Out of interest when were floodlights first built at Oakwell and were there midweek games before then and if so only on afternoons?
The lights were first built in the early sixties. I think it was 1961 but memory is fading! There were midweek games before that with 2-15 KO. It was a real pain getting to them. When we had a Cup quarter final replay against Leicester I had to wag three days off school and write my own note to cover it. The first game under the new lights was a friendly against Bolton Wanderers, who were First Division then. Tom Finney (PNE) guested for us and scored .
I was stupid enough to ask permission for the day off - this was refused on the grounds that Sheffield boys would want days off for cricket! Got to Oakwell in time for latter stages of extra time but couldn't see anything above the crowd. If I remember correctly Tom Finney scored with his hand in that friendly.
I’m pretty sure I remember someone telling me that the old 4 lights, one in each corner were from Old Trafford and bought them second hand.
Oh, what childhood memories of being lifted over the turnstiles & watching the reds under the lights! Magical!
our floodlights used to be formed in a big V for victory we used to get lifted over the turnstyles and in for nowt if your fatha knew who was taking the money lol i also remember as kids we used to squeeze thru two at a time thru the adult turnstyles happy days
I can remember the new brighter V floodlights being fitted, think it would be about 1976? I used to walk in through the directors entrance behind my dad who worked in the press box. I was scared of the commissionaire in his uniform :/