For them not on Facebook: Statement from Bobby: I am delighted to announce after speaking with my testimonial committee and to Barnsley Football Club, that we have agreed a date for my testimonial game. The game will take place on Monday 4th May 2015 at Oakwell and will now be part of a fun-packed day at Oakwell combining with Bruce Dyer’s Love Life Festival. The game will involve the current first team as well as a Bobby Hassell Legends XI. This, we believe, will allow the perfect opportunity to say thank you to the brilliant fans that have supported me over the last 10 years and additionally, giving us all a community day to be proud of as a town. We have been working on my testimonial match for many months but unfortunately have been let down on several occasions by opponents who have agreed to play in the game and then pulled out. We have worked tirelessly to arrange a game for the 29th July as the club had kindly offered me this date to use in their busy pre-season schedule, but again we were unable to secure a team to play. We did have an option for the game but for several reasons, this did not feel right. It would not have allowed me the opportunity to play alongside some of the former team mates and friends I have made over the years at the club. Furthermore, I feel that for all parties involved in the planning of the event and also for those wishing to attend, the revised date allows everyone to be able to make plans bearing this date in mind. Therefore, after speaking to my family and committee, it was decided to approach the club with a view to postponing it until May. The club throughout this time have been brilliant with me and I would like to thank Patrick Cryne and the Board for their support. I am extremely pleased that we have managed to come to this agreement. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the fans that have supported me over the last 10 years at this fantastic club. I plan to put on a great day in May to show my appreciation to you all. I would also like to wish Danny Wilson and everyone connected with Barnsley FC all the best in the challenge to gain promotion back to the Championship this season. Bobby
The club we were to play, was Tranmere Rovers. Seriously. It would have been a joke, and I'm glad the club have agreed to this new date. It gives everybody a chance to make sure they're free (no excuses, it's a year away). It'll also be soon after we've been promoted as Champions, so it'll be like a double celebration. Now, lets crack on with supporting the current players. You Reds
Good statement, classy, humble and dignified as always from Bob. Hope he gets a great day on 4th May.
I don't get why the current side are involved when he no longer plays for them and the big majority of them he won't have ever played alongside. The whole event seems very poor and not deserving of the great man.
That's not a testimonial it's a kickabout at Bruce's family day , what are the club chuffing playing at
The article you put up says "The game will involve the current first team" so that's probably a silly thing he was made to agree to for the day to happen. It's a shame that by the time it comes around less people will be interested.
All sounds pretty shabbily arranged does this. But to be fair, I can't see how BFC are to blame in any of this. sounds like Bobby & his team have been driving all the planning. The timing seems poor to me and all a bit strange. A full season will have passed, since he has left the Club. It's also been bundled in with his faith thing. Which is cool if that's what he wants, but I imagine it's going to turn people off. People have short memories, and I fear the attendance will be low. V disappointed. I'll be there though.
Shabby indeed , but to have a testimonial you need the full cooperation of the club, we've got Big Maurice as Chairman, allegedly the sports leading legal expert, connections up to his arm pits we're told, then theres not so big Barry life honorary vice president of the FA, or summat like that,travelling the world hob knobbing with the sports big wigs and finally the boy Ben, former hot shot agent for supposedly a big cheese agency, surely between them they have the strings to pull in a half decent side for Bobbies testimonial....if they wanted to.
This does seem a little bit desperate I have to say, maybe they aiming a little too high in terms of the team they are trying to get? No disrespect to Tranmere, but they would be totally random opposition and can't see them having to open more than one stand for such a game which would be unfortunate for Bobby.
It just seems very badly organised to me. And surely that's down to the testimonial committee not the club. If clubs are being approached just months, even just weeks before the game is due to be played, there's no wonder a big side can't fit it in with the hectic pre season schedule which are arranged well in advanced. It's also a world cup year which must impact on player availability. A shame really.
I'm sure I've been to testimonials in the past where it has been two different Barnsley teams, rather than a team from another club. The player whose testimonial it is XI against a Barnsley XI. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought I had. I'm sure I remember David Speedie and Ronnie Glavin playing in the same team, looking old and fat. I can't remember people kicking up a fuss about that. Personally, it's something I'd prefer to see. Two teams and I support them both! Old stars from the past and the current team all on the pitch together. Perfect. I don't care about seeing another side coming to play. It's not a proper match, it's to have a bit of fun, and I can't think of a better way than both teams made up of Barnsley players, old and new.
I didn't realise that a player had to organise his own testimonial - doesn't feel right. 'Organise your own leaving do Bobby'. It has got to the stage where, literally, BFC can't organise a football match.