertfordshire for the Bees - Prince Edward will provide 2008-style facilities for a professional football club.
Ironically, the Bees used to train in a nearby public park in Edgware during Barry Fry's reign at Underhill.
Prince Edward is also planned as a home for Barnet Ladies and Barnet youth teams.
"The development of youth players is a significant part of this club's future", said Mr Kleanthous. "It will be great to be in a position to offer players a top notch football facility and I hope that residents of the London Borough of Harrow will also take advantage".
Barnet FC has been responsible for security at the site for months now while the final negotiations and arrangements for funding have been completed.
Harrow Council is contributing £750,000 to the scheme and the borough's portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise, Council Marilyn Ashton, said: ""This development paves the way to cultivating future football talent in a great setting and with the latest facilities.
"I am hopeful that future Beckhams and Walcotts will get their start in the game training in Harrow ... I look forward to working with Barnet FC".
"My committee welcomes the encouraging news that the Football Foundation has approved the £1million grant towards the new training facilities at Prince Edward Playing Fields.
"Ever since the football club announced the exciting development with Harrow Council we have been waiting for this great new facility which will give Barnet a permanent state of the arts training facility as well as a base for the ladies' team and the proposed opportunity to open a Centre of Excellence which we hope will benefit the team in years to come.
"We know at times that some supporters have been frustrated by the lack of information coming from the club, but we hope they understand that big projects like this, involving many parties, can be time consuming and complicated, thus we welcome this latest announcement that should see building work begin in October.
"The Supporters Association will continue to engage with the club on improvements for supporters and push the club on issues important to the fans. Resident programme contributor and committee member Ben Kentish will be doing a Q&A with chairman Tony Kleanthous about his vision for the future".
