I fully appreciate you can use statistics to make a number of cases and I do understand how you’ve done that. I do also understand the stat that we’ve spent more seasons in the 2nd tier than any other team in English history. I think that’s both a source of pride and shame. My own stats behind my judgement were: - They have had more seasons in the top flight than us - 12 - and in the current century. - They’ve won the FA Cup the same number of times as us - though they got a brownie point for actually making it in the first place! - They’ve been in a League Cup Final - this century. - They have had higher average attendances over their history than us. The ‘opinion bit’ was: - They are more likely to return to the top flight before us. - They are a more progressive and ambitious Club than we are and better managed off the field. - Their ground/facilities are way better than ours. I understand you can get a rather nice pie (hot but edible)and served a pint in less than 30 minutes! I don’t want to fall out about it. I was born in Barnsley, and started following them in the 70’s so I’m very aware of how ferocious our rivalry with Bradford was: I’ve experienced a bit of it as well and learned new sprinting techniques whenever we played them.
I'll be honest, when they launched their cheap season ticket scheme, I thought it was a genius idea. I genuinely thought that having the ground close to full every week would be enough to propel them back up through the divisions, and I wondered why more clubs, us included, didn't do that. I guess the answer to that is that Bradford have massively struggled on the field since they started selling such cheap season tickets. The system appears not to work. But now they're a bit stuck with it, as suddenly start charging £300, which is still on the low side but double what they cost right now, and I'd be pretty sure their average attendance would suddenly be around the 8000 mark. Not bad compared with most 4th tier clubs, but it would feel very draughty in their huge stadium with only 8k in.
- More seasons in top flight - fair enough - but they're a long time ago! We were 3 games away from the Premier League recently, they were battling it out in League Two and still are. - FA Cup - 1-1, okay, but we've been to a semi in 2008 and more than 1 QF in the last 25 years, what about them? - League Cup - yep, remember that amazing run they had and I cheered them on, they were fantastic. But a random Cup run once doesn't make a club any bigger. Chesterfield got to an FA Cup semi didn't they - did it make them a bigger club? - Attendance - what's the difference? How much more? At the end of the day, Bradford is, a CITY! Not sure a modest difference in average crowds means a club is 'bigger' - bit of a Wednesday comment this - What evidence do you have that they're more progressive than we are? They aren't progressing up the football ladder, despite big attendances, a high profile manager and their big stadium (for League Two). And what shows their ambition? Mark Hughes? Couldn't get them up last season ahead of the likes of mighty Stevenage. - I imagine their catering is better than ours, I can't imagine anyone being worse. But does serving food quicker make you a bigger club? - Can't agree their stadium is better to be honest, but yes, that's just an opinion - Fail to see how being the club that has played the most seasons in the second tier is in any way a 'source of shame'. Considering we're apparently smaller than Bradford, and every other club reckons we're nothing, it's not a bad record is it?! - I tend to steer clear of 'bigger club' arguments as they're a bit daft, but I've made an exception here as I'm quite honestly amazed that a longstanding Barnsley fan is trying to put his own club down to this degree against a long-term League Two side! Remarkable really.
Downright scary. Not only at Bradford but Oakwell too. Seem to remember a battle at the far end of the west stand, kop end. Missiles thrown. Police Horse got an eye took out apparently. At valley parade I've never seen as many police trying to protect Barnsley fans get injured and even a couple get carried out on stretchers. Fekk the game i just wanted to get home.
Thanks! I don’t think you’ve read the thread properly; particularly if you come to the conclusion you have. No matter. As I discovered today, life is far too short. Let’s just agree to disagree.
I've always thought what could those 70s and early 80s rivalries have been like. If they had these modern day technology and media outlets back then. Internet message boards, and radio/tv phone ins etc. I remember the promotion rivalry we had with Rotherham in my first season, in '81. And from what Ive seen, its usually been decent between us. But that surprises me that it went much further with the Bradford fans, was there anything that really started this.
I understand your point Dales, about them always having the bigger potential than us, and having the bigger possible fan base as well, because its a City etc. But they have hardly ever tapped into (taken advantage of) it, and apart from a few seasons here and there, we've usually been one or two leagues above them.