Barnsleys Best ever Centre Forward

Given our current debates about the relative qualities of our current crop, who do you think was Barnsley best ever c/f?

I am sure the real answer is in fact Tommy Taylor but I never saw him - tragically killed 10 years before I was born - I cant find any Barnsley stats for him but his Man U record 166/114 and England 19/16 are phenominal..heres a quote from the time: -

"When Tommy Taylor signed for United in March 1953, he became the club's record signing, an honour he still retains today. Even at that fee, though, Matt Busby must feel he got a bargain - at the end of last season, Inter Milan offered an astronomical fee of £65,000 for the Yorkshireman, but Busby turned it down"

Just been browsing some lists and heres my contenders from more recent times (mainly based on a games/goals ratio)

Ashley Ward 46/20 (Ladies Fave)
Alan Clarke 47/15 (32 years old when he came)
Mick Butler 120/57 (Just before my time)
Michael Chopra 39/17 (Poor start - Not Ours)
Bruce Dyer 182/59 (Born Offside)
Michael Boulding 35/10 ff (just shows what stats can do!)
Roger Wylde 52/19(cheeky poacher extrordinaire)
Derek Bell 46/20 (Nice Haircut)
Frank Beaumont 107/37(Dont know owt abart him - Martins a good laiker though!)
David Currie 155/42 (Nice Haircut)
Derek Parker 107/32 (better record than aylott)
David Hirst 28/9 (never saw enough - sold off cheap to pigs)
Brian Joicey 93/43 (ex pig)
David Geddis 45/24(my choice though we only saw a season or so before he was sold)
John Evans 170/54 (before my time)
Martin Ferguson 40/17 (alex's bro)

My pick is not exhaustive (I got bored) ,arguably Ward played against better opposition, some never played enough for us to make a fair judgement and the creative midfield (or lack of) behind some strikers may distort the evidence.

For me Geddis tops the list from my watching games and Hirst was the one we let go far too soon. A number of these players were also Barnsley born and bred so theres some consolation.





Source of stats

http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/barnsley/barnsley.htm

 

Eric Winstanley, not only was he a fine centre half, but when i was a young child i can remember him scoring a hat-trick, and i think it was against Watford, and he played in the centre forward position after Barnsley went two goals behind, scored his hat-trick and the reds won 3-2. George Hamstead was on the wing that provided the crosses for Eric's goals . What a great match that was. I only hope i am right with my statistics. If not i'm sure there are Barnsley fans that were there on the night and to correct me if i am wrong.

 

35 goals from 410 apps? not bad for a CH

Never saw eric play either.

A good servant of the club over the years who was badly treated. Though I remember a game where he was caretaker gaffer after the demise of Clarke 0-7 at WBA..I was not a happy chappie!!

 

Eric was top goal scorer one season !!!!! But as I have said on many occasions before best striker I have seen playing for us was Mick Butler now he is a legend I would like to see at Half time!! Anybody know what happened to him?

 

Cec McCormack? don't know full record but I think he got 33 in one season. Can't remember Payton's or Joycey's record. Hirsty I believe is Wednesday through and through. Cracking player though.

 

Joicey

poacher extraordinaire.
3 yard king......(Y)

 

So what's happened to Tony Cunningham?

He amy not have scored too many but i'd love to know what his assist stats are like!

 

Not seen them all, so hard to say, but out the ones I've seen it'd be Wardy.

 

Aylott, Wilkinson,Hendrie? (nt)

 

Mick Butler was the centre forward when I first started watching the Reds. A bright spot on some dark times in the 70s!

 

for me it has to be Andy Payton...........

.........skill, strength, great finisher from inside or outside the box and fantastically greedy. A great all-round centre forward.

 

I always enjoyed watching Shipps, a good old fashioned centre forward

still ding the business down at bumhole lane

 

Jimmy Robson and Eddie Loyden

2 of the golden greats....hmmmmmmmm

 

Heart say Aylott

But given that Ward did it in the premiership it would have to be him

 

Spot on mate.

2-0 darn to Watford at half time with Big Winnie at centre half. A win would give them the championship.

Second half Big Winnie comes out at centre forward and scores all three as we win 3-2.

One of those unforgettable days that the 'Well throws our way once in a while.

 

Best Centre Forward

Have seen most of them and the outstanding centre forward was little Cec McCormack. Will always remember the 5 he scored against Luton Town when they had an England international goalkeeper and centre-half. It was all skill as he wasn't big enough to knock anyone about.

 

Shipperley gets my vote.

Chipped in with goals, but that was only a small part of his game. Brought other players into the game, held the ball up well, good target man, good with link up play - the works.