England Manager Fabio Capello has praised Barnet Football Club following the official opening of their multi-million pound training facility.

The Hive - the name for the new Barnet training ground - is a result of a partnership between Barnet Chairman Tony Kleanthous, Harrow Borough Council and the Football Foundation who have transformed the old Prince Edward Playing Fields into a state-of-the-art centre.

The complex has been open to the first team squad, Centre of Excellence and Ladies Team since the end of the summer, but was officially opened by Capello on Tuesday who congratulated all involved on their efforts.

"It's a fantastic place," said the Italian who was accompanied by Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association Director of Football Development.

"I have never seen a place for training as big as this. It surprised me - it is incredible and an honour to be here."

Situated a mile outside the borough of Barnet, the Hive is the culmination of four years of hard work instigated by Kleanthous whose vision helped transform the derelict site into a Premier League standard complex.

The Hive boast 12 pitches - ten grass and two artificial - 14 changing rooms and a top-class physio room across the colossal 350 acres which, in addition to the use for the club, are all open to the general public.

Harrow Council and the Football Foundation injected £750,000 and £1m respectively into the project with Chairman Kleanthous and Barnet adding more meaning a total of £11m has so far been spent on the Hive.

"In England we have some of the best football facilities in the world, but they are locked behind Premier League club gates," added Kleanthous.

"Here we have Premier League -class facilities for everyone. I am proud of what we have achieved here."

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