John Rooney plays for Chester - isn't that the one that we had for a while?

Failed Hill or Flitcroft project I think, or was it earlier. He never played for us though.

Their league record looks pretty poor in the Conference so, in theory, we have nothing to worry about. Same professionalism as last Saturday and we will romp home.

Older fans like me though will remember past games against Chester in the old Fourth Division. We often struggled against them but we did beat them away in a FA Cup game in the 1970s - I took a mini bus load to that one.

 

It could be a similar tale to Saturday. 35 minutes of grinding (we really should've been 2/3 up before we actually scored though) and then hopefully, our professionalism and attitude will allow us to take charge, and against their tiring legs, introduce the likes of Cole and Lite late on to finish them off.

 

Reading that snatch of their forum which someone linked to reminded me of the 1964-65 match at Oakwell when we lost 2-5 to them in the Second Round. That was their "glory glory season" I think, when they had all five forwards on 20 goals each by the end of the season. One of them, Jimmy Humes, ended up at Oakwell (right winger). We got Eddie Loyden off them a few seasons later, although he wasn't part of that team.

 

Remember Ronnie scoring again em at their place

 

We lost 1-0 there in the FA Cup 2nd Round to a disgracefully awarded (in my totally unbiased opinion!) last minute penalty. The following season we beat them 2-1 in the FA Cup 1st Round, again at their old Sealand Road ground. Our first goal was a first half equaliser by Neil Cooper (in for the injured Ronnie Glavin). Our winning goal was scored in front of all the Barnsley fans on their equivalent of our Spion Kop through a totally justifiably awarded (again, in my totally unbiased opinion!) last minute penalty, scored by Ian Banks.

 

Yes that was my minibus trip, the 2-1 win. I was stationed at RAF Upavon on Salisbury Plain at the time and we had a Station Minibus for hire at ludicrously cheap rates. I was on my own at that time and used to travel up to watch the Reds whenever I could and it was usually a free trip for me because I would bring a few Air Force colleagues with me, dropping off at places like Hinckley, Sheffield, Huddersfield and Halifax and then picking them all up on Sunday night for the return trip to camp. Some of them were girls and I always dropped them off at their doorsteps because this was the Yorkshire Ripper period and I was visiting some of his old haunts. The few quid I charged them covered the hire and fuel costs and we all got a weekend at home. This particular weekend my brother Ron got various mates together and we all went off in my charabanc to Sealand Road for a very happy Saturday afternoon excursion.

Like now, this was a good time to be watching Barnsley with, of course, Ronnie and Banger in our midfield. A repeat result will do nicely this time but I suspect it will be a bigger score than 2-1. We've got to believe that the Third Round is achievable. Not a God-given right, but shouldn't be a problem.

 

I went to both games with the Gilroyd Supporters Club. I'm convinced the coach we were used for both games had been built in the 1930's! Top speed was something like 20 mph and there was no heater. Luxury!

 

Well mine was a 1970s LDV (I think) with three seats up front and two bench seats at the back down the sides. My passengers usually brought padded bags with them because by the time we got to Wiltshire in the early hours of Monday morning some were asleep on the floor. I think I had the only comfy seat in the bus!

 

You were driving, old mate, so you were entitled to enjoy a bit of comfort.

 

Amazing what you can do when you are only 20 something. Weekend round trip of about 500 miles in a pretty rickety old mini bus and I never gave it a second thought. Always had enough passengers to make it financially viable and they got a great deal - door to door for very little money and they knew I was Mr Reliable. If I said "pick you up 1945 Sunday night" they knew I would be there.

 

Classy and extremely decent of you to ensure the women all would get home safely, mate. Especially, as you pointed out, it was during the time of the Yorkshire Ripper.

 

Oh blimey, I would never have forgiven myself if I dropped any of the WRAFs off on a Halifax street corner and something had happened. Always to their door, and picking them up the same way. Only logical thing to do.

It's incredible to think that it is so long ago. Seems like another century

 

Yer gret daft bugger!