Earliest Oakwell memory

What was your first visit to Oakwell or your earliest memory? Mine was Barnsley vs Leicester city in the FACUP in1961. My dad took me and we were on the Pontefract road end. I couldn't see a thing so sat at the end of the stand( which was standing only in those days.) My dad bought me a keyring with a plastic football in it and that held most of my attention for the match. I was 6 at the time. I have been a regular supporter and/or season ticket holder since then til now. My lowest point were the Jim Iley days- God we were crap! Nowadays there are so many changed in players it's hard to keep up but the first team I can remember was (bare with me)
Ironside, Parker, Murphy, Bettany, Winstanley,Howard,Earnshaw, Evans,Robson,Hamstead....which Ai t bad going to say sometimes I can't remember what I did

yesterday ...

 

Bettany mate, not Betty

 

Sorry it's late and it should be earliest

 

Mine was the year later versus Everton, remember freezing on the cop and hardly seeing anything. Mum went mad that dad had taken me.

 

I don't have a specific first memory, just a collection of images. My Dad started taking me when i was maybe four or five I guess. I wasn't interested in the footy at first. Used to play on the shale heap at the top of the kop. I have flickering images of teams warming up before the game, maybe Rotherham, I think Brighton. That would have been 1964, 65 ish.
By a process of osmosis it started to get into my blood. By the time of Boardman and Hamstead it was too late, I'd found my drug of choice.

 

Barnsley v Plymouth, September 1987. Still remember it remarkably clearly. We went top of the league that day. I was amazed at how green the grass was.

 

Hey mate,

I think your memory might be playing tricks on you.

Pat Howard made his debut in 1965
Barry Murphy joined Barnsley in 1962 but I’m sure he took a few years before getting in the first team
John Bettany was another from 1965
Bob Earnshaw was mid 60s I think rather than early.

I think out of that team my Dad was the only one who played in 1961 when he was 17.

The team you remember was from a few years later I reckon.

 

I was a late starter. My dad wasn't bothered so I didn't go to a game until my brother took me aged 14. It was the 0-0 against West Ham in '87 where we won the replay 5-2 after extra time at Upton Park.

I don't recall what I said, which is annoying, but I shouted something from the Pointy which raised a laugh from those around me and earned me a personalised two-fingered salute from Frank McAvennie.

 

I do remember that day. We've not had too many days when we've gone top of the league!

 

Mine was in the same year, also FA Cup but the round before when we beat Luton 1-0. It should have been Man City, in the previous round they were 6-0 up at Luton when the game was abandoned in atrocious weather (and it would have to be atrocious to stop a game in those days!). I believe Denis Law scored all 6 goals and they never counted, as Luton won the rematch.

 

Not 100% certain but I thought it was a 2 leg tie not a replay. As I say long time ago and I could be wrong.

 

I remember hearing about Law having 6 goals rather unfortunately chalked off, but I had no idea that the winners of that match played us next round.

 

Bradford promotion game, was all downhill from there.

 

Dad took me & my big brother a few times in the late 60’s/early 70’s but he really tried to make us Wednesday fans for some reason and we probably went to more matches at Hillsborough than Oakwell. First time me & BB went on our own was Sunday 27th January 1974 during the 3 day week period when clubs were kicking off early to avoid using floodlights. We drew 1-1 with Chester, Stewart, Yeates, Chambers, Doyle, Greenwood, Manning, Lea, Butler, Mahoney, Millar, Brown. IIRC

 

My first ever memory was sitting half way up hill to what’s now Metrodome for 5th round tie against Forest could just see to 18 yard line at Kop end. First memory inside was watching reserves beat Man U 6 5 just before Munich, a couple were playing who died.

 

Yes I know. I actually went the first time to the Barnsley vs Leicester game but I started to go regularly in about 1967/68. My favourite player then was Eric Winstanley. I think he could have easily moved up a couple of divisions but remained with Barnsley until nearly the end of his career.

 

Think v Brentford 1966 was my first league game. But my earliest memory was having my scarf nicked by Wednesdayites in a friendly or county cup game. In the Ponty having to vacate and go in the brewery stand. Reckon I was around 9/10 yrs old.

 

The smell: 1976

 

I remember that one too as one of my earlier memories of watching us as kid. I think we were away at Aston Villa the week after and drew 0-0. All the Sunday newspaper headlines/reports then had the theme of Villa ‘holding’ table topping Barnsley!!

I do remember being amazed at the time to find us top of the league. We then had to wait another 10 years to get that high again but of course it was the real deal that time around .

 

Barnsley 2-1 Portsmouth, October 1998. Think I was 6. Can remember a really boisterous away end of blue and white, and a really good atmosphere from our end too.

Dad picked me up and bounced me up and down on the railings of the east stand when we scored. I cried because I thought Portsmouth had equalised late on but a steward kindly reassured me that they were offside and we were still winning! Afterwards we went to McDonalds where Halifax bank is now in the town centre. Top day.