Automatic Promotions

I was lucky enough to witness one in my first season of attending Oakwell. My first game was with my Dad for Brentford [H] which we won 3-0 on Easter Monday 1968. I was smitten after that, and I vividly recall the joyous scenes after the final home game against Newport when promotion was secured. Winnie, Pat Howard, etc. Jimmy Robson with 2, Johnnie Evans and an OG.

The next occasion was that memorable night in May 1979, when 21,000 turned up to see us overcome Grimsby to secure promotion from Division 4 again under Alan Clarke. I think the attendance drew almost as many cheers as the goals that night!

Scroll on to April 1981, and self and Lady Kaht were on a cheeky pre-nuptial break to Scarborough. A rainy day, the Reds needing a win at home against Rotherham to secure promotion. Well what do you do? Well, go to Thirsk races actually, where a winner put funds in the kitty. Thence back to Oakwell (25,000), where King Ronnie did the business, supper at Uncle Sam's Chuck Wagon on Eccleshall Road, then back to Scarborough the same night for the rest of the 'cheeky'! A day for champions!

Next up was that memorable, memorable day in April 1997. I don't need to say much more about that, except that rarely have I cried at a football match! Incredibly, just 18,605 for that one, but without any shadow of doubt the biggest wall of sound I have ever heard at Oakwell. The hairs on the back of the neck still stand up at the thought. Goodness me!

After a sherbert or two, I worry I might have missed one out, but gosh what memories! Anyway, I've booked my ticket for Blackpool [H] today. Here's hoping!

 

Aye, very emotional day the 97 one. As BFC fans we have to wait for times like those. Hopefully we'll have some more days like that in the near future

 

The 97 one is the only one of those I’ve been privileged to see. To see grown men crying all around me in the ORA stand as it was astounded me to be honest. Obviously I understand better now.

I was 14, had been coming on and off for a few years but wasn’t a full on red really (my dad was a Liverpool fan and I was too -supposedly - until about that age). It was the game at anfield - when I celebrated rather than cursed Ashley Ward’s winner that I realised that I’d have to have a chat with my dad at some point - and the debacle at Oakwell where I completely lost my rag was the day I did it!

Wasn’t that easy tbh, my dad was disabled (MS) and couldn’t take me to games as he wished (I did go to Anfield twice with him), but my step dad was a red from Wakefield who started taking me at the age of 11. (Didn’t get much from him other than the football club, not sure whether to be grateful or not!!!)

My dad wasn’t that bothered (so he said) but I knew really that it was yet another thing he couldn’t do with me he’d planned. I’ll admit to celebrating their champions league win as it was less than twelve months since he passed away. Had things been different I might have been a plastic premier league club fan going once a season if that.

T here have been a few highs and a fair few lows in the time I’ve been a season ticket holder but an automatic promotion would be a marvellous tonic.

Anyway I’ll stop my tales of woe, I always get a bit maudlin on my birthday, and so I’ll have another sherbet.

Good evening to all

 

Many happy returns Troff. Hope you've had a good day. The day we got promoted to the Premiership
was one of the best days of my life thus far. Only things that have topped it was when I married my
lovely wife and the birth of our three boys.

 

Great to be at Oakwell and witness Hiitory being made. Hope my son gets to experience something as special in his life time.

 

Imagine what we could have got in for that Bradford game if we had the capacity.

 

Was at all them , but sadly I can remember sod all apart from the tears in 1997.

 

Grimsby Town at home in 79 was my first ever game.

Was hooked from then on.

Thanks dad.

 

8

 

Saw all those highlights and yes cried tears of joy... when we got promoted to the Premier league... Its a wonder the west stand wasn't washed away that day... Ive also witnessed the big boys get their backside tonked in Cup games home and away over the years... chuck in the disappointment and heartache that relegation brings .. and there you find the roller coaster ride of emotion that you get supporting Barnsley FC.... Would I change any of it if I could turn back time.... Only the lows I guess but then again would I... We are who we are and knowing what we've gone through only magnifies the sweetness when we overcome the obsticles and adversity we face from time to time... .. lol

 

I can vaguely remember being in the Brewery Stand at the age of 12 against Grimsby 1979.
Then in the Ponti on a wet night under the lights in 1981.
Those automatic promotion days were great but nothing like the one in 97,For years I'd had to put with the same old crap (THEY DON'T WANT TO GO UP TO PREMIER THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO PREMIER). There has only been 2 sights that have ever made me cry with joy, One was when Clint hit the back of the net with the second against Bradford and the other was when my lad was born in 2004.

 

Boring Old Fart Alert!
As an achievement no doubt the automatic promotion to the Premiership must be a high point but for me the promotion nights of `79 and `81 seem much more precious. I think that this is in part because for both of these my family were stood by the old tunnel and all the after match celebrations with the players took place in the Directors box just above us.
By the time `97 came along we were in the ESU and with an ageing Dad there was no possibility of going on the pitch even if we were so inclined ( I`ve never been on the pitch and always railed against it). I remember the pitch invasion and understandable unbridled joy after the Bradford match but for us we sort of looked at each other and realised that we may as well go home as there would be no way we would get a meaningful celebration with the team.

 

I started going down to Oakwell the following August when we were back in the Third Division.
Which definitely makes me a Glory Hunter!

 

We’ve ballsed this one up. I blaim a shocking January again. It’s cost us dearly. If we don’t get up. We will sink! Hope I’m wrong and it’s me been paranoid

 

I remember that Brentford game. Jimmy Robson missed a sitter in the first minute, but we were 3-0 up after about fifteen minutes anyhow with Allen Bradbury netting two and Winstanley one. We then coasted through the entire rest of the game and won by the three goals scored in the first few minutes. Brian Arblaster made his debut in goal for us. Bradbury looked a real prospect. How did he end up at Hartlepool?

 

Wasn't around for '68, but saw the others. All very special & emotional.

For some reason the Grimsby one is the most special. After starting watching in the Iley years, when there was no interest in the football team.
In comes a new chairman & Allan Clarke is signed & we were reborn. Hunter team was better & the Wilson promotion the pinnacle of what we have achieved thus far, yet that one makes me well up a bit. Maybe because it was the first time I had anything to shout about as a Barnsley fan.

 

Ernest Dennis was the chairman who brought Allan Clarke to the club in 1978 and he'd held that post since 1967.

 

I stand corrected. I thought it was Buckle.

 

He took over in 1979, old mate.