BARNET legend Giuliano Grazioli and former England winger Steve Coppell have given The Hive a rousing seal of approval.

The pair were present at Barnet’s 1-1 at home to Nuneaton Town last weekend, and despite the draw not being the result the club had hoped for, they were suitably impressed by Barnet’s new stadium.

Grazioli, who etched himself into Barnet folklore when his 29 goals helped to secure promotion from the Conference eight years ago, said: “It is fantastic, what a great facility. It’s not just the pitch: you’ve also got the training facilities, where you want to be there all day every day. There is also the gym, the restaurant for the players – this is what football’s all about.

“Around the place, it is a proper football club. Yes, it is not Underhill that we know and love; but for the club to progress, this is what we needed.

“For someone like ‘lowly Barnet’, as we say, to have a facility like this is brilliant. You’ve got to give credit to the chairman [Tony Kleanthous], who’s done ever so well.”

Crawley Town’s director of football  Coppell added to the compliments of the new stadium, stating: “It is a terrific facility in comparison to the old facility: it is great to see Barnet progressing in such a positive way.”

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