They had mate, but they were miniscule compared with today's farce. 5 million over two seasons I think.
Norman Dean. I remember being very excited about seeing him. Scored 19 in 60 for us before a broken leg ended his career Apparently he now has a security job at Southampton FC
I stand corrected; I had been relying on the somewhat dubious testimony of one Keith Hill and the Football Association, both of whom are on record as stating that the parachute payments commenced in 2007. I've had a look at my copy of John Dennis's book, he clearly states that parachute payents were received. Of the three parties, I know who I believe.
I stand corrected; I had been relying on the somewhat dubious testimony of one Keith Hill and the Football Association, both of whom are on record as stating that the parachute payments commenced in 2007. I've had a look at my copy of John Dennis's book, he clearly states that parachute payents were received. Of the three parties, I know who I believe.
I'd say another criteria of a 'box office' signing is that it makes the wider news and other clubs take notice. As such, recently I'd say Mido and Frimpong were our most box office signings. And our worst.
It's a good read, we all know the problems of that era but John remains a true fan, a regular in the West Stand and someone who has time to speak Reds talk with anyone.
Me, too. He'd been scoring for Cardiff in their European Cup Winners' Cup campaigns in previous seasons and I always thought he had a touch a class about him when he played for us.
I'm sorry but I can't agree with you. I don't know anyone who DIDN'T know of Ronnie Glavin when he signed for us. Not a one. In fact, that Summer of 1979 saw us sign three players (Glavin, Norman Hunter, Gary Pierce) who got all the fans excited with their ability and experience being much higher than we could've only dreamed of signing during the dark decade of the 1970's. Neil Redfearn definitely was, too. The previous season, he'd been top scorer for Oldham as they won the 1990/91 2nd Division title.Neil actually scored the goal (a last minute penalty in their final game against Sheffield Wednesday) which clinched the title. Very few Oldham fans agreed with Joe Royle letting him leave. I WILL agree with Allan Clarke, though. Nothing before or since has come close to it.
By far the biggest box office signing in our History was Allan Clarke Most recent that I would say was box office for us was Hammill's re-signing - though not in the same league or you could argue Scotland a couple of years earlier Biggest box office disaster was either Frimpong or Mido
And I'd also nominate his pal Norman Hunter. Although both of them had passed their peak when they arrived at Oakwell, they were household names and came with a pedigree. They gave a level of quality and experience to the forward line/back four that sadly we can only dream about today. Both of them were instrumental in dragging my team from a humdrum division 4 existence and propelling it into the upper tiers. Class acts, both of them.
We disagree; I'd never heard of Ronnie when he signed for us, neither had the Barnsley Chronicle, who I seem to recall referred to him at the time as Ronnie Galvin. One thing we do agree on, Allan Clarke was the one "box office" signing; for me he brought the realism and professionalism that brought our club into the twentieth century, just 22 years before it ended. As a club we aren't renowned for "box office" signings, nor would we want to be; for the most part we rely on youth development and "under the radar" signings, and on both of these we have a pretty good record.
Again, you can say it's due to the effects of having a season in the Premier League, but Hignett, Dyer and Shipperley were the first signings that made me think "****, we're bringing players in of a completely different calibre"... I always thought Hignett was pure class and deserved to be playing at a bigger club that 'Boro(before he moved to Scotland) and couldn't believe we were lucky enough to sign him. Shipperley was a fairly big name at the time, especially for "little ol' Barnsley" to sign and Dyer was an England U21 international, and was our countries first £1m teenage transfer...