Absolutely disgraceful, Barnsley FC..

By your own admission, you don't know the product. From a product user point of view I found it to be poor in many ways and considered cancelling. I will now give it another go and see if it improves.

 

You sure?

 

Eh up all.

I have watched Barnsley FC since 1978 and have been lucky enough to commentate on our fortunes for almost 19 years. Firstly with Oakwell 1575am from 1996-2008 and then for the club's World/Player service between 2008 and May this year.

I was initially going to keep a dignified silence on this matter, as I didn't want the club thinking I was bitter, twisted and resentful, but having considered their reasoning that's exactly what I am.

In hindsight the budget line that has been spun to us is unacceptable. We offered to continue doing the commentary as volunteers - which would have meant just the cost of an isdn line for the club (surely covered by subscription fees?) a small price to pay for almost 20 years of dedication.

At a meeting in May we were led to believe that this was fine and I was happy with that having worked for free on many occasions in the past. We saw it as doing our bit for BFC in a turbulent financial era. I texted the media manager on Monday for an update and he told me a deal had been finalised with local radio and there was no reneging, which obviously stunned me.

I thought about it for a while and then asked him if the club would still like us to provide a tv style commentary for the full match replay which is available on Player a day or two after a game. This would mean us commentating as live with a microphone connected to a camera and would save overdubbing radio comm, eliminate synch issues and sound much more polished - total cost to BFC, nil. This offer was also refused, leading me to believe that this was no longer a budget issue and that the club simply didn't want us in the press box anymore.

Being very upset and offended by this I then decided to go public and let subscribers, listeners, fans, decent Tarn folk and exiles know how harshly we have been treated as loyal and passionate supporters and broadcasters.

I will always be proud of the standard of our commentaries, they were as professional as they possibly could be for a couple of amateur broadcasters given the budget and the technical problems that often beset us, due to no fault of our own.

I realise there's probably no going back now, bridges have been burned, but I'm saddened by the fact that the top brass seemingly have no compassion or value of loyalty. I don't think BFC have any idea our popular our commentaries have been over the years.

The support we have received has been overwhelming and I personally can't thank you lovely lot enough for caring so much smile emoticon

Thanks very much for reading - please draw your own conclusions from this, it has left a very nasty taste in my mouth and affected my health.

Matt Bailey

 

Has anyone from the club - Ben I guess - contacted you and explained their reasoning?

 

The media manager has, Jay.

The official reason is cost cutting and budget related, but when someone who has served you for 19 years offers to do summat for nowt to help out, you surely snatch their hand off? In short - I don't accept their reasoning.

It's plainly obvious the Radio Sheffield deal was done without any regard for Adam or myself and there was no going back on it.

 

I find all of this unacceptable and I would like to hear what Ben has to say on the matter. I think as fans and subscribers (whether that be ex, current or potential subscribers) we have a right to know. We're supposed to be a community club with the community and the fans at the heart of the decisions made in running the club and while I understand that we have to be run as a business what they have done in this regard is just shoddy.

Like you say the service was offered free so it looks pretty clear that there is another agenda.

Poor show BFC.

 

You have every right to feel that way. I don't have a Player subscription because nothing on there appeals to me. When i'm not at a game i'm watching SSN for the scores coming through. For that I don't even listen to our commentaries on Radio Sheffield so when fans moan that they hardly ever have us on (they do have us on alot to be fair to them) it doesn't matter to me. However club mistakes happen way too often. It's a disgrace that you've been given a phoney excuse and your loyalty has been **** on just like it was for Bobby Hassell.

 

Club has dropped hugely in my estimations over this. One of the things I enjoyed most about Player was having the chance to listen to yours and Adam's reactions to the goals I'd witnessed live earlier, reacting passionately as fans of the club rather than as neutral commentators. Hope things start looking up for you soon as it's clear BFC have treated you both with the utmost contempt.

 

So radio Sheffield will be doing full match commentary of every game? And will these be available through fm and dab?

 

Matt and Adam, thankyou sincerely for your commentaries. It's been a part of me life listening to Barnsley-types at two a.m. You've kept me in touch wit tarn and I hope to thank you in person one day...

 

Disgusted with the club over this.

Actions always speak louder than words.

 

Presumably then radio Sheffield are providing us with commentary out of the goodness of their hearts and totally free of charge. Bit odd for a business which is struggling financially to do that don't you think

 

I always enjoyed the commentary from Matt and Adam, they said it how it was, good or bad. I've emailed the club to express my disappointment.

Good luck and thank you fellas, hope you both find something else.

 

We pay for the BBC, so in essence, we're paying twice for the commentary now.

 

whos Mark ?

 

Mark Stokes. Not sure what his technical job title is these days but he's the guy basically does the PR and things. He did a lot of the t-shirts a couple of years ago and the website and Barnsley player and the likes of that. Really hardworking bloke who seems to do about a million hours a week. I included him on the list because he seems to head up the introduction of new things that are supporter facing. Could be completely wrong though

 

Thought so , nothing to do with Mark. Hes not employed by the club anymore only works casually as a consultant. Nice bloke is Mark.

 

Very polite chap, always time for folk.

 

Ah the t-shirts, that was a fad which quickly disappeared. Were any of them decent? I genuinely cannot remember.

 

No, they were cheap as **** and looked awful.