My Father died, breaking my heart. I still miss him after all this time. However, it's all his fault that I fell in love with Barnsley Football Club. Prior to taking me to Oakwell for the first time, he suggested I watch some live matches on television, a rare event in those days. The first game I watched was the FA Cup Final when WBA beat Everton 1-0. Then, a few weeks later, I saw Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 in the European Cup Final. Finally, I saw England lose 1-0 to Yugoslavia in the European Championship Semi Final. He was satisfied that I was ready to stick through 90 minutes at Oakwell. My first game was the opening fixture of the 1968/69 campaign, a 3-2 defeat against Barrow. I was captivated. No other team has ever mattered more, not England, not any glamorous club from a bigger city. My club from my town, love at first sight. I'm so grateful to my Dad for many things, falling in love with our club is one of them. R.I.P. Dad. Sleep well.
BigLil I know its a long time ago but did my old mate Roy McCarthy score for Barrow in that 3-2 defeat.
Kind words from a kind man. It is clear that your Dad meant a lot to you and to remember him so fondly after all this time speaks volumes mate. It's my Dad that took me to my first Barnsley game many years ago, but sadly now is deteriorating rapidly due to cancer and alzheimer's. However, I will be forever in his debt for introducing me to the wonderful Barnsley FC. RIP BigLil's Dad
Touching memories. My Dad took to me to my first game in 94/95 we lost 0-2 to Reading and it was like watching paint dry. I was mad into Arsenal then and he didn't want me supporting a London team. He said if you want to watch them you'll have to save your pocket money up but it'll take you a bloody long time. Oddly he never took me to Oakwell again after that. I started watching us properly in the 2000/1 season using pocket money I'd saved up went to the 1-0 win v Sheffield Wednesday and the draw with Sheffield Utd. Then it was the 2001/2 season that I started getting EMA that I started going regularly. Went 9 times that season and only saw us lose once against Birmingham. I'd longed to go with my Dad again and when I bought my first season ticket in 2003/4 season he said he'd come back but only to the Cup games. We beat Darlington 1-0 at home. He told me they'd need to play better than that for him to attend regularly. They never have really got back to heady days that peaked in the mid nineties and got my Dad excited enough to try and get his son into Barnsley F.C but I thank him for it and remain grateful that he's still here to attend the odd game sporadically with me since then.
Brilliant! As a young boy, I was distraught after the match. I couldn't believe folk were walking round doing their shopping, didn't they realise it was the end of the world?
Everywhere I'm seeing for 10th August 1968 has us beating Barrow 3-2. Not sure who's got it wrong Edit: scratch that, more reliable source does indeed say we were on the receiving end
I can only echo those sentiments My Dad passed 8 years ago (tomorrow) and I feel forever grateful for many things, not least taking me to Barnsley games as a kid. There's been many times I wish he hadn't! But the good times far outweigh the bad
We definitely lost 3-2, old mate. Johnny Evans opened the scoring after a couple of minutes, Barrow hit back to deservedly lead 3-1, then Allen Bradbury scored late on.
It was a real down to earth choker that defeat. We had blown away most of the Fourth Division the season before and were looking forward to Third Division football. It looked like inferior opposition were coming to Oakwell that sunny August afternoon but “little Barrow” were far too good for us!
My Dad would have been 91 this Friday. An armchair Wednesday fan, otherwise a nice, decent bloke. Luckily, never took me to football.
We were 2-0 up at one stage of the match. Also, it was on YTV's Sunday Soccer the following afternoon.
My big brother started going & my Dad made him take me. But he would ditch me to be with his mates. Allan Clarke promotion season 78-9. Aldershot at home. Derek Bell with a twice taken penalty & an own goal, both first half.. I still go by myself. Mostly West Stand, but sometimes like to mix it up. That’s why I don’t bother with a season ticket.
Like most of you I was also taken to my first and many more games by my father. Unfortunately I’ve no idea what game it would have been or which season. Early 60s is the closest I can guess. My dad died 35 years ago a month before his 60th birthday. Taken too soon but thanks for introducing me to the Arab family. Forever remembered.
Never doubt @JLWBigLil's footballing memory. It's elephant like. Never forgets! I can barely remember Friday's game (luckily)