I'm reading Ian Wright's Autobiography at the moment. He cites Millwall as the worst ground he played on as far as racial abuse towards himself was concerned. He played for England B against Yugoslavia at the Den and claims they booed him every time he got the ball simply because of the colour of his skin.! He seems not to have too much time for the campaigns that highlight the problem of racism that seem not to be consistently maintained e.g. periodic or transient. One particular season he was criticised for not giving his full support to one such campaign that was on the go at that time. During that season Arsenal played Barnsley at Oakwell in a Coca Cola Cup tie and he says he was booed from start to finish by virtually an entire Stand of Barnsley supporters. The Commission for Racial Equality made a complaint to the Club and Arsenal's Vice Chairman also lodged a strong complaint with our Chair. To be fair to him later on in the book he congratulates us for handing a life ban to a racist fan. He comments " that was brilliant. A superb job by Barnsley. More clubs should follow that example." Have to say the only racist issue I have ever heard of at Oakwell was reported to me by a work colleague who attended a game with her Dad. Neither of them were regular Barnsley supporters. The Dad was a Councillor for Wakefield MDC so I was concerned at what he alleged had happened. He told me that "a fan" (dressed in Burberry clothing ) stood up in the East Stand and shouted " don't pass to that fu*king kaffir ". The disturbing thing as far as my friends were concerned was the player they were shouting to was Eric Tinkler and the " kaffir" he was referring to was one of my favourite players Bruce Dyer.!!!! They reported the incident to a Steward at half time and as far as they could see he did nothing. At my suggestion they complained by telephone to the Club and told me some time after they didn't get a response which given our statements printed on tickets and in programmes and campaigns to rid Oakwell of racism disappointed me. The other thing was that we lost two prospective new supporters and to this day they probably have a poor opinion of Barnsley Football Club. I don't know of course if any of our fans have witnessed racism from within our support and I have to be very fair in saying that in my thirty years of supporting the Club apart from lighthearted "banter" I personally have never heard any of our fans abusing a black player ever and long may that continue.
The worst I ever heard was aimed at Tony Agana and Brian Deane of Sheffield United when we played them at home in the FA Cup in 1990, they won the second replay. I was 15 at the time and it's still the most embarrassing and disgusting filth I've ever heard from a number of Barnsley followers. Many were grown men, who a few years earlier were lauding Winston Campbell for example, their kids simply following suit. Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk
I seem to recall Andy Cole getting some when he played here for Newcastle. "Sooty" jibes and the like.
I remember against Northampton who had a black winger, who was greeted with monkey chants every time he had the ball, he recieved a pass deep in his own half, and started a run towards our goal, follows by a crescendo of monkey chants, must have run 70 yards, scored a brilliant goal, and ran in front of the west stand ironically applauding the racist scum in our crowd, I have never admired a player so much Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
More recently, we've had idiots singing "Town full of Pakis" on away days in places like Luton and Coventry.
Me neither, I've been watching the Reds since the 70s. The worst racism I ever saw was at The Baseball ground in 1981/2 when Derby fans threw bananas at Winston Campbell. I also remember a conversation with a Wendies fan at Swillsbro saying that they would never have a black player a week before they signed Tony Cunningham from us.....
The worst I remember was the FA cup game against Sheffield United. As mentioned above there was some pure filth aimed at their black players and it was bloody embarrassing.
Was that the game where we eventually lost 1-0 to a Tony Agana goal after we drew at their ground.? I was in the West Stand and if it was that game don't remember anyone giving him and Deane verbal abuse.
I remember the Sheff Utd game, and also IIRC fixtures against Wimbledon in the cup around the same time and a couple of others times where I can't remember the opponents.
I had a season ticket for a number of years in ESL. I went with a friend and his mate who sat next to me. His mate never displayed any indication of racism until one match, I think it was when Carl Regan was making his debut,and got himself sent off for a stupid reckless challenge and he shouted out something like.... " Get off the pitch you stupid black bas***d and **** off !!" I did say to him quietly that there was no need for that, but no-one around me raised an eyebrow at his outburst.
I was at that game and don't recall him being booed by an entire stand. He might have suffered some racial abuse - I'm sure he did unfortunately - but if he was being booed by so many, it would be due to him being Ian Wright the great footballer and bit of a tosspot, rather than Ian Wright the black man.
Remember that game as well. He was on loan from Everton if I remember correctly. Happened right in front of me. I was in the West Stand lower terrace seats near the Ponty Road end. Jumped in with both feet. Left the ref no alternative really definitely a leg breaking challenge. Can't remember who it was against. He got dismissed at Wednesday as well for a foul on Owen Morrison. We lost 3-1 at Swillsborough. Carl was a bit of a liability really.
I was at the first game and both replays, I don't recall any racist abuse. I used to stand at the corner of the Ponty next to the West Stand. It's a long time ago though so it may be dementia....
There is of course, amusing racism, I remember a wag shouting from the ponty at Tony Cunningham "Cunningham, tha like 14 stone of black pudding!"
Just googled it. Didn't realise we bought him for £20k from Everton and then sold him to Bristol Rovers. Says he was sent off after 18 minutes for a horrendous tackle against Daryl Sutch. Again doesn't say who we were playing but Sutch played for Norwich City until 2003 before moving to Southend United. My bet would it would have been against Norwich in the 2001/2 season cos we lost 0-2 at home to the Canaries and Southend weren't in our league.
Carl Regan was sent off against Norwich City during the opening game of the 2000/01 season. We won 1-0 thanks to a Lee Jones goal.
That's right I remember the game now. Think Jones was from Wrexham or Tranmere wasn't he.? He wore the No 8 shirt and even though he was very slight he was supposed to be a star in the making. Even though he scored that day I recall feeling underwhelmed with his performances and I was probably right cos he only scored five in two seasons before we shipped him off back to Wrexham in 2002 I think.
He was rightly sent off. Spouse and I got a rescue dog from that place at the bottom of Haigh. Friend or foe it attacked without fear or favour any other animal. The only thing commendable was its bravery - it would have taken on a lion. Carl Regan had a certain uncontrollable attack mode. He was not without talent. He just seemed unable to balance it all. The dog sadly had to go back. Cute looking it was.
