Best player ever to come out of our Academy?

With John Stones showing so much promise, just thinking who are the real good ones?

I think on pure potential I would say David Watson. Nicky Eaden had a great career and I am also thinking of Luke Beckett who went on to score goals for fun after being regarded as a superfluous striker at Oakwell. I wish we'd kept him, chuffing hell.

Just checking David Hirst's stats too, 1/3 career goals, noticed Fergie tried SIX times to sign him for Man U, has to be pre-Bosman that. 3 caps for England too, might have been more but for injuries.

Rory Fallon has had a solid career, got goals wherever he went. The buzz about him at Oakwell was the same as now for the academy prospects. I was a bit Hemsworth Tyke for the academy then and saw some fantastic performances from Fallon, in the reserves too. Looked a bit lightweight in the first team, which is where Bambi came from but he was approaching 1/4 during a difficult period for the Reds. The way he completely out-muscled Cannavaro in the 2010 world cup shows how far he's come physically. Let him go for £60,000 which was dreadful business. He might do a job for us now, at Aberdeen I think, must be 30 now?

 

We didn't have an Academy when David Hirst came through so on those grounds I'd offer David Speedie.

 

All the best players came through before we had the academy - Hirst, Tiler, Eaden, Moses, Watson et al. I'd say best we've had since the academy opened is Anthony Kay but the player who has had the best career is probably **** ******.

 

Butterfield since I've been going.

 

Well, academy/youth team etc.

 

Got to be Butterfield, surely?

 

If we're talking youth players, not just the Academy, then what about Tommy Taylor?

 

Did we sell him whilst in admin? always thought he went for £50,000.

 

The greatest footballer to come out of Barnsley without doubt.

 

Big Mick? Before my time but played in a World Cup. Morgan has probably had the best career of those still playing. Does Liddell count as youth team? Butterfield's definitely the best actual academy graduate I've seen.

I remember when we beat York away in the FA Cup (Betsy scored a cracking goal) and there were a group of lads behind me who sang non stop for 90 minutes (to the tune of Pink Floyd's The Wall):

"Rory Fallon's got no ball control
de de de-d-d-d-d-de
Oi Fallon, leave that ball alone"

 

How do you say Who's the best.

At the mo there technical good players? If that Makes a player good. You dont need to be a strong player today. look at henandez ( spelt wrong i know) hes not a big guy.

 

Too early to tell with old JB. A dozen good games for us, not much else.

 

Brilliant answer. Jesus Christ.

 

If you know you spelt Hernandez wrong why didn't you spell it correctly the 1st time?

 

Didn't we sign him on a free from Nazareth Academicals?

 

Nar nailed on he were from Jerusalem Artichokes.

 

We got over a million pounds for him based upon your summary of "a dozen good games" so I'd suggest he's the best we've had from the academy. If Stones goes for more, then he's the best, surely?

Not much competition, is there?

Flinders, Kay, Austin, Wroe, Adam etc etc etc.

As I said, Butterfield.

 

So basically your talking about 1998 onwards....

It really depends on your definition of success.

By success you mean able to forge a career at a higher level you would have to say Morgan or Parkin.

If you mean brought most money for the club then it would be flinders and butter field.

Barnsley have had a good number of youngster in u18 and reserve level who have managed to forge a career in football however the vast majority have played their football in the bottom tiers of the game.

You only have to look through and see the names jump out:-
Neil austin capped at England junior level.
Scott flinders. Capped at junior level
Robbie Williams
Rob Atkinson
Carl baraclough
Steven Bennett - plays now for athersley rec.
Michael culson
James dudgeon
Thomas Harlan
Simon heslop
Anthony Kay
Ryan laight to name but a few.

 

Wasn't Jordan Rhodes a product of our academy? If so, then it's him.

 

Aye, that's all true and might apply equally to John Stones. But the original post reflected on whole careers of players who started as youngsters at Oakwell. Jacob appears to be at a bit of a crossroads, it could go either way for him. He won't be the first to leave their best football at Oakwell