Barnsley Sunday league memories

I once got booked for delaying a corner so I could put my cigarette down, used to play keeper, when the opponents keeper came out with his gloves, water bottle etc looking all professional I used to bring my cigs & an ash tray!!

 

Used to work with Toddy, when Darfield Main pit closed and he came to Houghton Main,had some laughs

 

Features on the brilliant Wombwell Main videos on Youtube a lot

 

Played against Bentley's round about November 5th back in the 90s
Opposition supporters were letting off fireworks during the game and one if their supporters ran on pitch.to tackle one of our players when he was clean through on goal. Ref was shittin himself as he didn't know what to do.

Another game late in my career I was a sub. About 80 minutes into the game I was required to come on and so i gave the referee my name. The referee called me over immediately and asked me to leave the field as I wasn't down.as a named sub despite the fact we only had 12 players turn up. Must have been a record for shortest time on the pitch as a player.

 

Another memory. (God I could write a book)
How mental were we as young uns. (Teens and early 20s) 1970s Playing at Thurlstone proper out in the open. 5 mile above sea level. A good layer of snow 2/3 inches. Ref dint turn up. Both managers agreed to play. (Not sure which side reffed and can't remember the score) all running round laying sawdust fot lines after clearing em.
Must have been -20°c. I have never been as cold in mi life (maybe oldham away once) but wanted to play. Lads stood round rubbing themselves (not a stephen way) thinking what the fekk have we agreed to lol. Beyond mental. All suffering with hypothermia.
Only bonus saved on fuel not having to go back lol.
Happy days.

A message to all you young uns, when yer dad says "put a coyt on or tha'll catch thi deeuth " He was chuffin well reight. Cos tha'll be repeating him when tha gets older.

And another piece of advice. One I swear by, as others will testify to lol. Layered up tut hilt.
"Tha can allus tekk off what tha's got on.
But tha can't put on what tha ent got"

 

I played in goal for Poggy West End for a number of years along with John Pyne and his partner in crime Ray Scarfe. Tales of their antics are many and hilarious.

 

I'll set the scene...1987, Flying Dutchman ( Jump) v Prospect Tavern, Saturday Cup.
Dutchman 2 leagues above us.
Lads from Hoyland playing for Dutchman, lads from Jump playing for Prospect.
Night before up Hoyland saw a lot of taking piss out of each team.
100s of folk on line. Prospect walking into the lions den. Anyone who played at Jump can understand what I mean.
Anyway, nil all with 10 to go.
Their goalkeeper come off his line in a 1 on 1 to clear ball. Dropped to our lad on centrespot who hit it first time. Dutchman defender says to our right back " if that goes in, tha dead"
It went in. Dutchman player chased our defender for 2 minutes.. we won 1 nil.

3 hours later, them 2 players were drinking together in the Gun Club up Birdwell...

What a day

 

So late 80s on....wasn't there 9 leagues of about 12 teams in the Sunday leagues....and all very competitive.
I was went for a weekend to my cousins in Bristol and they asked me to play (I'd only gone to watch my 2 cousins)...there was a massive place like hackney marshes with like 50 pitches....I was told they were one of the best teams in their Sunday league but it was no where near the aggression and competiveness of Barnsley leagues

 

We were playing on the old academy sports area ,it belonged to coop sports.
Both teams on the pitch after half time interval.
We must have been there at least 5 minutes.
Don Mellor walked out of the dressing room grinning as we were freezing our ******** off.
Both teams slow hand clapped him on .
Resulting in him threatening to send all 22 of us off.
What a *****.

 

Another Sunday Story

We were drawn away to face Sheffield side Bradway in the quarter final of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Sunday Cup.

Bradway we're in Anglo Scania League, way above us from Barnsley.

We turned up like a pub team does. Our warm up consisted of cigs and what happened the night before.
Broadway, all stripped and ready with their trackys on.

We beat them 2 - 1....

We lost to Joker from Rotherham in semi, they scored in last minute for a 1 nil win.

We would have played Hoyland Jags in final...2 teams from Hoyland eh!!

O, by the way Bradway manager???.none other than Chris Wilder...and 1 of their subs??.. Future England Cricket Capt Michael Vaughan

 

We actually used to go to the Redbeck for a special breakfast before playing!!

 

Hoyland town Jags possibly the best Barnsley sunday team to walk on a pitch. Certainly in that era they played. (Nomad I think could offer up more information) in the main. Hoylanders. Jumpers and Wombwellers. (Pretty sure some from other regions) I knew many of them and they had quality throughout the team. Owd Lennie from Jump who kept playing beyond 60 and as fit as a fiddle, it was I believe, ( who was about 5'4" ) used to say to opposition winger. "If tha gets past me al brek thi leg" possibly best full back int league.

A couple followed/follow tarn away with us over the last 25+yrs one still does. Other sadly passed away, both heavily involved in Hoyland reds. Those that know us. Mick Fieldsend RIP , (Caroles husband) and Mick Derrick.

Nomad may correct me on this.
But I went to watch em play in the Midland sunday cup final. (A prestigious trophy) at High green once. (I think they won, but not put mi life on it). Never saw a bloody thing, there were that many there and not enough terracing 6 deep all on same level.

Nomad
Having seen you seem to be a driving instructor. Would your initials be
AW by any chance or long shot KC. I've a feeling I should know who you are.

 

You are quite right Hooky. Jags used to do well in Midland Cup.
They played on good pitches at Newark, Eastwood Town, Ilkeston in them days.
Jags Were drawn in quarter final of Midlands Cup at home to a team from Leicester ( the name escapes me).
Jags centre forward said the first 2 dead balls into the box was to be put onto goalie and he was going to flatten him.
They were, he did...
Centre forward that day...Billy Whitehirst..

Lennie lives at back of me now. I pick him up at bus stop often

 

Pass on my best wishes to len mate. Last I heard he was struggling with his health.
I know Russ Whittaker (RIP) another Jumper, used to play up front for Jags. Barnsley wanted him to sign for em. But he was a teacher (PE / Headmaster at a wombwell school) and played semi pro earning more than tarn could pay him apparently. Or it wasnt worth giving up his teaching career.

I think and stand corrected. Mick Butler was the last pro/part timer to laik for tarn. Only turning fulltime pro after leaving us.

Registered you as a member btw. And passed on your subs to Becky lol.

 

Do you remember a player called Brian? Keeper/centre forward

 

It was for you to have a drink yer bugger. I told Pat to tell you.

And his health isn't stopping him going to Ladbrokes. He'd bet on 2 spiders running up a wall him.

 

Did Billy Whitehurst eventually turn Pro ? The name sounds familiar to me unless I’ve got him mixed up with someone else.

 

It was at the end of his pro career.
If you listen to footballers from 80s, a lot rate him as the hardest player .
There's a section of Alan Hansen autobiography that relates to Billy Boy.
Well known at Hull and Sheff Utd

 

He played for Newcastle and Hull city to name a few more I would have to Google, he had Emlyn Hughes by the neck for calling him William.
Billy didn't find it funny

 

Mick Butler was part time for a spell as he was working with my old man in the Electric Shop at Dodeth pit