Campaigners determined not to see Barnet FC “lost in the sands of time” want to turn the abandoned site into a community hub.

The football club was moved from Underhill, their home of 106 years, to The Hive, in Harrow, last year, sparking uproar from supporters who launched a campaign to bring it “Back 2 Barnet”.

But in the meantime, the former cricket pavilion which was once a bar used by Barnet FC supporters sits vacant.

Oliver Deed, Gerry Bates and Derek Rocholl are leading the campaign in the hopes of reviving the derelict space and turn it into something the community can enjoy.

This week, they have written to Barnet Borough Council leader Richard Cornelius to ask for the lease to the land.

Mr Deed, 24, said: “The land is just wasting away doing nothing but gathering up dust at the moment but we’ve got great visions for it.

“We’d have a plethora of activities here – something for everyone to enjoy. It could really become the heart of our community.

“This area was so vibrant once upon a time, but now there is nothing.”

He says the area would be a place for Barnet supporters who do not live near Harrow to gather, creating a “base” for them in Barnet.

Mr Deed added: “It’s one step closer to bringing Barnet FC back to Barnet. Underhill will always be our spiritual home and it seems fitting to create something here.

“It’s our identity. We are desperately trying to cling onto that. Soon this area is going to waste away.”

Their new campaign was partly ignited by the closure of the Old Red Lion Pub which they fear could break Barnet FC supporters further and further apart.

They say money is not an issue and that with crowd funding, community grants and the Lottery fund, they believe they have enough to see the project through.

Mr Bates, 59, said: “We are serious about igniting this project off the ground. We want to bring the supporters together again whilst giving something back the community.

“We need things for young people here and this could really help too. The land's just lying there abandoned at the moment.

“If we don’t do something – anything – Barnet FC will simply be lost in the sands of time.”

Cllr Cornelius said he received the letter and will look into the proposal.