Earliest Oakwell memory

That was mine as well although my dad also took me to Bradford for an earlier round. Dennis Law also scored the only goal in Lutons 3-1 victory over Man City so scored 7 and finished on the losing side. The first game was abandoned due to fog. Jackie Lunn scored Barnsleys goal against Luton.

 

We lost to marine at their own ground in the cup ...it was one of the most embarrassing times ever.away from the football...the lads not only smashed up the toilets they kicked off in the club house trying to land pint pots on the telly they kicked down the turnstile door.which was like a back yard gate.. hundreds got in without a ticket ....some .ran amok in the catering tent one lad pinched the very large kettle full of juice singing weve won the pot...police nabbed the culprit ...I said I'd just picked it up and given him it...pleaded his case they let him go lol...some of the lads set fire to the wooden goal posts in the train sheds that made up their stand ...
I recall getting dragged through the mud having dropped a shoulder to dodge a very fat steward as I put the ball through his legs and to slam a busted cassie into the goal ..as I wheeled away celebrating my goal my arm going up in the air I was sent sprawling by a copper who put my arm up my back and floored me ...I found out how narrow the back entrance of a tranny van was as my head hit both open doors as I was thrown in and told to sober up...I spent the entire first half in the van only to be dragged out feet first at half time to be replaced by 2 or three more lads who had been fighting....i had a slap around the face for my troubles by the same copper and told to behave myself...
Yep besides the scoreline embarrassing...

 

I think the only time I felt physically scared for my safety was once in the Glavin era team when we played Rotherham United at Millmoor and the crush that was on down the side to the away end. There was nowhere to escape to and we we like sardines. An accident waiting to happen that was.

 

We always seemed to draw West Ham in the cup. I was near the touchline at Upton Park and Anton made a bad tackle. The ref called him over and pulled his book out. The booking was being written up and the ref and Anton were having a good laugh. Plain to see that the ref had no idea how to write Otulakowski.

Possibly, West Ham bought Anton. They had a good look at him..

 

Yep getting a nice friendly send of from the miller fans from the top of the wall of a shower of house bricks and glass bottles filled with piss those were the days

 

Correct Lil, as ever. But I thought he might ask his dad - remember who that is?

 

I'm guessing that was the 4-2 win in 1981, I was there and the crush in there was truly horrific, I had to brace myself against the wall with both my arms and legs and sort of walk along the wall otherwise I'd have been rubbed along it.

 

Ernest Hine?

 

Probably 1961. Barnsley Reserves v Blackpool Reserves. The only things I can remember are that we lost 5-0 and Tony Waiters, who went on to win an England cap was in goal for them.

 

He won’t be pleased you’ve said that!

 

Probably not. I think Ernest Hine was a member of the family. But I may have got that wrong.

 

Possibly, but his father is the scorer of the hat trick in question

 

Yes, old mate, I know.

 

Easy for you to say!

 

Yeah, but all my false teeth fall out when I try to say it!

 

Sorry, Lil, thought you may have forgotten. But I should have known better, shouldn’t I.

 

I know Nutkins fairly well, old mate. He's raised quite a bit of money for my daughter's favourite charity, so it's reasonable to suggest he's extremely well like & popular within our family. I always love to see him at Oakwell.
A great bloke, just like his Dad.

 

Fantastic, great to hear Kev. Had no idea.

Though I doubt he’s as good as his old man when it comes to getting on the end of a George Hamstead corner.

 

There won't be many on here who remember Oakwell without floodlights but I do (just!) An FA Cup replay against Leicester had been played as a midweek afternoon game during the 1960/61 season and a near 40,000 crowd had seen the Reds go down to a narrow defeat, with schools allowing pupils off for a sports afternoon. Well it saved mass truancies I suppose but, alas, this was one season too soon for me. I was there the next year though.

I honestly can't remember which was my first match but I do remember clearly being at Oakwell on the 23rd January 1962 to see a prestige friendly against Bolton Wanderers, at that time one of the big boys in the First Division. This was the match to officially inaugurate the new floodlights and internationals were on show ON BOTH SIDES for our entertainment. The Reds had two guest players coming to the end of their international and club careers. The Sheffield United inside left Jimmy Hagan was accompanied by an absolute giant of the game at centre forward - Preston North End's Tom Finney. This was a real treat for home fans and what a novelty watching a match under lights!

The following season I made my FA Cup debut with a thumping victory over Cheshire League side Rhyl. It was 4-0 and could have been a lot more but for a great display by their keeper called John Green. Ironically another Rhyl keeper - Grenville Millington - also had a stormer against us a few years later when the Reds were embarrassed in another FA Cup match against the part timers, this time losing. This season - 1962/63 - was to see The Big Freeze with sub-zero temperatures all over the country for a prolonged period. The Third Round tie against Everton was played later than it should have been on a thick carpet of snow. I wish I could have been there to see a team stuffed with internationals like Gordon West and Billy Bingham but, at nine years old, my parents probably said I was too young to risk getting crushed in a 35,000 crowd.