Matt is our Man Around The Town, Unknown to many, he keeps his ears and eyes open and listens
to people as they go about their daily business.
On Matt's page the only PC is the one you are looking at. We live in an age where people cannot
say how they feel, even if it is the truth, for fear of being called a racist or bigot.
But Matt has something bigots and politicians don't have, a sense of humour and the cause of
justice.

If things are not brought into the open they will never be debated and if things are not said they
cannot be discussed. Matt, having been around the town for a number of years, is non-political,
multi religious and does not judge a person by the colour of their skin but the width of their smile!
He will give his humble views and hope that something good can come out of this page, even if it
is only a smile.

(message from Matt: I was born and I have lived in this country for over half a century and I have
seen many changes. I will give my and your views.
If this upsets political partys, religions, rich, poor,ethnic minorities or Chelsea supporters I can
only say that what is in this page is what people think. If any of those mentioned do not go to
pubs or social clubs I can only say "You will never get on with people unless you mix with people"
That's it as it comes and PLEASE have a sense of humour!!!!)
 
Here are the Questions so far sent to Matt.You can e-mail Matt at contact@barnet4u.co.uk   


                                

Just hit the pint next to the Question to get Matts Answer

BARNET4ME
Dear Matt,
What are your views on the Councils idea of moving Barnet Football club to Burnt Oak?
Barnet4u

If there is one big issue in this town it is the disgusting way our borough council have treated this
club.
Just because some of those in charge have no interest in football they have done their best to
give a voice to the few that oppose the building of a new stadium at Underhill.
They offered the club a new ground in Burnt Oak and it will be interesting when the gangs from
Burnt Oak and Graham Park (they have been fighting each other for years (FACT: as reported
by a local Burnt Oak resident
I know) meet up with the chaps from Barnet. Take into account the away fans from those clubs
with trouble makers and you have a recipe for violence on the streets of the Labour controlled
district.
This is not scare mongering as those in power have no idea what really happens on the streets.
The move to Montrose Park is just another political manoeuvre from certain councilors at the
Town Hall (known locally as Mordor!) that is giving their party a very bad name. I know of more
people who are getting fed up with the current leaders and there are reports that there could be
a few surprises for those, who at the moment, are misusing their power.

And a final word for those who live near Underhill and who vote to get rid of Barnet F.C. Look to
the future when Barnet F.C have gone and when the land lays idle and you enjoy the peace and
quiet until the builders turn up and before they know it they have a housing estate (maybe for
illegal's or any others that the council choose to be on their doorstep) and they wish for those
days when a couple of thousand people would peacefully turn up on a Saturday afternoon to
watch our local team and the national sport". Watch this space as some of the people of Barnet,
Herts are getting it together and if there is enough of them it should be an interesting time in
the fight against political bullying.

BULL FIGHT  
Dear Matt, The Old Bull arts centre is up for auction and it looks like the council will get rid of it.
What do you think?
M Bethune, Hadley

Well Mick,the buzz on the streets is that the council are unaware that the majority of people are
proud of the culture and artists that we produce locally.
I have heard a whisper that they are unaware that there is no proper music venue in our area
now that people are supping cups of coffee down at the old Torrington.
I have also heard on the grapevine that they are unaware that they could do something good for
the community and for once not think of profit. For years a woman named Pam Edwards has been
fighting for the right of the people of our town to have somewhere that can be used for those of
all ages, all races - all seemingly unimportant to those who decide what happens to this building.
Its probably too late to save this wonderful old building. I personally would have had it as a music
venue, approached a brewery for backing and had different types of music playing there every
night that the stage would not be used.
Then, in the day, the money earned from the evenings would enable us to teach all aspects of
art - a proper local arts centre. I would be able to be contacted at the bar where I would buy
Pam Edwards and all those who have tried to save the place a very large drink!

OFFICE POLITICS
Dear Matt,
Any news on the Register Office in Wood Street as I am getting married soon?
Brian Cornish, New Barnet

No, Brian, it looks like you will have to get a cab and tie the knot in Colindale, where you can also
report your robbery to your nearest 24 hour police station.
The word on the block is that the council want to move Barnet Hospital to Colindale and that there
is a bit of wasteland on the old aerodrome that Barnet FC can use for a pitch!
Perhaps in years to come our children will walk through Barnet High street and look where Barnet
Church used to be (it is now ringing its bells in Colindale) before they built flats. Far too many old
buildings are going in the area that could be put to good use by our local community.
I have no understanding of why politicians never do what we put them there to do but there are
a lot of people in the area who might be able to do something about it if they got together and
let those politicians and those that govern know that they are supposed to be on our side.
END of speech on the soapbox - but I really do hear the locals grumble about our heritage that
is disappearing.
There are still many families that have lived in the area for generations and some of the changes
are more important to them than to those who are new to the area. If this town becomes just
blocks of flats I'm off to find a place that still maintains a part of old England.
They've knocked down too many pubs in the high street anyway!!!
Good luck in your marriage mate, hope you get a flat!

TALLY HOPELESS
Dear Matt,
Is the same pea brain that developed the Finchley swimming pool at large again as the planner of the
traffic flow in North Finchley. The old Gaumont had enough space in front of it to have made a better
job of getting the traffic to move faster.
AND who was person (who obviously gets paid a considerable amount of money) that decided to put
the a bus stop about ten steps away from a traffic lights so that when the bus picks up passengers
it causes a tail back of traffic
D. T. Leicester Road, New Barnet

Before I answer I would like to state that this is all written without prejudges. I agree with
you DT, plus the idiots who park in the one lane available, especially if you are in a hurry.
Maybe through this site we can get some answers. Maybe someone can enlighten us about
the swimming pool too.
If it had stayed the same Olympic size, it would have been the only one in London and perhaps
Finchley would have been under the spotlight in the 2012 Olympics.
Nice one D.T keep 'em coming

PITCH BATTLE - FIRST HALF
Dear Matt,
What are your views on the situation at Barnet Football Club?
Pat Nally, Mays Lane, Barnet

Well, Pat, I should not really answer that as I work for a web site that is non-political, but what
politics has to do with football I will never know so here goes and I hope I keep my job.
I have supported Barnet FC so long that I can remember going to Wembley to see them play
Crooks Town in the '1959 Amateur Cup Final. I have seen them all from the D'arcy brothers to
the great fun of watching Barry Fry's teams.
I must confess that since the kids have grown up I am a lapse Barnet supporter but it is still one
of the first results I look for on a Saturday. Underhill has never had a great pitch and in my youth
I played on better.
The ground is old and quaint and could be situated in any rural town in Britain.
I saw a young Howard Kendell play there and shared in the celebrations when we finally won
promotion to the professional league.
I believe a team should be in the town of its name and moving Barnet FC is a bit like those
American teams who move from one city to another all for the sake of the cash.
I read about local residents who are opposed to Barnet improving Underhill but I cannot
understand why people are not proud of something that has been there for all those years.
It's Barnet and we live and work in Barnet.
It is one of the few things that the council cannot take without us knowing about it.
I heard that if Barnet got permission to improve the ground there would be an astro turf for the
community.
We don't have one of those in Barnet (though there are others in the borough -
thus the statement that we have astro turf pitches in Barnet!). And if it can keep kids off the
streets and give them something to do it can only be a good thing. I think the people who are
against these improvements should have a look at the wider issues and help the club become a
real part of the community.
Not all football fans are thugs and I am sure that if thugs did turn up our police will have it under
control.
Doesn't seem like a problem but the council are spending money trying to bring more action
against the club, a decision probably decided by those who have no interest in football or don't
even live around here.
You really started one there, Pat, and I hope this gets printed. I would back a tiddly wink team
from Barnet if they were in the finals of the world tiddly wink championship and I back things like
the Finchley boxing club in Bulwer Road.
Our kids need local heroes and, with the price of tickets to see the top London teams, Underhill is
the place where dads can take their kids to their first game and it is something that we can be
proud of (when they win).
Get behind Barnet FC and only think about moving if there ever is a season when we would be
playing at Old Trafford away in a league match.
Apologies to those that oppose the rebuilding of Underhill but I can only look at the situation as
a lover of football/sport and think if I ever lived near a football ground I would find a good pitch
for my hot Dog Stand.
(Barnet4u does not necessarily agree with the views of Matt-Webmaster)

PITCH BATTLE - SECOND HALF
Dear Matt,
I oppose the Underhill development but you should remember there are two sides to a story and it does
not mean that we hate football. The views of those opposed to the scheme have been stated and you
do not express the views of the majority.
B.C New Barnet

Sorry, BC, I was not assuming that I was right and you were wrong. But can you get a couple of
thousand people together peacefully on a Saturday afternoon to state your case?.
You have your right of say and I have mine. I take it you never saw Jimmy Greaves score one of
the best goals of his life on that muddy slope of a pitch.
Or taken your kids and stood on the side while those warming up would run along the side of the
pitch giving the kids the high five. Or go and watch Arsenal reserves and the likes of Bergkamp
and Cole, which gives the club the extra revenue to keep going. Perhaps you have but there
again I love my football and could never imagine the situation that you are in.
I can only speak as I feel and see that if the development of Underhill helps our local community
it can only be a good thing and as that is the truth I hope my answer gets printed.

BEST BAR NONE
Dear Matt,
Lighten up, your passion could drive us all away. What do you think of our local watering holes?
Geoff Trauntner, High Barnet

Ahh, thanks Geoff, you have brought me down to earth with one of my favourite subjects.
You do not have to be a drunk to appreciate the many bars and taverns that litter our small town.
Thanks to the stagecoaches that used to travel through the High Street there is an abundance of
pubs where the locals while away many an hour.
My job as Man Around The Town means I have to visit many of them to see that our heritage
stays intact and that the locals are supplied like they have been in the town for centuries.
It is not my job to judge a pub individually but the general standard in town is very good.
We have music pubs, sports pubs, quiet pubs and those that people of my age only visit during
the daytime.
There is still a "local" feel to the place with different pubs having their own local clientele and
some of them feeling like you are in Dodge City when you open the door and those inside
realise you are a stranger.
But I get about and keep my eyes and ears open, listening to you and reporting back via this
page.
Generally, it is safe to walk into a pub around here as long as you do not cause trouble.
To those of us who know the watering holes regularly having a drink in Barnet is a great way
to hear the gossip, discuss a subject, find a plumber or just to get out of the house.
If you want to meet up, Geoff, I would be delighted to accept a pint off you and discuss this
subject further.

YOUR SHOUT!
Dear Matt,
I think I know you, don't you drink at the ***** ?
Malcolm, Woodville Road

Who knows, Malcolm, I could be that man sitting quietly in the corner or up at the bar sharing a
few pints with his mates.
The point is not who I am but what we as a community are thinking and the answers we can find.
I cannot give advice on how to save a marriage or what time of the year to plant potatoes but
we might be able to share a view and discuss it via this page.
If you think it is me just tap me on the shoulder and say "What's yours?" and even if it is not me
you have done a community thing and brought a stranger a drink.

BAND AID
Hey Matt,
What did you think of the East Barnet festival?
Tim Burbridge, East Barnet Village

Well, Tim, obviously you have some concern to ask that question and I was disappointed that
there was not one local group playing at the event.
I know personally many of the musicians that live in this area and the way their art has been
treated by all those who have the power to change things is typical. There are many bands and
musicians in the area and have been for years.
East Barnet Festival started out backing these bands and giving the locals the chance to hear
the sounds of Barnet. It now seems to be a commercial venture and there was a definite
absence of many local faces with only the appearance of David Jones making it an official
music festival.
I have no say in the matter and can only report on what I heard and saw. There is unrest in
the camp and once again the local musicians are not heard.
They say they are going to do something about that.