Used to sit with a fellow Red having some snap at work. Unfortunately he died of cancer around six years ago. When discussing the Tykes he got all misty eyed talking about the greatest Red that he'd ever seen play for us the one and only RONNIE GLAVIN. He used to demonstrate some of his goals to me using the cutlery and salt and pepper pots on the table. I'm very envious that I never got to see the great man play. I still see my mates widow and his daughter enjoying a Bovril in the East Stand bar area at every home game and true to his memory like he did, both of them still go to every single away game as well. Total respect for two of the most genuine and nicest fans I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and for whom supporting our beloved Reds comes as natural to them as breathing.
The best goal i ever saw involved King Ronnie..ive posted this before and will once again share my memory ...One wet Tuesday evening in Cambridgeshire King Ronnie picked up the ball well in to his own half to the right of play ..he then gracefully danced through a bunch of 5 maybe 6 players towards the centre circle and from the center of the park running diagonally right to left towards the oppositions left corner flag taking the defence with him, in full flight and and with 2 runners chasing him at close quarters he trapped the ball dead without stopping and thus continued his run, the defenders closely followed ..mean while Banger who had kept up the pace level with Ronnie out wide, cut in from the opposite angle left to right and unleashed a a dead ball unstoppable 30 / 35 yard shot into the net it was pure magic, a goal to grace the world stage...ive seen some great goals in my time but this one is my all time favorite.......Can i also add King Ronnie is still my all time favorite and with hand on heart can say hes the finest i have ever witnessed in a Reds shirt....if memory serves me well i think there was only one bus went down from the supporters club, i know there werent many of us there that night and the four of us who went down in Tracky uniform in the car got in for nothing all claiming to have taken a bus each...happy days
It's a shame that the only footage of him available is from the rare occasion we featured on Yorksport or a good cup run. Some of his most brilliant work was never recorded. Shows how good he was from that montage Turvey Tyke did which represents about 1% of what he did. His skill and speed with the ball at his feet was reminiscent of George Best in his prime.
I feel so honoured to be around to have watched King Ronnie grace the Oakwell turf. I have never witnessed since a player that got hold of the ball and expectations rose as it did when Ronnie was on the ball. Great skills, balance, pace and eye for a goal like a top striker, the ultimate midfield player. Arise Sir Ronnie!!!
I echo your comments about King Ronnie, the mere mention of him has the hairs on the back of my arms stand up, what a player.
l just missed out on Glavin - 84 ish l started watching, l think he came back for another spell but it was at the latter end of his career. Reading Thommo's write up we wouldn't be able to attract those pedigree of players in today's game.
Ronnie was by a million miles the most exciting player I have seen in a Red's shirt. I'm 52 and have seen all our great players from Mick Butler to Conor Hourihane. I'm blessed to have seen a lot of great footballers play for my beloved team, BFC. At some point I'll die & I hope the young 'uns will see even better. We should be very proud & thankful for our club. I'm proud as **** to be Barnsley.
The day after, a woman who worked with me said our midfield was the best she'd seen for years. Her and her husband were Cambridge United shareholders and went to every game.
My dad still says the same. I never saw Glavin play in person but there's a lot of film of him on youtube from his Celtic days in the 70s. If he's not scoring for them he's setting up the goal or the first to congratulate the scorer - or both.
Remember it well. Wouldn't call it a volley though, it was a well placed shot across the keeper as he came out to narrow the angle.