Because it's lots of people's closest football league club geographically, even if they don't live in the Barnsley borough. Loads of Leeds and Huddersfield fans in my part of West Yorkshire that live closer to Oakwell than Elland Road. Shame on them I say.
Wakefield is probably the hardest place to sell the club to. It's as close to Leeds as it is Barnsley. You talk about us from outside the district having "an excuse" as if we should feel lucky to come and watch the reds. Sounds very insular to me, considering the amount of time some of us have spent watching the reds. Loads of people from outside Barnsley regularly go all over supporting the reds. We're not going to be told were somehow inferior because we're not born in Barnsley. We're supporting our local team. No excuses required.
I'm from Wakefield and a Barnsley supporter (live in America now though)... Most of my mates were a combination of Leeds, Wednesday, even Man U supporters
It's all about being in a crowd for them mate. It's all leeds and Wednesday care about. Neither of them can get out of this division at the right end so have absolutely nothing to talk about, other than past successes and attendances. I know so many "fans" of other clubs that don't go to games, yet they make snide comments about our gates, but they can't see that they are part of the reason. They live locally, they like football, why not go along and support us, their local club rather than claiming to be fans of a team they never see. I find it difficult to talk to these guys. We've far less in common than they think. Being an armchair fan and taking the piss out of someone that actually goes to games doesn't cut it with me.
Absolutely ridiculous as long as they pull their bag out for the shirt they can come from all four corners of the earth
It's interesting with all the comments from Reds fans from far and wide, what made the fans from outside the town become a fan? Is it the dad factor? Forced against your will as a 2 year old to Oakwell? My son has never lived in Tarn, being born in Nether Edge maternity hospital, Sheffield. His first match was against Portsmouth in about 1993? Drew 1-1 Hooked ever since, now a globetrotter but a committed Reds fan That's how it starts
Loads of times I’ve read your posts and think this bloke doesn’t know what he’s talking about. This is another one
I went along with some mates in 1978 v Worksop Town. We were doing well under Clark and everyone was excited. Bus companies were doubling up on the services to meet demand between Ponty and Barnsley. Easy to get hooked at that time. Bit different for my lad though. Took him to Oldham away when he was 6. It was a grim time in league one, but he stuck with it until he went to Uni. Now comes with me when he comes home.
I started in 1978 too and as you say there was a real buzz about the place . We used to take unbelievable numbers to Away games , football special trains went all over . My mates dad ( Brian Sykes) used to run the supporters club and that’s how it started for me !
I knew Brian. He used to run supporters club team when I first got involved. Mick Barker and Steve Curry took over from him.
I'm originally from Hatfield a small village 8 miles East of Donny and go back regularly from our home in Wakefield to visit family that we still have there. We also have family in Wombwell and Kendray. We've been left Doncaster 31 years and for 30 of those years I have supported the Reds. Not only have I done that, but on home match days I have been known to take an insulated cool box with me in the car boot and spent a couple of hours with my wife prior to KO, getting our fruit and veg, eggs, bread, pastries and meats on Barnsley Market. We've then popped into the Arcade for lunch and then whilst I've been at the match, my wife, who has no interest in football has gone round the shops, quite often spending quite an amount on clothes and refreshments, before we've met up again for the homeward journey. So not only have I spent money on following the Reds ( including merchandise), my wife and I have spent a not inconsiderable amount supporting the local economy. We also get to Cannon Hall/ Thyme Bistro at Cannon Hall Garden Centre twice every week, as a minimum, again spending quite an amount of cash whilst we're there. We both love Barnsley and it's surrounding areas and now genuinely consider it to be "home from home."
That's right. They were recently on telly as one of the nominations for a Business Award. They were in the top three, but missed out to a Cheese farm further South.
Yep they've done brilliantly with that business. They had to diversify to survive and they've done it in some style.
So you'd honestly be happy to see a team of 11 foreigners lining up for us? One of my mates who's a long time Man City fan has lost interest, and while the lack of English players isn't the only reason, it's definitely a factor.