Alumni

Just flicking through the club website I was disappointed, but sadly not surprised, to see that Stephen Humphrys is the last addition to our Alumni list. Yet another small, but significant example of the ongoing slipping of standards at the Club.
Likewise can anybody recall the last time the Hall of Fame was referred to? Maybe its just my ageing memory but it seems a long time to me.
Is there ANYBODY left at the Club who cares about its history and traditions any more?

 

Will it not just be updated at the start of the new season?

 

Maybe it will but it's not the way it should be done, in my humble opinion. It should be a part of the process of introducing a new player to our first team, allocating his number, adding it to the list on the official website - which should be the club's main window to the world - and announcing it on the "social" media channels. A five minute job and all it takes is a bit of forethought and a smidgeon of initiative.
Adding them en bloc once a year makes them an afterthought and not a source of pride.
Rant over.

 

Hall of Fame didn't make it out of Covid I'm afraid with the last inductees being in 2021. It was sort of superceded by the Alumni which I still maintain although I have no input to the Website and its contents. Still waiting for the numbers to be used on the kit...

 

Are loan players on the list or is it just signed players?

 

Ahh. Sad to read this. The HOF and Alumni (still hate the name) were my babies. From a club and marketing perspective. Most of the external graft was done by @Turvey Tyke though. I still think the inaugural HOF evening was my finest work. To get so many legends in one room together was special.

I used to update the Alumni numbers as soon as a game kicked off. Because that’s when a number was confirmed. Player X comes on as a sub for example, his debut, he becomes number 1432 or whatever. It’s literally a 10 second job.

It did sadden me when we dropped to the third division though. Because we have to play in that FL trophy competition and thus, you end up giving Alumni numbers to some kids who’d otherwise be unlikely to play in the first team.

On a happier note, I lost count of the ex players who contacted me asking for an Alumni shirt. Was great one afternoon to have both Barrowclough’s pop into my office and pick up their shirts, after an hour of reminiscing. Gjorgi Hristov came over and didn’t want any media coverage. That was nice. Lovely fella. My missus’ lad has his shirts from Barnsley and Bradford hung up in his games room next to each other. The first two clubs to implement legacy numbers. Anyway, I could talk for days about the topic. One for the podcast!

 

If we were using the word right it would only be players that have finished their time with the club

https://www.google.com/search?q=alumni+definition&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#ebo=0

 

Great work from yourself and @Turvey Tyke ......... the coverage was great as was the idea itself.
My mate Andy Duggan still asks when can he expect his shirt? I just placate him by saying they are having difficulty sourcing an XXXXXXXXXXXL

 

One of those who cared was Whitey, I got invited to be part of The Hall of Fame with @Turveytyke It's a shame its in the wrong hands now and the people who cared passionately aren't involved anymore.

 

Shame Georgi Hristov didn't want any media coverage, would have loved to get his autograph in Who's who book.

 

I need Andy Duggans autograph in my Who's who book.

 

One of the players went in my bairns studio and had his number tattooed on himself.

 

Thanks for this insight Whitey, all that work put in by you and Turvey Tyke - such a shame that the Club just doesn't seem to care any more.
Oh and I do like Legacy Numbers - much more appropriate and fitting than Alumni.

 

here is what I have from my stats i collected since covid, agree with shame the club seem to have lost interest updating the alumni etc

1438 luke alker
1439 ziggy kozluk
1440 kelechi nwakali
1441 kieron flavell
1442 clement rodrigues
1443 neil farrugia
1444 joe gauci
1445 dexter lembikisa
1446 jonathan lewis
1447 jackson smith
1448 kieron graham

as far as i know these are correct as of today @Turvey Tyke maybe able to confirm

 

It was a Khaled thing. The name, I mean. But I can’t fault him on that topic. He really got behind the idea so we let the name slide.

I hope that and the HOF are revitalised at some stage.

 

I think I know the reason he didn't want any media coverage. I wont divulge on here, but I suspect there are a few people that don't think he's such a lovely fella.

 

Interesting topic. I dont like Alumi as a word either. However i dont think Hall of Fame works either. In most scenarios, music, and other sports, this is a selection of invited guests honoured at being selected. It signifies people who have shown something beyond the normal participant.

Raises the question, what should it be called?

 

The alumni, I didn't get at the time, still don't.

But the Hall of Fame was something we should have done 20-30 years ago. Great to see the way it was initially set up, but in hindsight, it feels like that was the pinnacle and little to no thought has been given since.

For me, it's hugely important that true greats, actual Barnsley legends are celebrated and congratulated and they can see that despite years passing, they are still an integral part of this club.. We sadly lose pieces of our brethren each year. It's a shame we aren't doing more to thank those still alive while we are able.

 

A legend just passed away that wasn't invited back to the club, Gary Pierce.