well that was what it was like when I was first taken there by my Dad in 60/61 season and all I knew was that Johnny Steele was the manager, my three favourite players were Eric Winstanley, Johnny Evans and Bob Earnshaw. Back then all I knew about boards was that you used them to Play Darts and Draughts with.... would go back in a heartbeat, good old days.
They must be some of the latest photo's of the old ground that are about. No muck stack on the Kop or inbetween the Ponty and the Paddock. Bet it wasn't long after those pics that Oakwell started to change Id go back to that ground t'morra
The seventh photo is taken from the spot where I used to stand with my friends, after my late Father became to ill to attend matches. Great photos which bring back great memories. Thanks for posting them, Baz.
Great that, cheers. My first season watching Barnsley was 1989/90 and that's exactly how I remember it. We're probably worse of league position wise than then but we've come a long way with the ground etc. Fascinating to see the difference. And most importantly, there haven't been many dull seasons in that 25 years.
Superb. Best post in ages. I first went in 1986ish and that's exactly what it was like, and it was love at first sight. Wonderful. I thought it was the best place in world and I used to draw pictures of the ground and try to build the West Stand out of Lego bricks. I was about six or seven years old. I remember the intensity of the first goal and the crowd reaction, I was just absolutely bowled over. I remember watching teletext for ages looking for transfer rumours, sneaking a call into the club call 0898 number to see if anything was happening too. Living in York I couldn't get the Chron regularly but my Grandad always kept it for me if there was anything and he'd ring me up. He's passed away now. Like everyone says, you'd go back in minute.
I was the season before, as a six year old lad and I remember it exactly like that for the first few seasons. Then came the revamp. I still remember the 94-95 season fondly, for the great team and football back then, but also for the Ponty End being under redevelopment, and I think that's why I remember Brendan O'Connell's second goal vs the Blunts so vividly. Right in front of the dead Ponty End. Remember that ballboy having to do a lot of running into the concrete for the ball, especially when Rammell was laiking.
Aye that's the oakwell I remember from my childhood (79 first game), and as said above I'd go back in the blink of an eye, much simpler and happier times.
Those pictures are tremendous, DT. They evoke all sorts of thoughts. They are from an era when you were all in together, bathed in cigarette smoke, where racist/misogynist remarks were common currency. But where the players (especially, 'Spud', Winnie, Bettany, Earnshaw, 'Georgie' Hamstead) seemed closer to us fans and above all, where there seemed more of a common spirit/shared experience. When you think of how the ground looks now, it's a hundred times better, and that it was for one brief season a Premiership ground is terrific to reflect on. But my, how they've buggered things up over the last few years. We've a better ground, but have we a better team or club? Or a better spirit than there was back then? I'm confused!
Thanks for posting the pictures DT, a real trip down Memory Lane. Brings back memories of my first trip to Oakwell when I was at Wilthorpe Juniors! As for the only remaining feature, the West Stand - I love it, and long may it last!
all we needed to do was just simply put a roof over it.... nowt fancy... just a roof like the old Ponty end
also do you remember walking round to swap ends at half time too I used to stand with a load of mates in the brewery corner by the kop when we were kicking into the Kop End. But always went somewhere on the Ponty when we kicked that way
Glad so many have viewed and enjoyed them photo's Nostalgia is a wonderful thing innit.... and hey I did summat reyt fer once
Re: also do you remember walking round to swap ends at half time too Proper quality Dragon That's when my dad used to take me. I got in for nowt into the disabled stand as his carer! Real memory lane stuff.
Re: also do you remember walking round to swap ends at half time too My Father & I used to sit in the Wing Stand (Ponty End). However, we'd do the walking round to swap ends for the pre-season friendlies. I always preferred standing in those days, but stayed with my Dad in the stand. Especially as he was paying for my season ticket until I started work.
Re: Glad so many have viewed and enjoyed them photo's you are right there mate,it brings back memories of good times,especially the fact that we were full of industries that could actually pay decent wages,good times indeed.
Perhaps I've exaggerated the memory (as one tends to do) but O'Connell's goal was greeted by a cheer so loud that the cameras filming it shook. I'd forgotten that the ponty was empty then, didn't seem to effect the atmosphere for that particular game too much. I used to make regular trips down with my Dad to see progress being made on both the east stand and ponty development.