I've been watching the Reds for a long time (my first match was against Liverpool in 1955) and whilst I've always been the perpetual optimist, even in the darkest times, I am becoming increasingly depressed by the negativity and downright hostility by some sections of the fans towards the team, management and Club in general. As Barnsley fans we have always had a 'self deprecating' and dark sense of humour, albeit very funny, but over the last 15-20 years this has changed for the worst. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s I cannot recall our fans ever booing one of our own players or screaming "gerrim' off" to be subbed (currently it's Potts and Moncur but countless others in the past). No player that gets booed or abused by his own fans plays better for it. I am convinced we now have people going to Oakwell to be disappointed and they aren't disappointed, they don't go to see a game of football they go to see Barnsley win. They have no admiration for the opposition, no matter how good their brand of football. Every foul against Barnsley is a yellow card, every yellow against Barnsley is not even a foul and every referee we ever have is the greatest lowlife that ever drew breath, all expressed in foul-mouthed abuse. If you come from Barnsley you support Barnsley FC, with emphasis on support. Maybe it's just the silly sods who sit behind me that prompts this post or the musings of a rapidly ageing septuaganarian looking backwards instead of forwards. That said, as the optimist, we will not go down and I'm sure there's better times ahead.
Really ? , I recall as young 'un stood at the bottom of the ponty against Huddersfield in 87 we had a player on loan from the fowls called Andy Blair he got some right abuse from the ponty that day, sithi.
Agree in general but there have always in my 50 years watching who loved to moan and rip the players to bits from first minute to last.
Very well said. Its not just limited within the younger fans either, teens through to later years seem to have more venom. I posted a few years ago about the Barnsley character and how it can never be beaten, until it chooses to destroy itself and it reaches the depths that is far more unpleasant and dark than most characters can reach. I had a hope, a forlorn one, that Patricks sad passing may galvanise, but the swift exit of the departed has just created a huge swathe of bitterness. Spite. It's not good and i'll be damned if i know how that ever gets changed. Maybe winning is all it takes. But woe betide us til that day comes about. There's no place taht can be more bitter than Barnsley.
"Ray McHale is a w@nker" remember that being sung ? You're right about some of the vitriol of late though. Esp towards the intentions of the new owners by the pseuds. They've been in charge 2 months, yet are responsible for everything that's happened over the last few years - just the negative stuff mind.
There should be a double like button. I remember appreciating the opposition was accepted and every result wasn’t life or death. The only player I remember being abused from back in the day was ray Mchale and that was shocking. I don’t go any more I couldn’t do with the foul atmosphere. I’m nearly 60 and therefore old enough to remember when we were crap.
Barnsley folk are both some of the most Humerous, warm and genuine people around but you are right also can be very spiteful at times As for the OP football changed in 1992, as a generation we have chased riches beyond imagination, demanded success instantly and as a generation have a platform within social media to express our emotions like never before I’m not sure I’m a fan of it all to be fair
Really? Phil Chambers seemed always to be the fall guy, copped it loads unless i'm mightily mistaken. Agree with the increased negativity though, but back in the day we didn't have social media. This i'd argue is why things are more apparently negative as peoples opinions now have a much much much larger audience. The last few years too have brought much to debate about, with legitimate arguments 'for and against'.
To be fair when I started going in the mid 70s the level abuse aimed at Iley and the players was more acerbic and louder than anything we have today. I genuinely thought Jim was called Ileyout for a while. It’s easy to look back with rose tinted glasses. I’m not sure that people were different in the 70s or 80s can’t speak for before that though.
I recall players getting stick, Eaden was a prime example. Instrumental in our success, ran himself into the ground in that wingback position, played over 300 times for us and still got hammered most weeks by some. I think theres always been an element who go to football purely to vent, however irrational and however spiteful. I don't recall it being this caustic though, this expectant and lashing out at everything in range.
Not so sure about that George tbh I can remember a cold night in 1970 losing 2-0 at home to Rhyl and the language and vitriol towards the players on that night was very bitter to say the least . And although memories not my strong point as a teenager at the time I remember other such instances years before that time . In fact I would say it was more intense with just a few in ground than it is now but that’s my op