Legacy - Hall of Memories

I've a request. For all fans. But particularly for those who are older and have seen players from ages past that perhaps less of us saw play.

Talk about them. Here. What they did, how they were, their successes and traits. Maybe if it were popular there could be an archive of player memories somewhere, from fans, to stand the test of time. Maybe a post per player. There is an official hall of fame (hopefully to be shaped more swiftly), but the fans could build something too, a legacy for future fans who may never have got the benefit of witnessing some of our heroes. Some who have sadly passed, but just as important, those who are still here but younger fans may not know much about other than a name. The reds in the community did some player interviews a few years back and I'd hope such things continue and expand. But we've not really got something built from the fan network.

There are plenty of players who i just know nothing about, all apart from a surname. Arblaster, Pallister, Hamstead, Bettany and so so many more. But there will equally be those who don't know much about players like Baker, Archdeacon, Futcher, Joyce and Gray.

I used to love reading Oakwell centurions in the programme and hear about players of the past I'd never seen. I can recall articles on Baxter, Kaye and Robledo. Way before my time, but it created a connection to our past, the fabric of what this incredible club is built on.

We're all bricks in the Oakwell wall. Let us share. Let us remember. Let us reminisce and celebrate. But most importantly, each one of us, play our part in passing the torch on to the future.

Once a red, always a red.

 

Really good idea this.

Plus it would keep biglil quiet for WEEKS!

 

You saw through me!!!

 

I have the Oakwell Centurions book, good read.

 

Keep @JLWBigLil quiet! Never!

 

Lol, agreed. In actual fact I'd love to hear his and others memories of a lot of players who I watched as a real youngster. George Hamstead was my favourite player but I was only about 12 so my judgement of footballers was extremely limited. Some may well say it still is.

 

Yes. Great to dip into.

 

Agreed mate. I love to hear all the old stories. Please @JLWBigLil and everyone keep them coming

 

John Bettany was a classy midfielder, who rarely wasted a pass. It was a common saying at the time that "If Bettany plays well, Barnsley play well". He always seemed to be able to pick out our wingers, speed merchant Bob Earnshaw on the right and tricky George Hamstead on the left.

 

Bob Earnshaw. Open the gates, he can’t stop. TRUE. .

 

Ah, wingers - I remember those....

 

Banksy, hardest shot in football. EVER. Forget lorimer. And could drop the ball on a Tanner 70yds away.
Derek Parker could turn on a tanner. Forget Dalglish.
Ronnie. nuff said.
Alan little. Hardest player ever. FACT. Forget Hunter. (No disrespect)

 

Goalkeeper Brian Arblaster came into the first team from the reserves towards the end of the 1968/69 campaign. Immediately, he made our defence stronger. No mean feat when you consider our back four was Murphy, Winstanley, Howard & Booth. He took pressure off the defence by commanding his area, taking crosses and making difficult saves look relatively comfortable.
We were looking like a decent bet for promotion to Division 2 in the 1969/70 season. All was going well, until our home game against Bradford City. We won an exciting game 3-2, with Pat Howard scoring a last minute winner. Unfortunately, Arblaster picked up an injury in the game which was to keep him out for the rest of the campaign. His replacement, Brian Sherratt, was a poor replacement for the talented Brian. Our promotion bid fell away after the Bradford game. It's my opinion, we would've been battling until the end with Arblaster in goal.
He never seemed to be quite as agile on his return and was eventually replaced by Gerry Stewart, a particular favourite of mine.

 

Agreed, once saw him slide tackle an opponent who ended up over the wall in the West stand, nearly took the linesman with him.....

Most games featured at least one tackle which drew a collective wince from the crowd.

 

I can remember players as far back as the 1950's up to the present day seen them all but the biggest impact I can remember was when we were very near the bottom of division 4 and our manager at the time was Johnny Steel a good manager (he even signed me on but that's another story) he went out and brought 2 strikers to the club in Johnny Evans from Exeter I think and Barry Thomas from Scunthorpe and turned the club around or we could have gone into none-league, anyway that's my contribution to the thread.