In the summer of 1985, however, Waller finally got the better of Tommy when he managed to persuade the local council that Barnes United had disbanded, with the result that the council gave the use of their pitch to a girls' hockey team. Facing expulsion from the league without a ground on which to play, Tommy learned of a long-disused ground on the edge of town which had once been used by a local non-league team. The United players took over the ground and renovated it, allowing them to begin the new league season.
In 1985, Waller successfully convinced the local council that Barnes United had ceased to exist, leading them to grant their pitch to a girls' hockey team. Faced with expulsion from the league without a suitable playing field, Tommy discovered an abandoned ground on the outskirts of town previously used by a local non-league team. The United players took possession of this site and renovated it, enabling them to begin the new season.