Best centre back

Hard working , committed player but we've had a lot better

 

He got injured in what was supposed to be his last game for Barnsley at Luton (1964) as he was due to sign for Spurs after the game. Bill Nicholson was in the stand waiting to put pen to paper.

My Dad did his ACL in the first half and, as there wasn't subs in those days, played the 2nd half up front on one leg.

He was then out for about 2 years, and was the first professional footballer to ever play again after what was at the time a band new procedure.

When he did return he was subjected to a British Transfer Record of £65k for a defender from Sheffield United but Jonny Steele turned it down as he said it would have halved the crowds and there would have been protests.

I have loads of cuttings from the press at home from those days, from the nationals where Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal etc were all wanting to take him.

 

De zeuw considered one of all the time greats for three different EFL teams. Amazing achievement

 

Paul Futcher the best for me

Not sure why he ended up signing for us but could and should have played at a higher level .

Never looked under pressure and calmness personified

A Rolls Royce of a defender

 

Left us because he was too old - and went to Grimsby (via Halifax) and became a legend there too.

 

De Zeeuw, Stones and Taggart. My favourite three.

 

That Howard/Winstanley partnership was a great one. Pat went on to bigger things (Arsenal and Newcastle) but I'd argue that, had it not been for his cruciate ligament Eric would also have gone on to bigger things too. He was rated as one of the best young centre-halves in the country and was certainly on the radar of bigger clubs.

 

Cruciate ligament injury.

 

A unique player in the wrong era.
He had the odd mistake in him or he would have stayed at the highest level. Got selected for England on a couple of occasions. but had accidents on the way to meet up. Played for both luton and Manchester city in the top division. Imo the best footballing centre half in a barnsley shirt during my time.
Impossible to compare him to 90% of the centre halves during my time, 66 to present. Defending being their best quality. Too many to mention.

 

Winnie for me but being from Monk Bretton I am biased. Had many a chat with him in his shop and in West Green WMC.

 

De Zeeuw, Chris Morgan and Adie Moses always stick in my mind. Fantastic at what they did and even though Stones and others have gone on to have better careers, those three were best for us at that time.

 

We’ve had so many over the years but if I’d to pick two they’d be Mick McCarthy and Paul Futcher.

 

Certainly the hardest positions to pick 2 from. But I agree. I look back in awe at the great centre backs we've had the privilege to see. Little old Barnsley eh.

 

Derby County were in financial meltdown (sounds familiar) and we’re basically having a fire sale. Bobby Collins brought him and Calvin Plummer. We played Derby the very next game and spanked them about 5-0. Plummer got on the scoresheet but went off injured

 

Because my first game involved Eric and Pat I grew up with a soft spot for them both.
When Eric was leaving to go abroad me and a few lads arranged to have a few drinks in the Mount with him.To my delight Pat and George Boardman turned up I was like a bairn again.
To cap it off Tracie the landlady brought a cake out for Eric inscibed "From the pits to St Kitts"
Special memories.

 

McCarthy and Pinnock are probably the best I’ve seen in a Reds shirt, but my favourite will always be Paul Futcher. He’s only behind Redders in my affections. We were so lucky to have a player like Futcher for so long in the second flight.

Futch was knocking on when he left us for Halifax, but he then went to Grimsby and a poll of Grimsby fans a while back had him coming out way on top as their greatest ever player.

 

That’ll be the 5-1 game. Wasn’t that the game where Kenny Burns was sent off. He then went on to sign for us.

 

Ha, his own goal against West Brom has taken on mythic status, to say hardly anybody went to the games in those days. There was no top corner screamer and he was on the edge of the box, not 30 yards out. He lobbed it up and back to Clive, not having had a second glance, or he would have seen Clive running out towards him. It went over Clive and bounced into the goal. I was stood in the Ponty and as we were two or three up at the time we were able to laugh it off.

 

I spent the 2nd half of that game in the dressing room with Calvin that day. Just brought back a massive memory. Just me and him chatting away together. He was a lovely bloke.

I think I was probably about 10 years old.

 

Paul Futcher for me. At the top of a long list of excellent centre backs in my time watching Barnsley, from 80/81.