Clarke or Hunter? ............

You are right of course

What I meant was this: "Allan Clarke was responsible for a step change in expectation, and achievement, at Oakwell"

Before he came no-one, not even the club, expected to get anywhere. He made the club believe.

We did go up under Hunter and he as also a great manager, but Clarke just pips him for me.

 

Without Clarke then Hunter would never have come

So it has to be Clarke
What days

 

tough choice, but Hunter for me,however

Clarke started the rejuvination of Bfc,he was a big name for the likes of 'us' to capture,the kind of capture that just wouldnt happen in this day and age,but back then, football was played on a much more fairer and level playing field.Still can remember that Grimsby game,invading the pitch with my dad,i was 8 at the time and it was my first full season watching the super reds,then looking in the Chron the following friday to pick me and my dad out in the picture that was printed,ahhh the memories,great days.Also what Clarke did was put himself about the local community,spread the word of the Bfc gospel to get people back to oakwell,he did a very good job,i remember early '80,not long after the infamous Reading hammering and the subsequent pit visit,and i was in my element as my class at st helens junior & infants were invited to a Q & A with Clarke,downstairs in the central library,i took my place directly in front of what i viewed as a god,sat crossed legged and just looking up at the great man,i was 8,totally awe struck,i did ask him a question,about the Reading defeat,cant remember his reply,more importantly i got his autograph,the most dissapointing aspect of the Q & A was his adamance that he was looking to stay with us long term,low and behold a few weeks later he was off to Leeds with half the backroom staff,murphy et al,i was gutted.Along came Hunter though,he took us to another level and shaped the best Barnsley team i have ever seen,something i doubt Clarke would have done,we will never know though.

 

Before Allan Clarke became the Barnsley manager we had at that time a mini revival with the introduction of Barry Thomas and Johnny Evans, when in the early seventies Barnsley FC were in the bottom 6 of the old 4th division and the out look at that time was bleak. These two players kicked started Barnsleys revival. Like i said on a previous post, many stay away supporters started going to watch Leeds and Man U and so on. My backs is broad enough and thick enough to admit that i went to see Leeds. Mainly for curiosity, and that i had never seen a 1st division game. Like young Nudger said there were hundreds going at that time. But our group never bought scarves, shirts, or anything else to do with Leeds, we sat near the half-way line and admired the great football, but we also STILL went to watch Barnsley. Call us Quislings Traitors or what else, but our loyalties always remained with Barnsley.

The introduction of Allan Clarke has manager when we were a 4th division side kick-started a club who were averageing 4 to 5 thousand ( those included myself). Clarke started to bring in better players and the biggest scoop was bring in Derick Bell from Halifax town. Him and Clarkey banged in the goals, and i think his first five or six matches in charge we were undefeated. Crowds then started to soar and 12 and 13 thousand then was pretty common it was good stuff and the rest is history. When Hunter came as a player and then manager we played some great football, he built a team that passed the ball and were great to watch. I can remember being on the Oakwell pitch when we won promotion to the second division and Hunter spoke in the directors box and told us that he was going to make BarnsleyFC a great team. He didn't last much longer as our manager. But of the two it has to be Clarke, brought excitement to the Club when we desperately needed it. In all that era with Clarke and Hunter i never once heard any of our fans calling them or telling them to get back to bell-end lane. Just my thoughts.

 

I'd go along with that, Dave

Clarke's players, Hunter's team. Clarke galvanised the club and gave us long suffering fans hope for the future.

 

RE: Julian Broodel

Youve obviously never heard the video commentary, Morts getting at the fact that the commentator never seemed to pronounce his name in the same way twice all the match it was hilarious

 

RE: Julian Broodel

Youve obviously never heard the video commentary, Morts getting at the fact that the commentator never seemed to pronounce his name in the same way twice all the match it was hilarious

 

Clarkey signed Ronnie Glavin for which I will be eternally grateful, think they both played an equal part in the rejuvenation of the club though..........ahhh happy days (dancin)