The Hive Community Day 2014 proved to be a roaring success on Sunday as crowds of people came to Barnet FC to enjoy a day of fun in the sun.
The Hive was buzzing with activity throughout the morning and afternoon, as children of all ages came with their families to make the most of a host of fun-filled activities organised by The Hive Community Trust.
The upper car park was host to Young Driver, where eleven to sixteen-year olds could get their first taste of sitting behind the wheel of a full-sized learner car while winding their way through a specially-created track.
The 3G pitches were the setting for The Hive Junior Cup, a 7-a-side football tournament for under-16s that was every bit as keenly-contested as this summer’s main event in Brazil.
Just across the way, one of the grass training pitches became a cricket wicket for the day, as teams representing Barnet FC, London Broncos, Watford Rugby Club and the Sri Lankan Community Centre contested a Quick Cricket tournament.
Meanwhile The Hive Bar was a hub of activity, with children taking it in turns to play each other at FIFA on the televisions as their parents enjoyed a well-earned rest and some refreshments.
The club shop was also attracting plenty of visitors, with fans keen to see the official unveiling of the official Barnet FC shirt for the forthcoming 2014/15 season and pre-order their new kits as soon as possible.
All the while the concourse outside the stadium was awash with all kinds of activity including bouncy castles, taekwondo lessons, live dance acts and even two Barnet players engaging in a fencing duel as the rest of the squad and manager Martin Allen relaxed outside and chatted with excited visitors.
Speaking after the event, Barnet FC Chairman Tony Kleanthous was delighted with how the day unfolded, commenting:
“It was fantastic to see so many faces at The Hive having a great time. The club is committed to playing an important role within the local community, so to host a day like this and see so many people enjoying themselves was wonderful to see. This is an annual event and I’m sure it will get bigger and better in coming years.”
Steven Barron, Head of The Hive Community Trust, also echoed these sentiments, saying:
“The day as a whole turned out to be a great success with a big turnout and sunny weather. Three of four of the teams who took part in the football tournament had never been to The Hive before, and that is what this day is all about.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to Harrow Community Radio Station who provided the music throughout the day while broadcasting a section of their show live from The Hive, and also thank all of the new groups who put on stalls or shows and helped make the day such a success.”
