The first one I can remember is Mike Kear, a winger who we had on loan from Middlesbrough at the start of the 1970/71.
Thanks for that. Just googled him but not much information around. I'd love to know if he was our first!
Plus side, Mike Kear is alive. There's many former Barnsley players I've been looking up who've sadly passed. I'd love there to be a barnsley style podcast with all our former players from many a year ago!
Interesting read here https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/a-bizarre-history-loans-where-did-it-really-all-begin
We need to pick the side now, we've got plenty of nominations. Keeper is probably the starting point, Steele? Butland? Unless we want Mannone? I'd vote for Steele.
People have forgotten that Cauley Woodrow was on loan. How do you pick a front two or front three from Woodrow, Dike, Chopra, McBurnie, Nardiello and Fletcher? Impossible almost. You’d have to have Curtis at RB and push Trippier to RM, and then have Hammill on the opposite side. Definitely Steele in goal and probably Long and McShane at CB. Although Ramage might make it in there for some people, or equally Shotton. I can’t put Molby in the middle of the park for my team as I didn’t see him play, but Chris Lumsden as a loan player was unreal so has to start, but alongside Matty James, Anderson Da Silva or Josh Brownhill? Not sure who slots in at LB though…..
I might be wrong but I think I have seen him play for Palace in the premier league this season so I think the blip in his career might be over & he he back playing at top level .
Could maybe sneak Trippier to LB as he's played there for England. I'd have Dike and McBurnie up top. They performed brilliantly on loan in The Championship - whereas the others you mentioned maybe scored more goals, but we're in League One. Although Nardiello's initial loan spell was almost sexual. Agree with Lumsdon. Had an unreal few months. Hammill on the left is obvious. Wouldn't be able to choose about the rest.
Goals that secured the Playoff Final appearance and then the equaliser to take us to penalties. Nardiello has to be 'on the plane'. But then McBurnie was POTY, Dike's goals got us to the Championship Playoffs, and Woodrow in that Stendel side was unreal. Also, Nardiello for his two goals against Leeds at Elland Road. Nothing else really matters.
It would be better if you cut it down to players who we only ever had on loan, leave out the ones that signed permanently. Now there's a challenge.
Don't need to replace many from my original post. Butland Curtis Shotton Long Trippier Kent Brownhill Molby Barnes McBurnie Fletcher