Just got back from playing at Oakwell with Neil Redfearn in the charity match

Unbelieveable.

It was incredible for me to play on the hallowed turf - I've never been the kind of footballer that could harbour those kind of aspirations of ever getting a run out for the reds, never mind getting to play ninety-minutes with a legend like Neil Redfearn - totally amazing.

First time I've ever met Redders and he is just the most modest bloke you could ever hope to meet. I got talking to him in the dressing room at half time, and just before kick-off for the second half - talking about the good old days - you can tell he loves the club and still loves the fans. He said to me "Look at this place now" as we were running onto the pitch, and I said "Well to be fair, it's those sides that you played in that build this place - they were great days" and he smiled at me and said "...they were, and they can never take them off us!".

We were talking about the cup run we had in the Prem, and how we beat Man U - and Fergie's reaction "ball was square, pitch was bobbly, dressing rooms were too small" - the Redders said "we bloody murdered them!".

I mentioned to him that it was 11 years yesterday that we got promoted. He said it didn't feel like 11 years at all, and I agreed. Then he said "next weekend against Oxford, most of the lads were still pissed!" - I said "You still got one though, didn't you?", he shook his head and said (really modest) "Aye, I got one!" and smiled. I said "We'd have murdered them otherwise, wouldn't we?" - he said "Oh aye, we'd have murdered them, no problems".

What a hero.

BTW Redders hasn't lost it. I reckon he scored about five from outside the area. Lobbed the keeper on two of them. I got to set up two of them - that'll live with me forever. Can't get the smile off my face. The man is an incredible footballer, just out of this world technique.

David Hurst also played - again, another top guy. Really friendly. He scored, of course. Ball went down the line, got squared back across the face of the six yard box, he wasn't there, then he was, bang! Ball in the back of the net. Genuine class. He's a bit out of shape now, but his touches and his reading of the game was superb. Just a pleasure to watch.

Today is one of the most enjoyable days I've ever had. I did ninety minutes and I'm fecking nackered.

 

To be fair in ten years time I hope to play in a similar match with the likes of Kayode Odejayi, I just hope his touch and finishing doesn't leave him.

 

Aww brilliant mate!! Would love to have played in that match. Did it cost you to play? Were there many that didn't get to play? Who else was there then?

Would love to hear more bud.

 

I was asked by a friend, whose name had been down to play for ages, because some other fellas dropped out. I got asked if I was interested about a week ago (just before the Leicester game). I couldn't say yes quick enough. Most of the lads had been getting sponsorship together for ages, so they contributed a bit more than me. I didn't really get time to gather sponsorship together so I paid £50 - which was what I could afford realistically (but even then I felt guilty about that). How do you put a price on this kind of thing? It's a priceless experience.

Everyone got to play. Many pros dropped out last minute (I won't name them publically, because it might embarress them, and I'm sure they'd have made it if they could have) - yes that was a small disappointment, but really I was there to meet Redders more than anyone else - and he didn't let us down. On the day only (only!! as if lol) him and Hursty turned out. As a result, most people got a full ninety minutes. If another ten players had been there, and we'dve been able to play rolling subs it would have been perfect. There was room for more players on the team sheets. The fact that I got a full game made it even more magic. Don't want to kick you in the nuts, but if you'd been down at Oakwell at 1330hrs, you'd definately gotten a game. Get your name down for next year!

 

I remember when I met Redders at the 10th anniversary dinner, it made my year!

Must've been great to have a kick about with him.

 

Ah brilliant! Gutted I missed out, but would have hoped more pro's had turned up. Would have been awesome just being on the same pitch as Redders tho! Were there many watching in the stands mate?

 

There were a handful of people in the East Stand, and my dad got to sit in the dugout! lol

The pitch is incredible. After playing on so many shitty Sunday league surfaces... having the stands around is fantasy stuff !

 

good init!

Played 30 mins for BBSFC vs Bradford supporters before the 10th aniversary game.

Fantastic...only spoiled when I had ran about 30yds to latch onto a through ball beyond the bradford defence, bearing down on the ponte goal in an KO wembley esque moment, I was about to let fly when my legs went from under me and I went skittling. There were a few hundred? in the east stand at the time to boot.

We won though. Never forget it. Bumped into a fair number of the promotion team & the very funny McCall in the changing rooms.

 

Was great wasnt it Daz?

One of my fave footy moments, particularly setting up a goal - though I wish I'd shot instead of squaring for Richie! Was a cracking day to get a chance to play footy at your team's pitch. Brilliant.

 

I wish I'd played in that one. Also wanted to say...

<font size="7" color="#ff0000" style="background-color: #ffffff"><font face="impact,chicago"><u>A BIG THANK YOU</u> TO THE GUYS WHO ORGANISE THESE EVENTS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE FOR THE FANS AND THE CHARITIES GET TO BENEFIT AS WELL!</font></font>

 

who played?

nt

 

It was Barnsley supporters vs Bradford supporters for an hour before the Barnsley vs Bradford charity match. Out of the posters on here (and I'm probably missing a few), Spartacus, myself, Journo Tyke, SimonBFC, MCTyke, brown(followed by numbers!), Lee, Jonno, Zadok, Red Fern, GudjonFan, & many more. The charity match had Ashley Ward, Stuart McCall, Neil Redfearn, Paul Wilkinson, Darren Sheridan, etc etc. Was a cracking day, Ashley Ward borrowed my mate's boots!

 

Great post.

Glad you enjoyed your day dude. Like you said in another post, absolutely priceless. You're gonna be dreaming this day for yonks.

Most fans will never get the chance you've had today. And yes, Redders was / is an absolute legend.

 

great post mate, brilliant stuff

 

i have met redders once myself in leeds just by chance and he stood and chatted with me for 5 or 10 mins about how he loved the club and how he wanted to be manager (just after hart and been sacked). he is just a great guy, THE ultimate oakwell legend

 

Excellent post - glad you enjoyed your day.

 

sadly more on the pitch than in the crowd! well done to all who turned out tho, latest from tony who organised it they raised one thousand for air ambulance, well done again

 

BRF, thats a brilliant post, glad you enjoyed an experience most of us would

die for

 

can anyone play in this charity dont mean to cum across daft or owt but i would love to do summat like this although i aint played in ages n gettin on a bit (42) probs only last 5 mins but be well worth it