ARTHUR BOWER | 1934 - 2021 Club News Barnsley Football Club is saddened to report the passing of our former Club Historian and lifelong Reds supporter, Arthur Bower. Continue reading on the official site...
A lovely man was Arthur and a Red through and through. I met him quite a few years ago down at Oakwell.We were chatting away and he suddenly said to me "do you want to see something ,if you do close your eyes and hold your hand out" I somewhat reluctantly did as I was asked and he placed in the palm of my hand a 1912 FA Cup winners medal.The medal belonged to Patrick Cryne and he had lent it to Arthur for research purposes.RIP Arthur a BFC supporting legend.
RIP Arthur. BFC through and through. A pleasure to work with him on the heritage project. Be a great loss. Thoughts to Tim and his family.
I attended my first ever Barnsley game with Arthur and his son, Tim. He's been ill for quite a while. RIP.....
I spent an afternoon with Arthur, at his home up near Locke Park back in 2016. His house was a treasure trove of BFC memorabilia and he had an immaculate collection of match programmes, dating from 1944 to the present day. All in pristine condition, in wrappers to protect them. A dream of an archive. He offered me them. I say me, I mean the club. But there was that many, and they're in such a good state, I told him we didn't want to take them to the club and have them just forced into a room somewhere and not looked after. That's when we had an hour-long chat about building some sort of museum at the club. But despite me constantly suggesting such a development, it's never got off the ground. He was a marvellous bloke. In 2018 at the annual Open Day, he saw me smoking and told me a story of a visit to a hospital laboratory where they had actual lungs on show, with one of a 20-a-day smoker, and the others a healthy non-smoker's. He told me "Andy, they were like black shoelaces." It stuck with me that. And a few months later that and a hundred other things no doubt helped me to pack in that filthy habit. I last saw him pre-pandemic, as he used to come and sit in the office out of the cold, pre-match. He used to ask me where Patrick was. I think he was struggling by then to remember a lot. Which is so sad for a man who had such an incredible mind and memory. I was gutted to get this news yesterday and my thoughts are with his family, particularly Tim his son who is a huge Red too.
A sad loss, I used to see Arthur in the main reception on match days and got to know him well when we both took part in the Heritage project.
The late Benny Hill (Barnsley Chronicle, Sheffield Telegraph) always wanted to get some kind of BFC museum up and running, and I know it was a dream of Arthur as well. I've seen Arthur's collection, it was a real kid in a sweet shop moment for me. It would be a fitting tribute to Arthur if his collection could be part of a club museum, anybody up for trying to get something off the ground? - I'm in.
Had the pleasure of speaking to him a few times. A lovely gent and I could have listened to his reminiscences for hours if the time would have been available. Rest in peace, Arthur.
RIP Arthur. My first boss. Thanks for two years of patiently putting up with a wet behind the ears idiot (me). A really good bloke and very sad news.
I was brought up with Arthur as one of my Fathers best friends and what a true Red he was ( although married to an Owl!). My lasting memories are the promotion party he held in Locke Ave when we got promoted under Allan Clarke and what a BFC mentor he was to my younger brother Neil ! RIP Arthur my good friend and sincere condolences to Tim and Tony (sons). Heartfelt. David.
I went to school with Tony, his son & know Tim as well. Very sad to hear of his passing. Both him & Tim were Barnsley FC through & through.
Had the pleasure of meeting him a few times during the Heritage project. He was in his element involved in that. Loved his club and loved his club's history. A lovely bloke...