I know sometimes it's not easy being a Barnsley fan but sometimes things happen that just make you smile. Wondered if anyone had any amusing moments either watching the Reds or on their way to the match ? We were once in the car with Fudge and anyone who knows him knows he's dentally challenged. He said he was starving but the only thing we had in the car were pork pies. Seeing Fudge try to suck a pork pie to death brought tears to my eyes For me though the funniest moment, though borne out of a crap Reds performance, was at Marine. The sight of a certain Michael Spinks then on the Supporters club committee, stood on the dustbin outside the away dressing room hurling abuse at the players inside after Marine beat us in the cup was a sight to behold. Especially given his future job role as secretary at Barnsley FC
On the field - too much comedy to mention, mostly black. Off the field - after the Sheffield United 5th round FA Cup tie at Bramall Lane in 1990 I think. We were leading 2-1 near the end of the first half, and Ian Banks somehow missed an open goal under the crossbar to make it 3-1, and surely game over. We drew 2-2, and after the match Ian Banks for reasons best known to himself, decided to pop his head round the door of our supporters bus, along with his missus. Maybe he thought she'd offer him some protection, but some choice words were pronounced which left my 11 year old ears burning. It's fair to say he didn't stick around for very long. The bus ride itself was also quite an experience, as the doors weren't functioning properly and kept opening and closing of their own accord when we were at full pelt on the M1.
Barnsley 1 Crewe Alexandra 1. The start of the game was delayed by a couple of minutes because Crewe's red shorts clashed with our red shirts - why did no one think of that beforehand? In the first half, Dick Hewitt tried a great shot from miles out on the left wing. It seemed to be heading into the top right corner until Willie Mailey, the Crewe goalie, got a fist on to it which sent it on to the underside of the cross-bar ….. which, after many years of neglect, fell down on top of him. Once he had been freed, an announcement was made that we needed a carpenter and then the referee would decide if the game could continue or not. Eventually, a fellow wearing overalls and carrying a ladder, hammer and nails came on to the pitch, appeared to fix the bar and off we went again. The match finished 0-1 and about fifteen minutes late, therefore too late for the BBC results, on which it was announced as 'Barnsley versus Crewe - late kick off.' If only they knew. The Barnsley Chronicle ran a caption competition which showed the players inspecting the damage. The winning entry was, 'it looks as though the rot's set in.' Happy days, but dreadful game. My dad came with me. I was embarrassed, more by the performance than the collapsing cross-bar.
Last match of season needed a win at Plymouth to stay up. Argyle mascot- some smiley sponge Pilgrim Father came round the touchline waving. Chorus of "what the 'kin ell is that" ensues. Mascot promptly trips over its big sponge shoes, floundering flat on its face in front of several thousand Reds. Stewards cleared the front row of stand to prevent pitch invasion, saying only disabled supporters can sit there. Lad with crutches and leg in plaster in front of me and my lad (got hurdled by us when JCR scored). Steward says to bloke 2 seats along- "You're not disabled, move back a row." Bloke says "I am!" Holds up a bandaged thumb.
I remember decades ago at Scunthorpe (their old ground). A lad in our end nicked a bottle of ketchup from a hot dog stand, ripped his shirt in a number of places, squirted ketchup all over himself, then staggered onto the pitch and collapsed in the 6 yard box. Horrified first aiders came running from all sides, but when they got near the lad sprung up, ran off and disappeared back into the crowd. Over 75 fans died laughing that day.
Nardiello in flip flops running to the team coach at Southend with 10 minutes to kick off , to get his boots !!
Although before my time, I've heard that tale recounted on a few occasions and it never fails to split my sides.
Off filed has to be Kipper on top of the refreshment stand in the Ponty . They all ran to the top and stopped watching the game, chose to watch Kipper instead
Seem to remember Gerry Taggart carrying Viv Anderson what looked like half the length of the pitch, when he finally put him down he just did a primal roar in his face... I was only a young un so I may have misremembered!
Another one that springs to mind is many years ago we used to have Majorettes providing the half time entertainment. At on game, they were still performing on the field as the players came out for the second half. Gordon Owen and Dave Geddis lined up with the girls and marched with them, playing imaginary instruments at the time. I wonder if players would get away with that these days? The girls could hardly play for laughing.
All courtesy of the Wath and West Melton supporters' group. Cheapest bus they could get their hands on. I rode on better in provincial China!
Not a Barnsley match, but this is definitely up there. The way he appears out of nowhere, followed by the celebration. And the fact that is was also a damn good penalty!
Mid-1990s and an old bloke yelled: "Regis? There's mooer fvcking life in Bognor Regis!" after good old Dave had missed another sitter. I was only a kid, and it was the funniest thing I had ever heard.