The scheme includes a 25-storey tower and ‘re-provision’ of a demolished leisure centre News | London Plans for more than 1,500 new homes in Finchley have secured “support in principle” from City Hall and will soon be considered for approval by Barnet Council The proposed development at Great North Leisure Park would comprise 20 buildings the tallest of which would reach 25 storeys It would also incorporate a new leisure centre bowling alley and restaurants with large amounts of car parking as well as the council-owned Finchley Lido Leisure Centre - of all of which would be demolished to make way for the new development Barnet Council will issue a decision on the scheme at some point in the coming weeks state that a total of 1,502 new homes would be created along with the “re-provision” of a new leisure centre and a replacement sports pavilion some 2,590 square metres of retail space would be provided only 23 per cent of the homes - in terms of total habitable rooms - would be classed as ‘affordable’ with 195 properties available at a social rent and 130 offered for shared ownership The remaining 1,177 homes are proposed to be sold off at market rates Ordinarily for major developments in London, mayor Sir Sadiq Khan requires at least 35 per cent of properties As Great North Leisure Park includes both private and public land City Hall said a threshold of about 40 per cent had been agreed with the developer But a viability assessment commissioned by Regal and carried out by the consultancy DS2 concluded that the scheme’s construction costs would run to more than a half a billion pounds with the new leisure centre’s construction costing almost £46m alone The assessment’s modelling found that “even with zero affordable housing but said that a “commercial decision” had nonetheless been taken by Regal “to provide 23 per cent affordable housing” Sir Sadiq’s office said that this viability assessment is being “robustly interrogated” by City Hall staff who will test its accuracy and see whether more affordable housing can be included The mayor’s report said that the development is “supported in principle” overall but does not yet “fully comply” with the London Plan - a document outlining how the capital should develop over the coming years on the scheme’s environmental impact and sustainable drainage proposals In comments on the project’s transport requirements it added that a “financial contribution towards upgrades in bus capacity would also need to be secured” by the council via a legal agreement MPs warn public sector accounts were undermined by local audit backlog Anger as lift closures across London Underground nearly double in a year Mayor commits £6m extra funding to support domestic abuse victims Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000 Among those objecting to the plans are the London Essex and Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust the Trust has warned: “The scale and proximity of the proposed development would be extremely likely to impact negatively on the presence of a high status population of the internationally protected great crested newt Triturus cristatus on the adjacent Glebelands Local Nature Reserve.” 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 UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Sign up to Barnet First for weekly service updates and news into your inbox Finchley Church End by-election candidates The result of yesterday’s by-election in the Finchley Church End ward was declared last night (Thursday 6 March) at Barnet Council Headquarters Conservative Party Candidate.    This means the political composition of the Council is now 40 Labour 20 Conservative and three members who are not part of a council political group.  There is no automatic change to the Council administration.  The turnout for this by-election was 25.5% You can see the full results on our results webpage By-election for Finchley Church End Ward, Thursday 6 March 2025 | Barnet Council Follow us through our social channels to find out what we're doing JTP has put forward plans to build 1,502 homes on the site of a 30-year-old leisure centre in north London The proposals would transform the Great North Leisure Park in Finchley into a ‘new neighbourhood’ with 2,600m² of commercial space and public green spaces Backed by developer Regal the scheme would see the leisure park and its lido replaced by a modern sports centre designed by Cambridge architects Saunders Boston Plans have been submitted to Barnet Council for the transformation of the 4.5ha site Almost a quarter of the homes would be designated affordable while designs ‘prioritise energy efficiency minimise environmental impact and build resilience to climate change’ Saunders Boston’s new leisure centre would feature three indoor water areas an outdoor lido and multipurpose studios as well as a sauna JTP's plans for Great North Leisure Park in Finchley: Leisure North Entrance Regal has also applied to redevelop Lodge Lane Car Park in Finchley into 98 apartments and amenities including a cinema and a bowling alley Regal planning director Steve Harrington said: ‘Our plans for Great North Leisure Park represent a bold reimagining of a neglected site unlocking its potential to become a vibrant destination for sports so it feels unwelcoming and inaccessible to pedestrians Our proposals will create a new neighbourhood a new leisure centre and new public spaces truly putting this corner of Finchley on the map.’ Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… A second successive 2-1 loss saw the Hornets miss the opportunity to strengthen their grip on third spot after the top two both fell to defeats by the same scoreline the gap to the chasers was closed with victories for fourth-placed Cray Valley and fifth-placed Dover but the margin to sixth spot is still a healthy eight points with eight matches to play Camilo Restrepo’s intended cross somehow ended up in the corner of the Horsham net to give the visitors the lead but a fine Reece Meekums goal levelled the scores before the break James Hammond passed up a glorious chance to put his side in front immediately after the interval and the decisive moment came when Jack Strange mishit a back pass allowing Theo Alexandrou to run through and bag the winner Charlie Hempstead was on hand to bring you the full details Read Full Match Report Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Last MatchIsthmian League Premier DivisionThe Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, HorshamSaturday April 26 2025, 3:00 pmHorsham5Hashtag United1Match Report Next MatchSussex Senior Cup FinalAmerican Express Stadium, FalmerThursday May 8 2025, 7:30 pmHorshamLittlehampton TownView Fixtures Send a tweet containing #HorshamFC to get involved. Thy man scores again things self entitled fans love to see.💛💚#HorshamFC https://x.com/robbiemurdoch28/status/1875881834388877785/photo/1 13918045.Limited by Shares: Major Shareholding (100%) Horsham Football Club CIC.Registered Address: The Hop Oast Stadium,Worthing Road,Horsham,West Sussex,RH13 0AD Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Deliveries, Returns & Refunds Powered by: Lello Co A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address by | Apr 13, 2025 | Match Day Reports New Stadium First Team Tickets Club News Contact Us Instagram YouTube Twitter Our club sponsor page Following the passing of former Mayor of Barnet and Councillor for 35 years a by-election will be held for one councillor in the Finchley Church End ward on Thursday 6 March 2025. Polling stations in Finchley Church End will be open from 7am - 10pm For more information about the Finchley Church End ward by-election visit - By-election for Finchley Church End Ward, Thursday 6 March 2025 | Barnet Council, or contact Electoral Services by email at ero@barnet.gov.uk or by phone on 020 8359 5577 If you are interested in standing as a candidate at this election, please contact Barnet's Electoral Services directly at electionsprojectoffice@barnet.gov.uk opens the Market Place Playground in East Finchley Barnet Council has unveiled a new playground in East Finchley transforming it into a green modern park for the whole community to enjoy as well as contributing to Barnet’s NetZero aspirations It’s been a four-year journey from the original imaginative vision through extensive community consultation and the design fundraising and build phases to deliver the transformation of this historic bit of East Finchley Thanks to a hugely collaborative approach to fundraising across the local community and beyond a total of £464,000 in improvements to the Market Place Playground have been made The concrete and old tarmac flooring has been replaced with a fun sandy area for children to play in and the park now features wider stretches of grass and safer surfacing Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing and East Finchley Ward Member "I want to thank everyone who has worked hard throughout an intensely collaborative process to make this wonderful playground a reality There have been so many dedicated groups of individuals who have worked and fundraised to make this happen and I’m delighted to see so many local children enjoying and exploring this fantastic new space "Not only is it a place where youngsters can have lots of fun but it will also help keep our young people active encouraging imaginative play and improving their health and wellbeing and give families and friends a place to meet and relax." "Watching children of all ages pour into the playground on the first day was pure joy The physical and health benefits of the new space are obvious but there’s also a bigger message to the next generation – that it is possible to make a positive and lasting change to your environment.”  The renovated playground was officially opened on Sunday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Deputy Mayor of Barnet Secretary of East Finchley Community Trust “This scheme has turned grey tarmac into a green oasis. It has created a natural space adaptable to climate change and a space no longer just a playground but a new park for all ages to enjoy.” Funding for the playground came from various sources including the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which uses money from developers to offset the negative effects of urban development Other contributors included The Mayor of London Grow Back Greener Fund Barnet Council – East Area Committee -money is Neighbourhood CIL Barnet Council – Greenspaces capital funding – Strategic CIL Spacehive crowd funder (in partnership with Barnet Council) Local donations including from Bill Nighy event Developer Regal has submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Barnet for the redevelopment of the Lodge Lane Car Park as part of the North Finchley Town Centre revamp The submission for Lodge Lane will be followed shortly by an outline submission for the wider North Finchley masterplan The proposed development includes 98 apartments alongside  30,500 sq ft of commercial space A key feature of the redevelopment is a new public square designed to serve as a central gathering space for leisure Regal said: “Lodge Lane is the first piece of the puzzle for the wider North Finchley town centre masterplan project we have listened to and learnt from local groups and have submitted plans that we believe will bring new life to the town centre offering economic benefits through job creation and new commercial opportunities reinforcing North Finchley’s position as a dynamic and desirable place to live The community at Finchley Reform Synagogue celebrated the 10th anniversary of their monthly inclusive service Shabbat B’yachad is specifically designed to be accessible to people with profound learning disabilities who may not otherwise feel comfortable in a synagogue service setting while also offering a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who attends This special FRS community is run by the synagogue’s Senior Clergy who spent time learning from congregations in North America while on sabbatical She explains: “I had heard about a service taking place at Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan I went along and spoke afterwards with their clergy team and was inspired to bring the idea back to FRS.” The FRS team pulled together experts in their community social worker and members of families with the most experience of profound special needs and from this they learned a whole new language they then launched Shabbat B’yachad to see if there was an interest in the community and have never looked back – even adding a B’yachad service on Yom Kippur to fill the need of such an important part of the congregation Cantor Zoe added: “We learned how underserved this community was at that time and imagined how hard it might be as an adult with profound special needs to find a space that wasn’t intended only for children Families shared with us that they had stopped attending synagogue after their loved one was a teenager because they couldn’t find a safe space for them to be there together.”The service is structured to provide multi-sensory experiences and physical engagement ensuring that everyone can connect with their Judaism in a way that is meaningful to them. While it uses a lot of music it also welcomes the members as part of the band giving out instruments for certain parts of the service and includes the ideas of the congregation to understand more about specific prayers Whether those in attendance take a leading role or just soak up the atmosphere B’yachad ensures that everyone has a part to play The service which celebrated its 10th year at the weekend is a testament to the synagogue’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility creating a space where all members of the community can come together to celebrate Shabbat Cantor Zoe said: “B’yachad is more than just a service; it is a vibrant expression of faith and community where every individual is valued and included Our incredible B’yachad leadership team continue to offer an extraordinary and much-needed service and our community is so much richer for having members of all ages Similar services also run at Reform and Liberal communities across the country, please contact your local congregation to find out more Dover Athletic suffered a frustrating afternoon in North London as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Wingate & Finchley despite a spirited response to going down to ten men early in the second half Dover started brightly and nearly had the perfect opening when Ruben Soares-Junior collided with the Wingate goalkeeper in the second minute only for his effort to be dramatically cleared off the line The Whites dominated possession in the early stages delivering dangerous balls into the box but struggling to create clear-cut opportunities their promising start was undone in the 34th minute when Ryan Lowe unleashed a long-range strike into the far corner Dover responded well and went close just before the break with a near-post header looping over the bar Their task became significantly harder in the 53rd minute when Alfie Matthews was sent off after picking up a second yellow card keeping possession well and searching for a way back into the match Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute when Luke Baptiste produced a stunning acrobatic volley to equalise finishing superbly after an excellent cross from Roman Charles-Cook and they looked capable of securing a result disaster struck just nine minutes later when Charles-Cook inadvertently headed into his own net from a Wingate corner Dover made attacking changes in an attempt to salvage something from the game and they nearly snatched a point deep into stoppage time Substitute Kweku-Conrad Lucan fired narrowly wide in the 97th minute The defeat marks back-to-back losses for the Whites who will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Whitehawk Isthmian League – Premier DivisionAttendance: 270Kick-off: 3pmReferee: Samuel OlhausenVenue: Maurice Rebak Stadium by | Jan 3, 2025 | Front Page Wingate & Finchley vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 4th January A NOTE FOR ALL SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING THAT THERE WILL BE AN 11 AM PITCH INSPECTION AHEAD OF THE GAME Cray Wanderers play the first away game of 2025 on Saturday 4th January as Neil Smith’s in-form side head to North London to face Wingate & Finchley for the third time this season Cray have been on a good run since the start of December and have lost just one of the last seven games and on New Year’s Day produced another inventive and solid performance to beat Dulwich Hamlet 1-0 courtesy of Frankie Raymond’s 83rd minute strike After a first half where Shaun Rowley had to make a couple of key saves Cray were the better side in the second and Nathan Jeche Kenny Coker and Josh Williams all came close to scoring before Raymond’s classy strike The win moved the Wands up to 11th in the table on 32 points from 24 games and a great turnaround and have picked up 26 points since a goalless draw with Whitehawk on 22nd October when Cray were at the bottom of the table and have had five 1-0 wins in the last seven matches Defensively Cray have been very resolute conceding just twenty six goals and Shaun Rowley has kept fifteen clean sheets which is remarkable for a side that was struggling early in the season The Dulwich win meant Cray are just six points behind Horsham in 5th place but perhaps more importantly nine clear of the bottom four although Cray have played a couple of games more Cray will be tested against a very strong Wingate & Finchley side who have just been going through an indifferent run of form and without a win in eight but were in the playoff places earlier in the season after one defeat in eight during October-November Ahmet Rifat’s side have won at both Dover Athletic and Dartford and are a club that exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season when usually tipped to struggle Wingate & Finchley never played on New Year’s Day as their game at Potters Bar Town was postponed due to the wet weather and their last outing was a 2-3 defeat at Folkestone Invicta on 28th December with goals from Zack Newton and Ben Ward-Cochrane Wingate & Finchley are 13th in the table on 31 points after 23 games but another good run could see them playoff contenders once again The teams have met twice already this season in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with the sides drawing 1-1 at Flamingo Park on 14th September with David Ijaha’s goal cancelled out by a late Ogo Obi penalty Cray won the replay three days later at Wingate & Finchley with David Smith’s goal just before half time The last time the sides met in the league was on January 27th 2024 with Gary Lockyer’s overhead kick winning the game for Cray 1-0 At home this season Wingate & Finchley have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (3-2) Carshalton Athletic (2-1) and Hastings United (2-1) Wingate & Finchley were beaten by Potters Bar Town (1-2) Billericay Town (0-1) and Cheshunt (0-1) on Boxing Day Away form has seen wins at Canvey Island (3-2) Their other games ended in defeat at Carshalton Athletic Wingate & Finchley beat Thame United in the FA Cup before losing to the Wands and in the FA Trophy exited at the 3QR losing at Chatham Town and were beaten at home by Tilbury in the Isthmian League Cup Games between the sides over the years have been very close and always competitive and will be again although it may be one for the fans to wrap up warm Cash and card are accepted at all sales points at the stadium Supporting ID required for concessions or full price admission will be charged The simplest way to get to the stadium is to get on to the A406 North Circular Road go past Henlys Corner (taking the left fork after the traffic lights) and then drive for about 1 mile The exit to take is the one immediately after a BP garage Take the slip road and then turn right at the lights onto the A1000 At the end of the slip road turn left at the lights then after 100m pass through another set of lights Then at the next set of lights turn right into Summers Lane The Stadium is a few hundred metres down on the right hand side Please be aware NOT to park in the Rugby Club next door as they will close their gates and lock you in although please note not to park on the kerbs and also some surrounding roads have yellow lines The Club car park on matchdays is available for Club Officials (Home & Away) Blue Badge Parking: 4 free spaces are available on the front forecourt The nearest station is New Southgate in Travelcard Zone 4 approximately 1.5 miles from the Abrahams Stadium Trains are operated by First Capital Connect and can be picked up from Finsbury Park At the top of the station steps take the right hand gangway which brings you onto Station Road Head left up Station Road towards the bus stop The regular 382 service to Millbrook Park goes via Summers Lane and takes about 5-10 minutes You will need to alight at the Woodgrange Avenue stop Nearest Pubs:  The nearest pubs are the Elephant Inn in North Finchley which is also a Thai Restaurant around 0.6 miles away with the Tally Ho (Wetherspoons) similarly located If coming into East Finchley then the Old White Lion and the Bald Faced Stag are a bit of a trek on foot but the 263 bus will take you from there close enough to the ground For a decent chippie The Two Brothers Fish restaurant in Finchley is worth a stop off About 1.4 miles away or a 263 (south bound) bus will take you to the ground Finchley is an area of the LB of Barnet which has three town centres in East Finchley North Finchley and Finchley Central (Church End) and developed from the late 1800’s with connections to the Great North Railway The area is quite artistic and has been the site of a number of films and TV locations Finchley was the home of the Goons’ Spike Milligan and there is a bronze statue in the Stephens House and Gardens in East End Road It was also the constituency of Margaret Thatcher from 1959-1992 and former speaker of the house John Bercow Also singer-songwriter George Michael was born in East Finchley and Spice Girl Emma Bunton was born in Finchley The area has a large Jewish community and the original Wingate club who Cray Wanderers played in the 1950’s were formed in honour of an Israeli soldier Orde Wingate and to combat Anti-Semitism and the current set up was formed in 1991 as a merger of the Wingate and Finchley football clubs After the disappointment of the late defeat at Dartford last Saturday Horsham return to the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium this weekend with their sights set on taking three points from their clash with visiting Wingate & Finchley manager Dom Di Paola was not too downcast after seeing his side outplay the Darts in the first half and have the better of the chances in the second even though the hosts dominated possession after the interval because although we hit the woodwork three times the reality is that we didn’t convert our chances and then we missed a one-on-one that would have put the game to bed with fifteen minutes to go we’ve outplayed all the other teams in the playoff positions in at least one of our fixtures against them Every team knows they’ve been in a game against us and we’re right in the mix despite giving them a big head start in the first half of the season because of all our cup matches We’re in a great position and the challenge is still the same – to get as many points as we can and see where it takes us.” That challenge continues against a Blues side who have been one of the great entertainers this season with their matches serving up an average of 3.6 goals and their striker Ogo Obi being the equal-highest scorer in the division Ahmet Rifat’s side are too far behind fifth-placed Dover Athletic to harbour serious playoff aspirations but are also comfortably clear of the drop zone so they are in the happy position of being able to relax and enjoy themselves the above stats would suggest that they have been doing just that all season the fixture between the sides earlier this season was settled in the Hornets’ favour by a single Joel Daly goal in a match that will mostly be remembered for taking place in the midst of Storm Bert It is reasonably safe to assume that conditions for the return encounter will be rather calmer Horsham’s 16-man matchday squad picks itself with Jack Brivio still not ready for a return and Charlie Hester-Cook – scorer of the Hornets’ goal in the equivalent fixture last season – also sidelined The match has been designated as the Her Game Too fixture in support of the campaign of that name launched in May 2021 with the aim of tackling sexism in football and ensuring that women and girls feel safe and welcome at all levels of the game Its mission is to create a more inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy football without fear of discrimination or harassment Northern Premier League and Southern League are showing their support for the campaign by celebrating Her Game Too over the weekend of 8/9 March to coincide with International Women’s Day The match also marks the 4th Horsham Football Club Beer Festival, featuring 15 keg and cask beers from 12 local breweries. Full details can be found HERE There will also be post-match entertainment in the clubhouse parents and teachers from St Andrew’s Primary School Nuthurst and Holy Trinity Primary School Lower Beeding also in attendance it promises to be a busy afternoon at Hop Oast all the usual offering will be there for everyone to enjoy After picking up an award-winning programme (£3 cash at the kiosk or pay by card in the club shop) and a 50/50 draw ticket or two check out the expanded range of HFC-branded goods in the club shop sit yourself down with a drink and something from our outstanding kitchen read your programme and watch live Premier League football as an appetiser for the real thing Tickets can be purchased in advance HERE at a discount compared to on-the-day prices Supporters are reminded that parking is only available at the Park & Ride catching the number 23 or 98 bus from town or being dropped off at the ground means not having to worry about finding a space in cooperation with our good friends from the Old Farts Society was killed in an attack close to East Finchley Tube station in 1984 News | Crime 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 Two men will appear in court charged with the murder of a man near a north London Tube station more than four decades on Anthony Littler was found with head injuries in an alleyway known as The Causeway, near East Finchley Tube station have been charged with Mr Littler’s murder The charges come after two arrests were initially made in March 2024 Both men were remanded into custody and will appear at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday an executive officer at Customs and Excise Two charged over murder of man near Tube station in 1984 Nigel Havers’ astonishing real-life family connection to the Ruth Ellis case shot dead by gunmen ‘on moped dressed as Deliveroo drivers’ ‘Murder’ victim’s body found after suspect walks into London police station He had been on his way home from a night out when the attack occurred relatives described the 45-year-old as a “lovely Police said three men who were previously arrested on suspicion of murder remain under investigation by | Apr 11, 2025 | Front Page Cray Wanderers vs Wingate & Finchley – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 12th April Cray Wanderers play the penultimate home game of an historic first season at Flamingo Park as 10th placed Wands host 11th placed Wingate & Finchley in what will be the fourth meeting of the season Cray will come into the game high in confidence after a terrific 2-0 win at Billericay Town last Saturday The game plan was perfected virtually to the letter as after a cagey first half Cray showed far more attacking potency than the title contenders and Soul Kader early on made it seven goals in seven games with a classy run and finish Nyren Clunis is another finished the season as per usual in good form and notched his 11th goal of the season to make it 2-0 in the 64th minute Cray defended stoutly to complete an eighteenth clean sheet of the season for keeper Shaun Rowley but the back four were outstanding as were the whole team who helped give the final month of the season a great start After Saturday Cray have a huge say in who will be going up as Champions as over Easter the Wands visit Horsham and on Monday finish the home fixtures against Dartford so a great boost for the team to have tough opponents to play towards the end of the season rather than tame end of season affairs Certainly Saturday’s game will not fit into this category as both teams look to aim for a 60+ point haul for the season and Wingate & Finchley themselves at points in the season have looked like live playoff contenders The teams met twice early in the campaign in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup which ended in a 1-1 draw at Flamingo Park in September with David Ijaha’s goal cancelled out by top scorer Cray though won the replay three nights later The two teams met in the league on 28th January on a wet and grim night and the game matched the mood for the most part of it but Ben Watt notched another injury time goal to win the match for the home side Ahmet Rifat’s side have had an incredible run of results away from home against four of the title contenders having won at Dover They were up with the contenders going into November but a run of ten games without a win was ended by the 1-0 win against Cray in January and went on to lose only one of the next nine games Last Saturday Wingate & Finchley picked up a point from a goalless draw at Lewes Away form has been very good with wins at Canvey Island (3-2) Hastings United (2-0) and Billericay Town (3-1) They drew at Potters Bar Town (0-0) and Lewes (0-0) and were beaten at Carshalton Athletic (2-3) Chatham Town (1-3) and Chichester City (1-2) At home Wingate & Finchley beat Dulwich Hamlet (3-2) Whitehawk (3-1) and drew with Folkestone Invicta The only home defeats came against Potters Bar Town Top scorer is Ogo Obi with 27 goals in all competitions The Blues finish the season with a home match with Bognor Regis Town on Saturday 19th away to Cheshunt on Easter Monday and end at home to Canvey Island Neither side can reach the playoffs but there are three key matches on Saturday which could narrow down the options for promotion with Chatham hosting Chichester Carshalton Athletic vs Horsham and Hashtag United v Cray Valley means with three games remaining names could start to tumble out of the race and could mean the winners tomorrow can either cement a top 10 finish or enough of the nine points remaining to go higher bars – Also Crystal Palace v Man City and Arsenal v Brentford matches shown live THE PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS OF TIM O’SHEA The Wands penultimate home game of the 2024-25 season sees the Wands face Wingate & Finchley this afternoon for the fourth time this season Here Tim O’Shea looks back to last Saturday outstanding 2-0 win at Billericay Town and the challenge for today        Let’s start by looking back to the excellent win at Billericay Town last Saturday Not many would have had that result down on their bingo cards but you must have believed it was possible and it was a classic away performance myself and all the management team have always believed in these boys The biggest factor has always been do those boys believe in themselves I can’t tell you how disappointed they were after the Dover game With the result rather than the performance which we couldn’t knock too much It was now mathematically not possible to reach the playoffs but for them to pick themselves up and come to perhaps the wannabe champions and put in a performance like that spoke volumes We put a bit of work in on the Thursday at training and they have come here and that belief which I beiieve in but do the dressing room   When we arrived at 1.15 pm I could tell in the changing room that we were not going to get beaten  A special mention to Quade Taylor who came into the midfield for the match and was outstanding against a strong physical side as were the whole team I don’t think Billiercay had a shot on target in the whole game  There were a few raised eyebrows before the game even the Chairman thought we were playing three at the back Billericay have a real physicality about them at times They have a long throw so what Quade gives us there is stability What they were playing and credit to Alfie George for looking at that we knew they would play like a box in there with two 10’s and two midfield players  so it made sense for us to have two players sitting there in front as we knew we would have enough pace and ability Once we broke them down we won the ball back So it was possibly one of the most complete performances I’ve seen in a long while  I know Shaun Rowley gets a lot of credit for his record of 18 clean sheets which I think makes him second in the league but you also have to give a great shout out to the boys in front Even at the end at 2-0 with a minute or so to go Tom has put his body on the line and got a great block in They have been outstanding those two and Remi deserves a mention as he is underrated he goes about his business and does it so efficiently and a really good player  It wasn’t a game of many chances but when the chances came for Soul and Nyren they were both dispatched superbly especially Soul’s as it wasn’t an easy one to finish off in the first half we had a couple of situations especially for Soul but each time he got snuffed out couldn’t get his feet right or Matt Johnson did well to get back and stop him doing what he did for the goal I’m not being funny he still had loads to do when he went through There wasn’t much room there so for him to tuck it away like he did was thoroughly deserved and for the shift he put in  Looking ahead to today and the fourth meeting of the season with Wingate & Finchley Another team perhaps a bit like us that goes under the radar but they are always strong  It will be a similar game to as it was at their place in January To be fair they do try to overload down the flanks and show great rotation and movement I think when we lost to them they then went on an amazing run They do play some great football and should be a decent game  I said to the boys after the game on Saturday don’t let the season just fade away we are one of the best teams in this league and the second half of the season just proves it  ——————————————————————————————- DIRECTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS TO FLAMINGO PARK – IMPORTANT TRAIN TRAVEL INFORMATION Cray Wanderers FC – Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212 A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit  onto the A20 slip road to C Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25 After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 400 cars on site Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground The 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey TAXIS –  TAXIS – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032 Nearest Hotel:   Premier Inn London Eltham take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from Finchley Cricket Club is seeking a Head Groundsperson with the experience and dedication to prepare and maintain playing and practice areas at the Finchley Cricket Club This represents a fantastic opportunity to join a highly ambitious club with well over 100 playing members and hundreds of juniors to make a significant contribution Core responsibilities of the Head Groundsman include: To apply, send a copy of your CV and cover letter to Finchley Cricket Club Chair, Graham Leggett, via email ([email protected]) Website Design by Purpose Media Concern over future of services in Finchley Road Monday, 10th February — By Caitlin Maskell The post office has operated inside the WH Smith branch in Finchley Road THE future of the Swiss Cottage post office is on the line after WHSmith said it is closing the site in April The struggling stationer is shutting down its high street stores which include the branch with the franchised Post Office on Finchley Road said losing the post office would be a “huge loss to the area” and particularly difficult for older people who rely on its everyday services adding: “A lot of elderly people use it to pay their bills as well and also for basic things like posting and buying stamps There are also basically no banks on the high street any more and limited ATMs so you can at least get money out from a post office Halifax and NatWest have all gone and the post office is the only place older people can do transactions “I’ve lived in the Swiss Cottage area for a long time When I first arrived the Finchley Road area was buzzing So many places are closing down now it’s just becoming a ghost town Hubert Clarke who has lived in Lymington Road for 27 years said: “When all the banks on Finchley Road disappeared we couldn’t get money out anywhere because they were all gone we were doing that all through the post office “It’s one of the only places where you can actually get money out I remember when the big Woolworths super store was down there and the area was full of shoppers and people “Now the road is full of derelict shops because all the people are gone “The closure will affect old people big time The nearest place to us will be Kilburn or West Hampstead and for older people like myself it’s too far.” The change comes hard on the heels of the New Journal’s report on the possibility that the post office in Hampstead High Street may soon close Labour ward councillors in South Hampstead were unavailable this week but Councillor Steve Adams said: “I think the worst thing about this situation is the public haven’t been told I think it would have been responsible of WHSmith who are a very large business and have been for a long time to have spoken to people in the local area and told people what they were intending to do as the post office is incredibly vital to the community “Large companies owe a debt to their customers.” A Post Office spokesperson said: “The operator for Swiss Cottage Post Office has resigned as WHSmith has made the difficult decision to close the store where the branch is based “The vacancy has been advertised and we have interest expressed from many retailers and we are looking at the options available as we know how important a post office is to a community.” A WHSmith spokesperson said: ““We can confirm that the WHSmith store in South Hampstead will be closing in April It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry “We are also extremely grateful for the commitment of our in store colleagues who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores The ECHR has ruled that Obina Christopher Ezeoke liberties were breached because his conviction took so long A ‘callous’ assassin who was jailed for life for shooting dead a mother and her sleeping nephew at their London apartment has won a European human rights claim faced five trials before finally being convicted for the murders of psychology student Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo But the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Ezeoke’s liberties were breached because it took so long for his case to be tried Judges said the four-year process breached Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights his case for immediate release from his life term in prison and compensation was rejected by the Strasbourg court This is the latest extraordinary example of judicial activism by the Strasbourg court Article 6 guarantees not only the right to a fair trial encompassing both criminal and civil cases but also that a public hearing is held within “reasonable time” Driver fined £11,000 for breaking five-minute parking rule Tube crime: Is your line or station the worst on the London Underground Vandalised Paddington Bear statue to return to town that ‘loves him so dearly’ MP investigated by Met over alleged sexual assault at Groucho Club But Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This is the latest extraordinary example of judicial activism by the Strasbourg court Ezeoke executed Kalikaka-Ekofo and Ekofo after sneaking in through the unlocked door of their East Finchley apartment The Old Bailey heard the killing was intended as a revenge hit after rivals – including Ekofo’s son Ryan Efey 22 – shared footage of him being attacked on Snapchat Ezeoke fired a bullet into the back of Kalikaka-Ekofo’s head with a Smith and Wesson revolver before blasting Ekofo in the chest with the Smith and Wesson The first trial was postponed due to the judge suffering back pain and the second because the jury could not reach a verdict The third – and first retrial – also ended because a different jury could not reach a verdict while the fourth – a second retrial – was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic Judge Mrs Justice Cutts said she had considered a whole-life order but ultimately opted for life with a minimum term of 40 years callous and brutal murders of two people has not only cut short their lives but has ruined the lives of many.” Ezeoke argued that the repeated trials “had such a detrimental effect on the quality of the defence evidence that the outcome of the fifth trial was ‘at least arguably’ unsafe” He was held in a Category A high-security prison throughout the process following his arrest eight years ago The ECHR found there were two delays that were “problematic” notably the time between the third and fourth trial in 2019 and 2020 has responded to information circulating on social media and national media about a planned demonstration in North Finchley this evening (7 August) “You will be aware that information has been circulating on social media about a possible ‘protest’ in North Finchley on Wednesday evening work or travel through the area then we advise caution and to be mindful of your safety.  “I also ask that you consider avoiding North Finchley this evening then it will be far easier for the Police and other agencies to tackle the situation and catch the perpetrators if innocent bystanders are not in the area “I understand that some of you will be wanting to join peaceful counter-protests then I advise you do not cover your faces (except for religious or medical reasons) fly flags or engage in behaviour that will attract the attention of the Police “We understand the Metropolitan Police are stepping up their patrols and presence in the area to reassure residents and communities We are in close contact with our partners in the Metropolitan Police and will do everything we can to ensure that the horrendous Islamophobic anti-immigrant and racist scenes that have taken place in town and cities around the country do not play out on our streets We will not tolerate anyone who seeks to intimidate For further information please see the statement below issued from the local Metropolitan Police’s Superintendent:  Superintendent Lorraine Busby-McVey “We are aware of social media posts relating to potential events in North Finchley tomorrow evening and understand many of our residents will be concerned.     “In recent days we’ve all been shocked to see the mindless violence racism and acts of thuggery across the country Our priority in Barnet is preventing disorder in our communities and keeping people safe “Our message to all of those seeking to cause violence and divide our communities is clear – your actions are completely unacceptable and anyone taking part will face the full force of the law.       “Local people can expect to see more officers in the area tomorrow and throughout the evening They will be responding to any concerns and available to speak to residents who may have questions or need help and advice “Thank you to the local North Finchley community and dedicated officers for coming together in these difficult times standing tall against all forms of hatred and abuse.”      where you can get help to report a Hate Crime Barnet Football Club The Champions head up to the Mill Farm Stadium this Monday for their final game of the 24/25 season Barnet FC is delighted to announce that Manager Dean Brennan has today signed a new 3 year contract with the Club 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 Dartford visit the last side to beat them in the Isthmian Premier when they travel to North London and face Wingate and Finchley this weekend Since the reverse at Princes Park in October the Darts have gone on their longest unbeaten run since 2009 to climb up to fourth in the table The 15 match streak without defeat has seen Adrian Pennock’s team pick up ten victories and five draws to become the in form club Dartford have won each of their last six outings and their previous five on the road Wingate and Finchley have struggled since the tail end of November picking up just one point in their last eight league fixtures A near perfect December earned Pennock his first Manager of the Month award with the Darts Only Dulwich Hamlet took points off his side in the final month of 2024 An away Kent derby victory at Chatham Town was followed up with a 4-1 triumph at home against Whitehawk Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV The Dartford boss only made a couple of changes versus the Hawks who themselves were experiencing a new manager bounce and unbeaten in five Denzelle Olopade missed his first league game of the season due to an ankle injury Pennock felt it was a good idea to rest the midfielder after playing four games in nine days In their place came midfielders Jez Pinder and Louis Dunne The game came to life when Josh Hill scored a screamer from long range an effort that could easily win goal of the season Callum Jones increased the lead with his eighth of the campaign before Whitehawk halved the deficit In the closing stages the Darts sealed the three points dusted himself off and put away the spot kick Eddie Dsane scored his third in as many games with a wonderful solo effort Substitutes have now contributed to eight league goals this season for the Darts Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV The Darts sunk to this season’s lowest point after Wingate and Finchley scored three unanswered goal in the opening 21 minutes of the October meeting at Princes Park Few would have seen what was about to follow in the months ahead Andronicos Georgiou scored a brace and Benedict Frempah added another for the Blues as the visitors raced into a commanding lead Dartford fought back in the second half when half time substitutes Olly Box and Ade Yussuf pulled goals back Even though the hosts couldn’t salvage a point that day Last time Dartford travelled to Summers Lane they recorded their first and only triumph over the Blues at their place The prolific duo of Brendon Cass and Jay May both scored in a 2-0 win 18 years ago The Darts were crowned Isthmian Division One North champions that season and completed a double over Wingate and Finchley on the final day Match highlights courtesy of sonytino Michael Olarewaju has featured in the last five fixtures and started the previous three games since returning from his injury The centre back was playing for Wingate and Finchley during the 2022/2023 campaign Duane Ofori-Acheampong is another former Blue who was with the North London club for two months at the end of 2020 Wingate and Finchley were sixth in the table after beating Dartford earlier in the campaign Looking set to challenge for the playoffs and full of confidence they then went and beat Hendon 6-1 three days later the Blues bounced back with three straight victories and climbed to third in the Isthmian Premier The tables have turned since and a poor run of form bookended by a draw and defeat against Chatham Town means Wingate and Finchley have dropped to fourteenth the one shining light is the continued goalscoring form of Ogo Obi The striker has scored 21 times in all competitions and is in the race for the golden boot He was unable to prevent another loss on the weekend when his side were beaten 3-1 in Kent Ryan Lowe put Wingate and Finchley in front but former Premier League striker Freddie Sears bagged a hat-trick as the Chats won 3-1 Dartford wins: 3 / Wingate and Finchley wins: 3 / Draws: 2 Dartford 2 – 3 Wingate and Finchley (19/10/2024 – Isthmian Premier)Dartford 1 – 0 Wingate and Finchley (26/04/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)Wingate and Finchley 0 – 2 Dartford (03/11/2007 – Isthmian Division One North)Wingate and Finchley 3 – 2 Dartford (18/03/2006 – Southern League Div 1 East)Dartford 2 – 1 Wingate and Finchley (17/12/2005 – Southern League Div 1 East)Wingate and Finchley 2 – 2 Dartford (28/03/2005 – Southern League Div 1 East) Dartford have won just four games on this day in 24 attempts The last victory was over a decade ago back in 2003 when the Darts claimed three points in a Kent derby The Southern League Division One East fixture against Sittingbourne finished 1-0 to the Darts Dartford recorded an impressive 5-0 win at Waterlooville in the Southern Premier League The previous two triumphs came against Horsham in 1977 and Sittingbourne in 1930 The Darts have lost 1-0 in their last two outings on 18 January Five years ago they were beaten by Slough Town in the National South and in 2014 by Salisbury City in the National League GrassbanksDartfordKentDA1 1RTUnited Kingdom Telephone: 01322 299991Email: info@dartfordfc.com Dartford FC prides itself on being a community club wholly committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination and we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach we remind all supporters that anyone using discriminatory or abusive language will be asked to leave the stadium immediately and will face future punishment.