Barnet Football Club Barnet capped off their title-winning 2024/25 Vanarama National League campaign in style, hitting the 102-point mark with a convincing 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde at Mill Farm. Despite having sealed the league title the previous week, Dean Brennan’s side approached their final fixture with clear intent. There was still work to be done, and a century of points in their sights. From the opening whistle, the Bees dominated possession. They immediately applied pressure to the Fylde defence, testing goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom with a series of early chances. Though the hosts tried to respond, Barnet debutant Gio Bellagambi and a resolute backline ensured Fylde struggled to make inroads. Just past the 10-minute mark, Barnet’s early pressure paid off. Captain Anthony Hartigan delivered a pinpoint corner into the box, where Adebola Oluwo rose highest to nod the ball into the bottom left corner, giving the visitors a deserved lead. Barnet continued to push forward with confidence. Ryan Glover and Rhys Browne both came close with efforts from various ranges, but Winterbottom stood firm, producing several key saves to keep the scoreline close. Eventually, the pressure proved too much, as Callum Stead was brought down in the box, and referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Mark Shelton, who coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, despite Winterbottom guessing the right way, making it 2-0 and netting his fifth goal in just three games. Fylde looked livelier after the break, enjoying more possession and asking questions of Barnet’s defence. Bellagambi was called into action on a few occasions, standing strong to preserve the two-goal cushion. The hosts came close to halving the deficit when a clearance attempt from Bellagambi was blocked by Charlie Jolley. The ball rebounded dangerously toward goal, but luckily for the Bees, it flew just over the crossbar. Barnet soon put the result beyond doubt, as Lee Ndlovu latched onto a through ball, rounded Winterbottom with composure, and slotted home to make it 3-0. As the clock wound down, Brennan introduced fresh legs, giving appearances to a few players including Ben Coker, Zak Brunt, and Jeremie Okimo for the final moments of a historic season. Both sides had late chances, but the scoreline remained unchanged. The full-time whistle sparked celebrations among over 500 traveling Barnet fans, who witnessed not just a final-day win, but a landmark achievement. For the first time in their history, Barnet reached over 100 points in a league campaign, cementing their status as worthy champions and marking the end of a truly unforgettable season. Line Up: Bellagambi, Browne (Brunt 70’), Ndlovu (Telford 80’), Stead, Kanu (Coke 61’), Glover, Hartigan (Okimo 89’), Shelton (Clifford 65’), Oluwo, Grimwood, Tavares Goals: Oluwo (12’), Shelton (Pen 39’), Ndlovu (59’) Barnet returned to winning form with a hard-fought 3-1 victory away at Sutton United in the Vanarama National League, keeping their title hopes alive with Barnet came back from behind to earn a point at The Hive on Good Friday, as they faced Eastleigh in the Vanarama National League.   Barnet were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Wealdstone in a hard fought derby in the Vanarama National League.   From the first Barnet’s unbeaten streak comes to an end as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Braintree Town in the Vanarama National League.   From the outset, Stead and Kenlcok on the scoresheet as Barnet clinched another big three points in the Vanarama National League, after beating Gateshead 3-1 at The Hive The Bees were able to hang on until the very end as they took all three points at the J Davidson Stadium, beating Altrincham 1-0 AFC Fylde: Winterbottom, Stokes (Long), Davis (C), Sassi (Hosannah), Bardell, Riley (Ustabasi), Hugill, Evans (Massey) McFayden, Haughton, Jolley (Ormerod) Barnet have won 30 of their 45 National League games so far this season Barnet manager Dean Brennan has signed a new three-year contract after leading the club to the National League title The Bees will return to the English Football League next season after seven years away Brennan, 44, has managed the north London club since September 2021 and celebrated his 200th game in charge as Barnet beat Aldershot last weekend to win promotion "My dream was to take Barnet back to the EFL," Brennan told the club website., external "We've done that and the next process is to make sure we establish ourselves as a really strong EFL side "The chairman's given me the opportunity to do that and I'm delighted to stay Everyone knows I love the football club and my loyalties are here." 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The Champions head up to the Mill Farm Stadium this Monday for their final game of the 24/25 season as they face AFC Fylde in the Vanarama National League Barnet FC were crowned Vanarama National League Champions on Saturday the 26th of April as they secured a comfortable 4-0 victory against Aldershot Town in their last home match at The Hive Stadium this season nearly scoring from an early Hartigan free kick before being awarded a penalty within the first 10 minutes of the match Mark Shelton slotted home the opener and doubled the lead from the spot minutes later Aldershot looked to get a response in the game but were denied by the Owen Evans and the Bees backline Shelton’s blocked shot fell to Callum Stead with the ball judged to have crossed the line despite the Aldershot goalkeeper getting a touch to the ball a fully sold-out Hive Stadium cheered on as the Bees were crowned league champions and lifted the Vanarama National League trophy for the fourth time in the clubs history Connor Smith’s pre-match interview can be viewed HERE! AFC Fylde were defeated 4-3 by 10-man Tamworth on Saturday Tamworth’s Dan Creaney opened the scoring with a header but the match turned when Tamworth’s goalkeeper leading to a red card and a Fylde equalizer from Nick Haughton’s free kick Fylde then took the lead through Jolley and extended their advantage when Lincoln McFayden scored just before the break with Kennedy Digie pulling one back for the hosts just before halftime Creaney scored his second goal to level the match Tamworth grabbed the winner in injury time when Kyle Finn bundled the ball in from close range leaving Fylde with nothing after a dramatic second half AFC Fylde manager David Longwell will be in the dugouts for the hosts on Monday with his assistant Frankie McAvoy beside him Longwell became AFC Fylde’s Assistant Head Coach in January 2025 and stepped up as interim head coach in February 2025 after Kevin Phillips’ departure AFC Fylde’s attacking midfielder Nick Haughton is the clubs current top goal scorer this season scoring 19 goals and assisting 12 in the league He has made 44 league appearances for The Coasters and is averaging a goal every 187 minutes this season Barnet sealed the three points against AFC Fylde back in September 2024 with a 2-0 win at The Hive Stadium Barnet started strong with early shots from Harry Chapman and Anthony Hartigan but Ethan Mitchell’s cross was just out of reach Zak Brunt had a shot saved by Ben Winterbottom and Barnet’s Ryan Glover missed a header wide The best chance of the half came in the 41st minute when Callum Stead’s shot hit the post with Glover’s shot saved and Hartigan’s free kick cross narrowly missing its target Substitute Nicke Kabamba made an immediate impact scoring the opener after rounding the keeper with Winterbottom denying Hartigan and Stead’s efforts The win was sealed in the 95th minute when Callum Stead scored from Ben Coker’s cross to secure a 2-0 victory Dean Brennan and the Bees are determined to finish the season on another high note aiming for a strong conclusion with reaching the 100 points mark Having already secured the Vanarama National League trophy they will also be focused on preparing for playing in the EFL next season Back the Bees at The Hive Stadium this Saturday (3pm) as they take on Aldershot Town in their last home game on the season in Back the Bees this Easter Monday (3pm) as the team go up against Sutton United away in the Vanarama National League Get the Hive Stadium rocking this Good Friday (5:30pm) as Barnet take on Eastleigh in a late afternoon clash in the Vanarama National League The Bees are back at The Hive Stadium this Saturday (12:30pm) for an early afternoon kick off against Wealdstone in the Vanarama National League The Bees make the trip over to Essex this Saturday (3pm) as they take on Braintree Town at The Rare Breed Meat Co Barnet are back at The Hive Stadium this Saturday (3pm) as they take on Gateshead in the Vanarama National League A run-down trades hall is set to be revamped with plans to build a new community facility and 36 flats The existing Cricklewood Trades Hall Club building at 134 Cricklewood Lane is “not fit for purpose” and the site “underutilised” according to planning documents submitted to Barnet Council Proposals to demolish the trades hall and develop a seven-storey building in its place have been brought forward jointly by applicant Malcolm Terry and the club itself Although used by a private members club the current two-storey building is also available to the wider community to rent for events the club hosted over 100 ‘non-member’ events but due to an “ongoing reduction in members” “lack of investment” and struggle “attracting a younger audience” proposals to replace the hall were brought forward The building is described as having “little architectural merit” and hasn’t been “adequately maintained over the years” The ground floor of the new building will house a replacement hall which will be larger in size while the first fifth and sixth floors will house new flats The development will consist of 14 one-bedroom flats 16 two-bedroom flats and six three-bedroom flats despite the London Plan stating that developments of ten or more dwellings should seek to provide a minimum of 35% affordable housing no such homes are included in the proposal A planning statement states the proposed scheme “cannot technically support on-site affordable housing” but added “discussion will continue during application with the London Borough of Barnet” Feedback from a public consultation was overall “positive” but some concerns were raised These included the impact of the development on parking pressures on local roads the lack of affordable housing provision and the impact on neighbours arising from the placement of balconies More information on the scheme can be found via Barnet Council’s planning portal Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales Barnet FC is delighted to announce that Manager Dean Brennan has today signed a new 3 year contract with the Club. “I’m just delighted. My dream was to take Barnet back to the EFL. We’ve done that and the next process is to make sure we establish ourselves as a really strong EFL side. The Chairman’s given me the opportunity to do that and I’m delighted to stay. Everyone knows I love the football club and my loyalties are here.  I’ve shown that in abundance over the last few years and I think it’s an exciting season ahead for us all. I want to thank the Chairman and the Kleanthous family for their positive support over the last 4 years and our commitment to the Club reflects that.” Having managed the team since September 2021, Dean’s 200th game in charge against Aldershot Town saw Barnet crowned Champions of the Vanarama National League for the 2024/25 season. “This is the first step in our plan to conquer League 2. First we keep the Manager, then we keep the players, then we sign new players and then we go for promotion again.  The Club is going to support Dean and all his coaching staff the best it can and we now need you, the fans, to support us so we can deliver what they require to get that promotion.” Everyone at Barnet FC would like to congratulate Dean on his new contract and we’re looking forward to EFL football once again. The Champions head up to the Mill Farm Stadium this Monday for their final game of the 24/25 season, as they face AFC Fylde in Barnet FC is delighted to announce that Manager Dean Brennan has today signed a new 3 year contract with the Club.   On signing, Dean Tickets for our last Vanarama National League trip to AFC Fylde are now on sale!The Bees make the trip to Fylde on Monday the 5th AFC Fylde can confirm that David Longwell and Frankie McAvoy will leave the club following the final game of the 2024/25 campaign against Barnet. Longwell joined the club at a difficult time in the season and following the departure of Kevin Phillips at the end of February, took the reins until the end of the campaign along with Chris Neal, giving the upmost hard work, dedication and professionalism in attempt to keep the club in the National League. Despite their best efforts, the club were unable to retain their position in the National League and following the final game of the season, both David and Frankie will be moving on to pastures new, leaving the club ahead of the 2025/26 season. Ahead of the final game against Barnet, David Longwell said: “First of all I’d like to thank the Chairman and the Director of Football for the opportunity to work at AFC Fylde. “I joined the club at a very difficult time and believe despite not staying up, we brought a much stronger structure and organisation to the football side of the club and I hope to see the foundations we laid be built on in the months to come. “I’ve said on numerous occasions that I will always expect and demand hard work from people around me as that is the bare minimum I expect of myself, and I hope supporters can recognise the efforts we have gone to in recent months to keep us in the division. I must compliment the players in trying their best to achieve the results we all desired, but a mixture of various factors unfortunately meant we were unable to achieve this. “I leave the club after today having really enjoyed the short spell here. It’s a fantastic football club with a passionate Chairman and I wish nothing but the best for him and the club. “In particular, I’d like to thank the supporters who have been brilliant with me from the first day I walked into the building and I really hope they will be celebrating success next season. I know that Stewart and the Chairman are working hard in plans for next season and I wish AFC Fylde every success in the future and I look forward to coming to a game in the future to give my support, David.” Everyone at AFC Fylde would like to place on record their thankfulness to David and Frankie for their hard work and professionalism during their time on the Fylde Coast and we wish them nothing but the best for the future. An announcement regarding the Head Coach role at Mill Farm will be made in the coming weeks. Sign up to Barnet First for weekly service updates and news into your inbox held at Hendon Town Hall last night (29 April) honoured individuals and organisations that make a significant impact through their voluntary work awards were given in three categories: ‘Barnet Lifetime Achievement Civic Award’; ‘Barnet Award for Outstanding Service to the Community’ and ‘Barnet Young Citizen of the Year’ The awards recognised individuals and organisations that have gone above and beyond or other forms of service to improve the quality of life in their local community The Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Barnet read the individual citations submitted for each of the nominees describing their considerable voluntary contributions to the borough The awards were presented by The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet the Civic Awards have been a beacon of recognition shining a light on the extraordinary efforts of those who strive to make the borough a better place we are reminded of the countless stories of inspiration and the profound difference that each award recipient has made Their work embodies the spirit of community and the values that we hold dear “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients.” For the full list of winners please go to: Civic Awards | Barnet Council Follow us through our social channels to find out what we're doing. Dean Brennan has steered Barnet back to the EFL after hammering Aldershot Barnet have been promoted back to League Two after seven seasons of non-league football following a comfortable 4-0 win over Aldershot Town The Bees' victory secured the National League title with a game to spare and they will try to break the 100-point barrier at Fylde on the final day of the season Two first-half penalties from Mark Shelton put the hosts in control at The Hive before two goals in four minutes from Callum Stead after the break got the promotion party in full swing Dean Brennan's side secured automatic promotion after play-off heartbreak denied them following fifth and second-placed finishes in the previous two seasons They have led the way at the top of the table for much of the season pulling away from nearest contenders York City and Forest Green Rovers A run of nine consecutive wins from February to March opened up a commanding lead at the top for Brennan's side who have only lost once in the league in 2025 It's been a long way back to the EFL for Barnet since their relegation from League Two in 2018 The Bees ended a miserable season on a high that day with a 3-0 win over Chesterfield but the worst was yet to come for the north London club Underwhelming mid-table finishes in their first two seasons back in non-league were followed by their lowest finish since the formation of the National League [initially the Alliance Premier Football League and then the Football Conference] in 1979 The disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic was all that saved the Bees from dropping down to the National League South in 2020-21 as they finished second from bottom in the table But things would improve from there on as Brennan arrived at the club and he has since overseen steady progress – 18th Twice denied at home in the play-offs in the previous two seasons first against Boreham Wood and then surprisingly on the end of a 4-0 thrashing to Solihull Moors Barnet's fans will not need to endure the stress of another post-season campaign as they go up as champions To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made van Stappershoef Match OfficialsReferee: Zac Kennard-KettleAssistant Referee 1: Ciaran FidlerAssistant Referee 2: Peter LoweFourth Official: Joseph Dann-PyeMatch StatsKey Barnet Council has launched a consultation on plans for a new play area at a popular park in Friern Barnet. Halliwick Recreation Ground is set to see improved play facilities including a new play tower with slides and bridge, a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a swing set and a picnic table. An online survey has been launched asking residents to select their three favourite and least favourite pieces of equipment out of the 15 pieces that have been proposed. The survey also gives an opportunity to say if there’s “anything missing” and whether the layout is likeable. Funding to the sum of £150,000 was allocated to the project by the council’s east area committee and the Friends of Halliwick Recreation Ground are “securing the remaining funding” bringing the total budget to £200,000. The council said it has worked with the friend group on the proposals. The council clarified that only the playground under the large tree would be refurbished while play equipment next to the tennis court “will remain unchanged”. The deadline to complete the online survey is Sunday, 8th June. Two drop-in sessions where people can ask council staff, who will be on hand, questions, and view plans is taking place at the playground from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, 7th May and at the same time on Saturday, 17th May. The council said following the consultation it would review the outcomes to see if there’s “interest in changing” the facilities and will discuss the results with the friend group and play contractor. Plans will then be agreed between the contractor and the council, with work likely to take place in autumn. For more information on the consultation and to take the survey visit Halliwick Recreation Ground, Friern Barnet – playground consultation | Engage Barnet Never miss another news story, subscribe to Harrow Online for FREE! © 2025 Harrow Online Ltd (16370670). Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales. A three-game winless run had seen their comfortable advantage chipped away by York Mark Shelton opened the scoring for the visitors when he fired the ball past Jack Sims into the bottom corner in the seventh minute Siju Odelusi drew the sides level with a penalty in the 33rd minute following a handball But Sutton were down to 10 men after Tyler French was dismissed seven minutes into the second half and Shelton stepped up to restore Barnet's lead from the spot Adebola Oluwo nodded home a third nine minutes from time meaning the Bees have a six-point lead with two games to go Telford Match OfficialsReferee: James BancroftAssistant Referee 1: Amarjit SaraoAssistant Referee 2: Robert EvansFourth Official: Daniel D'UrsoMatch StatsKey AFC Fylde are preparing for their final game of the 2024/25 campaign as the Coasters host National League Champions Barnet at Mill Farm David Longwell’s side will be looking to end the season on a positive note after a tough few weeks on the Fylde Coast Fylde fell to a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture with the Bees as Nathan Delfouenso and Chris Neal took charge of the Coasters in North London Barnet were crowned Champions last time out and will be celebrating on the Fylde Coast no matter what the outcome on Bank Holiday Monday having beaten York City to the title by beating Aldershot Town last time out In the opposition dugout for the final time this season is Dean Brennan Brennan has done nothing short of an outstanding job at the Hive After joining from fellow National League side Wealdstone back in 2021 Brennan led his side to a second-placed finish last campaign before topping the table for large parts of this campaign He enjoyed a playing career which stretched over 10 years coming through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday before floating around a number of Non-League sides such as Hitchin Town initially as caretaker Manager at Hemel Hempstead before taking over the reigns in 2012 in a spell which lasted six years Later spells followed at the likes of Billericay Town and Wealdstone before the move to the Hive followed The 23-year-old forward will joined the Club in the summer after scoring 13 goals in the National League North for Brackley Town last season bolstering Barnet FC’s attacking options as preparations for the upcoming season continues Players and Supporters’ Player of the Season award last season having helped Brackley Town reach the National League North play-off final Fylde supporters can now purchase their tickets for the fixture against Barnet with admission for home fans being cheaper when purchased before the day of the game West Stand premium: £21 (non-member pre-game) £25 (non-member matchday) West Stand: £18 (non-member pre-game) £22 (non-member matchday) West Stand U18s Young Guns: £6 (non-member pre-game) £8 (non-member matchday) West Stand Child U18s: £4 (non-member pre-game) £6 (non-member matchday) Adult East Terrace: £16 (non-member pre-game) £18 (non-member matchday)East Terrace U18s Young Guns: £7 (non-member pre-game) £9 (non-member matchday) East Terrace U12s: £5 (non-member pre-game) £7 (non-member matchday) North Stand Adult: £13 (non-member pre-game) £15 (non-member matchday)North Stand U18s Young Guns: £5 (non-member pre-game) £7 (non-member matchday) To buy your tickets, please CLICK HERE The Coasters will be wearing their all white home kit ahead of the clash with Barnet If you are not attending the game on Bank Holiday Monday Coasters Live will be on air from 2:50pm for the 3pm kick-off It is the only place where you can listen to full-match commentary of every AFC Fylde fixture with Kevin Bannon taking you through every kick of the afternoon To listen to Coasters Live commentaries on Mixlr, please CLICK HERE You can also follow the game through our social media channels below with full text coverage during the fixture X: @AFCFylde Facebook: @AFCFyldeOfficial Instagram: @afc_fylde After nine victories in a row up to the end of March Dean Brennan's side are now winless in their past three games and had to come from behind to take a point from the visitors Eastleigh took a 36th-minute lead through Paul McCallum after a poor back pass left the Bees in trouble but Danny Collinge levelled just before half-time when he headed home an Anthony Hartigan free-kick Joe McDonnell made a couple of sharp saves to hold off a comeback leaving Barnet four points clear of second-placed York at the whistle with three games remaining Vokins Match OfficialsReferee: Martin RossAssistant Referee 1: David HuttonAssistant Referee 2: Harley McKittrickFourth Official: Nathan OakesMatch StatsKey Hanna left her parents’ home and was last seen at New Barnet station News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The mother of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who vanished nearly a week ago from her home in north London urged her to “pick up the phone” Detectives are increasingly concerned for the safety of Hanna Balcer and say her disappearance is “completely out of character” She was last seen at New Barnet train station just before 8pm on Thursday April 24 after leaving her parents’ house earlier that evening In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police her mother Izabela said loved ones are “beside themselves with worry and desperate for information on her whereabouts” Mrs Balcer added: “She is just 14-years-old and her father and I are naturally very concerned about her safety “We urgently need the public’s help to find her “Please take a look at these images we are making public today and reach out to the police if you have seen Hanna or have information about her whereabouts “Your family loves you and we are anxious to make sure you’re all right.” and was last seen wearing a dark tracksuit and black trainers and carrying a black rucksack Officers believe she may be travelling across London from the Met’s North West Missing Persons unit said: “Hanna’s disappearance is completely out of character and her family are understandably incredibly concerned “Local officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help Please get in touch if you have seen Hanna “While there is no suggestion she has come to any harm or is in any immediate danger as time passes we are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare and just want to bring her home safely.” Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Rihanna shows off baby bump at star-studded Met Gala 2025 as singer's third pregnancy with A$AP Rocky announced Rihanna debuts baby bump on star-studded Met Gala blue carpet Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Household food waste collection service to be introduced in March 2026 Barnet Council’s Cabinet approved plans (3 March) to introduce a food waste collection service to all households across the borough by the end of March 2026 The service is already being offered to schools and businesses in Barnet households will contribute to creating a cleaner environment and help towards Barnet’s ambitions to become a net zero-carbon borough by 2042 Households will be provided with appropriate containers ahead of the service roll out next year Barnet Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change “This is great news as many residents are regularly asking when a separate food waste collection service will come back to Barnet Not only will this service help residents to increase recycling but this is an important contribution towards creating a more sustainable future for Barnet and a step closer to achieving our net zero-carbon ambitions by 2042.” The council will be communicating with all households nearer to the launch of the service For more information on the council’s journey to become a net zero-carbon borough by 2042, visit: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sustainability-barnet-zero Follow us through our social channels to find out what we're doing aims to shine a spotlight on and celebrate the borough’s most diverse artists and to inspire people to showcase their creative talents Launching on the 7 April 2025 Art in Barnet will exhibit the borough’s cultural landscape Building on the ambitions set out in Barnet’s Culture Strategy 2024 which was developed in collaboration with local artists it will aim to inspire more people to engage with the arts while strengthening opportunities for creative talent to grow and thrive.  “Barnet’s arts and culture scene is thriving and this campaign is about making sure everyone knows about it From grassroots initiatives to major cultural organisations and we’re committed to helping it flourish we’ve worked closely with community groups to shape a vision for culture in Barnet and Art in Barnet is a key step in bringing that to life Securing the Cultural Impact Award is another exciting milestone and we can’t wait for residents and visitors to experience what’s in store from this year’s campaign to the Award celebrations in 2026.”  community leaders and cultural organisations to join Barnet’s new Cultural Action Group which will play a key role in seeing through the Cultural Strategy’s Action plan and shaping the future of arts and culture in the borough.  the council will also be running free-ticket opportunities giving residents the chance to win access to some of the borough’s top events to experience Barnet’s cultural scene firsthand.  Reece Hall-Johnson has been recalled from his loan at Solihull Moors Reece also featured five times for the Bees earlier on in this seasons The deal is subject to the usual FA and League clearances Barnet FC is delighted to announce that Manager Dean Brennan has today signed a new 3 year contract with the Club Barnet Council has adopted its new Local Plan at a Full Council meeting this week (4 March) marking a significant milestone in the Borough's development strategy The comprehensive Local Plan will guide growth and development across Barnet up to 2036 replacing the previous Local Plan from 2012 The Plan aims to deliver nearly 44,000 new homes by 2036 in the most sustainable locations It also seeks up to 67,000 m² of new office space across Barnet’s town centres a new metropolitan town centre at Brent Cross and a new regional park with three sports and recreational hubs The Plan emphasises sustainable development with improvements for walking and cycling through a healthy streets approach combined with more responsive and adaptable town centres Barnet Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration and the planet is at the heart of everything we do as a council Our Local Plan ensures we retain the borough’s qualities while addressing climate change and future housing and infrastructure needs It reflects our commitment to building a brighter more sustainable future for everyone in Barnet.” The new Local Plan was developed through extensive engagement with residents and community groups since 2016 and includes 51 policies and 58 site proposals for development Its adoption follows a rigorous regulatory process including a lengthy examination by an independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing It focuses on creating an environmentally sustainable Barnet that is resilient to climate change ensuring community infrastructure keeps pace with growth including the West London Orbital Railway and new stations at Colindale and Brent Cross West For more information on Barnet’s Local Plan you can go to the Barnet Council website: Barnet Local Plan 2021-2036 | Barnet Council A fantastic evening where we were able to celebrate the achievements and hard work of players and staff at the academy The lucky winners of the awards this season were: U15🏆 Manager’s Player of the Season – Rafael Jacobs🏆 Players’ Player of the Season – Raul Solomon🏆 Most Improved – Harry Waller🏆 Top Goalscorer – James McAvoy & Raul Solomon U16🏆 Manager’s Player of the Season – Anis Chaouki🏆 Players’ Player of the Season – Anis Chaouki🏆 Most Improved – Alex Lampreia🏆 Top Goalscorer – Anis Chaouki U18🏆 Manager’s Player of the Season – Josiah Anning🏆 Players’ Player of the Season – Rushaun Daniels🏆 Most Improved – Raphael Asaffo🏆 Top Goalscorer – Drijon Ramaj U19 🏆 Manager’s Player of the Season – Aaron Liwala🏆 Players’ Player of the Season – Daniel Brobbey🏆 Most Improved – Rushaun Daniels🏆 Top Goalscorer – Kai Udofot-Torres 🥅 Academy Goalkeeper of the Season – David Nistor ⭐ Academy Player of the Season – Bright Siaw Kaylen Dennis “Love of the Game” Award – Sion Nurse Four businesses – based in Burnt Oak and Mill Hill – have been handed a total of 68 fixed penalty notices for multiple fly tipping offences – breaching their duties to responsibly dispose of trade waste under the Environmental Protection Act Thanks to the council’s eagle-eyed CCTV operators the businesses were recorded dumping commercial waste (including food cardboard and other rubbish inside black bin bags) onto the public highway near their premises on multiple occasions The council’s enforcement team then followed up with each business interviewing them under caution and presenting them with the evidence of their staff illegally dumping waste Each of the businesses accepted the fines.  The latest enforcement action is part of the council’s Caring for Our Places campaign which aims to raise awareness of the blight of fly tipping on the borough and increase public reporting of fly tipping offences The campaign hopes to reduce fly tipping in the borough and make Barnet a zero tolerance borough for people who think it’s acceptable to illegally dump waste on the public highway or in open spaces we are a council that cares for people and our places and that means clamping down hard on anyone suspected of fly tipping and damaging the environment – working across enforcement and collection to ensure we keep the borough clean and issue fixed penalty notices to those who break the law Fly tippers will be tracked down and punished if they dump waste anywhere in Barnet.” Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Participation added: “These fines show the impact of our investment in CCTV I would like to thank the community safety team for their diligent work in identifying and taking action against these businesses.” NB. As the businesses mentioned here have been given fixed penalty notices rather than being prosecuted or taken to court, the council is not able to name them. who saw their 25-game unbeaten league run end last weekend with a 2-1 defeat at Braintree Adebola Oluwo headed in after a bright start from the hosts but Owen Evans had to be alert to deny Wealdstone a leveller twice at the start of the second half the Barnet goalkeeper was unable to prevent Sohna from rifling home with 10 minutes remaining to secure a share of the spoils Sohna Match OfficialsReferee: Gareth RhodesAssistant Referee 1: Leigh CrowhurstAssistant Referee 2: Marcus CarmichaelFourth Official: Daniel EnglandMatch StatsKey Interim Chief Executive Cath Shaw is to become Barnet Council’s permanent new Chief Executive subject to ratification by Council on 4 March Cath’s appointment as Chief Executive was recommended by the cross-party Employment Sub-Committee (26 February) and followed an extensive recruitment process She is the first woman to have held the post in the council’s 60-year history Cath has served as Interim Chief Executive since June 2024 steering Barnet through the unprecedented financial pressures being experienced by the council and other London boroughs Cath held the position of Deputy Chief Executive with Barnet Council for seven years said: “Cath is an inspiring chief executive with an impressive track record of delivering for Barnet’s residents She has navigated us through some tough financial challenges identifying £23m of savings this year alone while remaining committed to making Barnet a better place for people to live Cath was responsible for leading the council’s extensive housing and growth programme including the development of Brent Cross Town in partnership with Related Argent a new university campus and 50 acres of green space by 2030 the first new mainline train station to be built by a council in over a decade Coming from a background in local government and at senior levels of the civil service becoming Deputy Chief Executive in 2017.  She has been a non executive board member of Peabody housing and was one of the architects of the London economic recovery framework following the pandemic Cath said: “It is a huge privilege to be appointed chief executive and I look forward to working with Members staff and partners to deliver our ambitious vision Note to editors: The recommendation from the Employment Sub-Committee is subject to no objections being received by Cabinet and the appointment will be made by Council on 4 March Barnet Council is to receive £55.7m in government support as part of its financial plans to close the council’s budget gap for the next year received notice on Thursday afternoon (20 February) of the decision by the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government that the council’s application for ‘exceptional financial support’ was granted the council made the application for £55.7m from government to meet its projected budget shortfall of £55.7m for the financial year 2025-26 The gap is a consequence of the unprecedented financial crisis facing all local government and in spite of the council already finding £23m of efficiency savings for the next financial year Cllr Barry Rawlings welcomed the news but cautioned that the government support is a temporary solution: “We’re grateful to the government for granting our application for exceptional financial support to help us close our budget shortfall for the next 12 months and for their understanding about the pressures the sector faces  The support will provide immediate relief as we set a balanced budget and work on plans for a sustainable council given the ongoing demands on our budget “The pressure on our finances has never been greater we face an unprecedented crisis in financing our services driven by a perfect storm of a decade of funding cuts from central government high interest rates making services more expensive to deliver and ever-increasing demand for complex and costly services we have a legal duty to provide such as adults’ and children’s social care and temporary accommodation “We will need to repay any portion of the government support that we use in the form of borrowing so this is a temporary solution and will mean tough decisions for some time We will be regularly engaging with residents to understand what is most important to you so we can reshape services to focus on those things and deliver them even more cost-effectively.” The council’s proposed budget for the next financial year will be presented to Full Council for approval on Tuesday 4 March Host a street party to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day Barnet Council is inviting residents to host a street party to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day VE Day commemorates the end of World War II in Europe on 8 May 1945 and celebrations will be taking place across the country from 8 to 11 May 2025 VE Day is a great opportunity for the local community to come together and honour those who served during the war We want everyone in Barnet to get involved and are encouraging residents to organise street parties alongside their neighbours an application for road closure needs to be submitted to the council by Friday The application process is simple and free of charge. You can download the street party application form from the council’s Street Parties and Special Events web page Once the council receives your application an officer will review it to ensure the location is suitable for the event the council will take care of all the necessary street signage and furniture needed to close your street We are expecting a high volume of applications so we encourage residents to apply as soon as possible GMB Union has begun proceedings on behalf of around 400 women working as school support staff at the council They say there are structural pay differences between members of staff working in roles staffed predominantly by women and those roles carried out mostly by men.  currently receive a full day’s wages even if they complete their work early.  Some roles within the council’s Refuse Department have also been paid a retention bonus which school support staff have not received despite serious issues with retention in schools in London and across the country.  GMB has attempted to settle the claim through negotiations but the council’s Head of HR has refused to meet with the union since January.  members will be able to claim for up to 6 years pay differential as well as for the time it takes to settle the case.  the larger the potential costs will be for Barnet.  “It is shameful that we must take Barnet Council to court to make them do the right thing but we will do whatever is necessary to fight for the money our members are owed after years of systemic gender pay discrimination.  “The work of school support staff is vital and these members are already some of the council’s lowest paid staff.  “These loyal and committed workers deserve for Barnet to settle the full amount owed and issue an unreserved apology from the council.  the larger the settlement will grow.  Tens of thousands of women Asda workers are on the cusp of… Birmingham City Council workers will gather in Victora… Any hope that the employer would engage with GMB union… Asda workers will demonstrate in Manchester and Brighton as… Second wave of Birmingham Equal Pay school strikes could be… GMB Union members have lodged a first tranche of 400 legal… GMB Union is an organising and campaigning union for all workers NEWS & UPDATESTEAMS FIRST TEAMMANAGEMENT TEAMOPPOSITIONFIXTURES The Hive Stadium is accessible via various modes of transportation.​ Tube: Canons Park Station (Jubilee Line) is the nearest tube station to The Hive Turn left out of the station on to Whitchurch Lane and walk for 2 minutes until you reach The Hive entrance Turn left out of the station on to Turner Road turn right and the entrance to The Hive will be across the road Edgware Underground Station on the Northern Line is about a one mile walk to The Hive Arrive Early: To avoid congestion and ensure a smooth entry please arrive at the stadium well before kick-off.​ we encourage all fans to support the team passionately but respectfully.​ Stay Informed: Keep an eye on official club communications for any last-minute updates regarding tickets and the match.​ Barnet Council has launched a new campaign to support residents with free home energy efficiency advice aimed at helping them reduce their energy bills and contribute to the borough’s ambitious goal of becoming net zero by 2042 In partnership with Groundwork London’s Green Doctor service Barnet’s free home energy fix offers tailored energy-saving support through home visits to the borough’s most vulnerable residents as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and a predicted 10% increase in the energy price cap this winter leave many households struggling to heat their homes with approximately 10% of households facing fuel poverty and 40% of Barnet's emissions from homes there is a significant urgency to reduce both costs and environmental impact tailored support to households that meet certain criteria those with disabilities or health conditions worsened by the cold those that are pregnant or have an annual income under £21,000 Green Doctor Service Manager at Groundwork London is proud to support this important initiative Residents who make a referral by 28 February 2025 will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win one of four £100 B&M gift vouchers This tool supports families facing financial challenges by identifying potential savings on energy costs and helping them access available support Groundwork London is a charity that works with communities across the capital to transform their lives and the places they live We have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration in London for over 30 years and today we have a simple mission: to create better places Green Doctor is a programme run by charity Groundwork London that offers free and impartial energy advice to help residents stay warm in their home save money on energy bills and live greener The Green Doctor service is part of Groundwork London’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities and climate and promoting sustainable living across the capital Eleven of Barnet’s most inspiring women and girls have been recognised in a council-backed awards programme at Hendon Town Hall For the second year running the awards were given out for outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the fields of business Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025 (Saturday March 8) the ‘InspirationAll’ Awards were presented to the winners and highly commended individuals at a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Barnet Barnet Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture “We are incredibly proud to honour these exceptional women and girls who have made significant contributions to our community “Their dedication and achievements serve as an inspiration to us all and we are committed to supporting and celebrating their continued success.” The awards winners and highly commended for each category are: Barnet Council’s adult social care services have been rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) The CQC’s report has highlighted the council’s commitment to delivering “responsive and person-centred support” The report also cites the council’s efforts to help residents maintain independence and improve wellbeing A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “Our ‘Good’ rating reflects the hard work and dedication of our adult social care teams especially in the face of rising demand for our services and a tight squeeze on our budgets “We are proud of the strides we’ve made in supporting residents to live independently and enhancing care standards across the borough we are steadfast in our commitment to continue improving and delivering for our community.” The CQC also noted Barnet’s compassionate leadership and staff retention as significant strengths For more details, please visit the full report on the CQC website: London Borough of Barnet: local authority assessment - Care Quality Commission Barnet Council’s proposed budget for the financial year 2025-26 was approved last night (4 March) at a meeting of Full Council The council is legally required to set a balanced budget and this year’s budget includes a general Council Tax increase of 2.98% plus an Adult Social Care precept increase of 2% Barnet continues to maintain a Council Tax lower than any neighbouring boroughs The budget has been set at a period of considerable financial challenge for the council In spite of the council already finding £23m of efficiency savings for the next financial year the council was facing a £56m funding gap because of the unprecedented financial crisis facing local government the council received confirmation that the government approved the council’s application for ‘exceptional financial support’ of £55.7m to help plug the funding gap through borrowing or asset sales Council finances have been stretched by huge service cost rises and demands especially for complex and expensive services the council has a legal duty to provide such as adults’ and children’s social care and temporary accommodation for homeless families in the borough “Setting a budget has been extremely difficult as we have faced very tough choices We are facing an unprecedented crisis in financing our services so residents will see a 4.98% increase in their bills this year we continue to maintain a Council Tax lower than any of our neighbouring boroughs – to help families keep their household bills down and are one of only a few London boroughs who have kept the increase below the legal maximum “The exceptional financial support we have received is just a temporary solution We still have some difficult decisions in the months ahead and we will be regularly engaging with residents to understand what is most important to you If you need to contact us over the festive period, our customer contact centre will be open as usual between Christmas and New Year (apart from Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January, which are bank holidays). The out-of-hours service will still be answered 24 hours a day for emergencies. See full contact details here Recycling and refuse bin collection days will be revised over the festive period. This will affect bin collections between Monday 23 December and Saturday 4 January 2025. Blue recycling bin and black refuse bin collections will return to normal collection days from the week commencing Monday 6 January 2025. Check your revised recycling and refuse collection days here The annual six-week pause to garden waste collections will last until Sunday 19 January 2025 The first collections in the New Year will either take place on Saturday 25 January or Saturday 1 February Real Christmas trees placed at the boundary of your property will be collected on Saturday 11 or Saturday 18 January Please ensure your real Christmas tree has all decorations and tree lights removed is cut in half and put at the boundary of your property by 6am Full details here All council-owned leisure centres will be closed on Thursday 19, Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January. From Monday 23 December until Tuesday 31 December, they will be operating with reduced hours in place. Full details here Barnet Council will invest £16.9 million in 2025/26 in improving the boroughs roads and pavements over the next few years Barnet Council’s Cabinet (5 February) approved a £16.9 million investment for 2025/26 as part of the £97 million package announced in 2024 for improving the boroughs roads and pavements over the next few years This year’s investment of £16.9 million includes: Roads and pavements for the ‘Improving Barnet’s Roads and Pavements programme’ are selected following an independent condition survey the 723km of Barnets maintained roads and 1,290km of pavements are surveyed and their condition recorded Roads and pavements are then selected for the planned works programme based on their condition The approach ensures that the work programme maximises the investment by prioritising those roads and pavements in most need of repair Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “It is vital that the council is able to deliver on our commitments maintaining and improving the roads and pavements in our borough and providing the environmental services that residents expect This investment will help us achieve this.” Alongside the ‘Improving Barnet’s Roads and Pavements programme’ the council also undertakes reactive maintenance throughout the year many of which came from reports received from residents Further details on our 2025/2026 Improving Barnet’s Roads and Pavements programme will be available here once the final programme is published Barnet’s residents are being asked to share their views on the council’s future spending plans including proposals for saving costs and increasing income to close next year’s forecast budget shortfall As reported to December’s Cabinet meeting last week (5 December) the council is considering options to achieve financial stability while it contends with a ‘perfect storm’ that has unleashed a projected £52 million funding gap for financial year 2025-26.   Barnet's budget gap will not be confirmed until after the financial settlement from the Government is received in late December. For the purposes of the budget consultation we are assuming a budget gap of £52m after savings proposals are delivered but this would be reduced further if the council achieves the maximum uplift from the Government's financial settlement Residents can have their say on proposals to increase income through fees and charges and for a 4.98% increase in Council Tax for April 2025 Further actions in the council’s plan include proposals for restructuring or reducing some frontline services while protecting statutory and essential services “We want to hear from all residents on our spending plans and budget savings proposals for the next year We want to minimise the impact of any changes to services on the quality of life of our residents which is why we need their views on what they think we need to prioritise We are a well-run council and run a tight ship but like other councils we find ourselves caught in the perfect storm caused by the legacy of decades of austerity funding cuts that have more than halved our budget increasing demand for complex services and a financial climate that is driving up the cost of providing them  “It will mean reducing some services and delaying some projects Some of the fees and charges levied for extra services are also likely to increase We’re faced with extremely difficult choices and we want to carefully weigh up all options in consultation with residents.”  Cabinet Members and council officers have been working to address and contain the unprecedented pressures on the council’s finances driven by conditions beyond the council’s control These pressures are driving the council’s finances to breaking point  Measures to take on the crisis have already been put in place such as cutting back-office functions and freezing non-essential services while protecting sensitive frontline services to vulnerable residents and universal provision such as road maintenance The Barnet FC and London Bees’ Player Awards is taking place in The Legends Bar this coming Friday 18th April following our home game against Eastleigh The ceremony will begin at 8:15pm and should last for a little over an hour This includes a Q&A with Barnet Manager Dean Brennan and a season review from London Bees First Team Coach Tim Abramyan We will keep the tea hut outside of Legends Bar open until 8pm for those who want to grab something to eat before the awards and the bar will remain open until 11:00pm The players will also be sticking around for about half an hour after the awards for photos and autographs Fans with a matchday ticket will be able to gain entry into the Player Awards If you haven’t already purchased yours, click HERE for tickets This will be a fantastic event so please make sure you’re there to cheer on both teams who have each had an amazing season Jermaine Francis has been recalled from his loan at Braintree Town Jermaine also featured four times for the Bees earlier on in this seasons