We are all in this together.. are we not?

We all support this proud little club dont we?
We all want success for Barnsley FC - however relative that may be. We dream the same dreams (what an awful song), a cup run here, a derby win there. And the ultimate dream that is a promotion.
We want to see players wearing the red shirt with pride. We know our place in the football pyramid. And we all know we are a selling club, that only after that one experience of the ultimate dream, have we ever 'bought big'. We only spend money that we earn through those realised dreams. The cup semi in 2008 gave us a bit of cash to spend, just as the late 90's success had done beforehand.
But we are what we are, and I wouldnt change it, nor would most of you. Its that underdog spirit that probably got my attention as a wee lad. Whilst my peers were all fans of the massive, or the mighty, I was instead taken to Oakwell and thank god I fell head over heels.
And believe me, I didnt 'have' to support tarn. Most of my mates were Wendyites growing up. And just to be part of the group, I went to Swilsbro with them a few times. They had Hirst and Waddle etc, but by that time, at 11 year old, I was a red and proud, and Taggart and co were my idols. But I could easily have just stayed with my mates, bought a Fowls shirt, and gone to Wembley that year... My dads a huge red. And while he did want me to follow him, and took me every week, he never pressured me to be a red. Like I say, the underdog appeal was strong. Im also a loner in certain aspects of my life - I like what I like, I hate cliques. So much so, that if my unique interest in sumat becomes popular for many, I lose interest. So the only real clique I am a part of, is the clique of Barnsley supporters. Im not religious yet (you never know..), so football, and BFC in particular, is my religion.
You will all have your own unique story of how, when and why. And so, back on point, are we not all in this together? Because its hard to bleeding tell reading this board the last few months.
I just get the feeling on ere nowadays, that we are far from together. There are little cliques I am doing my best to avoid. I mean, I wanted this management team, and yes I talked them up in June/July etc, and so of course, I want it to work.
But I have never once posted threads saying "told you so" or owt like that. In fact, like many, I have criticised the players and manager at certain points. We are all human. We all make mistakes. But some on ere seem to take a viewpoint, and stick to it no matter the course of events that follow.
Then you get the "I was right" brigade. And then theres the supposed intellectuals, mocking others for not being intellectuals...
Im talking **** probably, and I am guilty of some of the above myself at times no doubt. So are you probably. But I cant help but think, this board should get back to its warm and witty best. The points-scoring should be down to Keith and co.
And a grand job they're doing!
Much love
Andy..
.
Sermon ends

 

Where's the "Like" option on here? Good stuff Whitey.

 

Sunbathing under Keiths arse crack seems to be 'de rigeur ' on here at the moment

 

Good post Whitey

 

you shouldnt be working in a factory lad your too good for that.

 

Take a bow andy, cracking post mate, it's also got me thinking about when I was a nipper my mate and is dad were leeds fans and they took me to a few games, I fell in love with the atmosphere and these were times when you use to see jumpers for goalposts in every park and i was football crazy, i never went anywhere without a football even taking taking it to bed with me ( until my dad said c'mon son tha 37 nah) now my dad isn't a big football fan and he never went to many matches but he loves to see the reds do well, I remember the first time he took me to oakwell, I'd got in from school and dad said he was taking me to watch Barnsley, it was only a reserve game but I didn't care ( funny enough it was against Leicester) and that was it for me I was hooked, I bought badges pendants postcards with all my heroes pictures on, I couldn't care less if we were in division 4 they were my team, My dad use to tell me we were the england's best kept secret, then when I got old enough to go with my mates I remember standing in the top corner of the old brewery stand singing our hearts out (older heads will remember that) or waiting to see Macca and when he walked past he tapped me on the head and spoke to me and called me mate, my dad takes pleasure in still reminding me that I didn't see anything of the game cos I was too busy telling anyone that would listen that he was my mate, ok I've rambled enough and we might not be England's best kept secret anymore tho I'll admit to telling my little lad the same thing but we are still battling little Barnsley and like Andy says I wouldn't change it for world.
Onwards and upwards.

 

Andy - I want to be in the 'We're all in this together - are we not' clique! Great post, well said sir.

 

Good Post, Hillcroft are doing a good job as we have already experienced it will be a roller-coaster at times but that's what being a Barnsley fan is all about. I believe we are stronger together as a set of supporters.

 

Great post Andy, growing up in Penistone in the same era I can totally relate to your post. I remember in my first year at school drawing a poster of Gerry Taggart as my hero and writing ooh gerry gerry! under it. There were about 3 of me and my mates who supported Barnsley but we did so with a passion despite being surrounded by wendys and kids 'supporting' spurs and stuff like that. The reds are in the blood mate through family and always will be.

 

Supporters like us will have highs from our success that other 'fans' such as man u fans will never know- that's the flip side.

PS I had the misfortune to live and work in Leeds when they were in the champ league semis and i remember one of my mates saying "I can't imagine what it's like to support a shi-t club like yours", (when we were in the second tier) "What's it like". I think he knows now and more hahah

 

its probably more enjoyable that sunbathing in you bitterness towards people who want to be positive

 

I think we are similar

I've always liked to be in a minority group; there were only a few of us at school who grew our hair, wore patched-up jeans and listened to King Crimson and Pink Floyd. My love of Barnsley started in the 60's when my dad used to take me to Oakwell and survived despite, like you being surrounded by Blade, Wendy and Rovrum fans at Wath Grammar school but really kicked off when Allan Clarke came in as player manager in 1978.

I'm happy to say that despite living in Leicestershire and South Derbyshire all their lives, my lads (19 and 18) are both committed Barnsley fans as well, I think they get that same feeling of being different to the rest.

Vive la diference!