For those of you who might be wondering why I haven’t been doing the commentary on iFollow this season, here are the reasons… I’ve was asked not to attend games by the club after the opening game against Mansfield. On that evening, I was frustrated due to the technical issues we were having and let my mental health get the better of me by being rude towards another member of staff, for which I’m extremely ashamed. I have been suspended since then, and the club have now decided that they no longer wish to use me as their main commentator and cancelled my media accreditation in September. Despite being bitterly disappointed, I accept their decision as I only have myself to blame for my conduct that evening. I do feel harshly treated, as this was a one-off incident in 28 years of broadcasting at Oakwell and, having offered my apologies to anyone offended I thought I may have been warned about my future conduct and allowed to continue in my role, but unfortunately that isn’t to be the case. More significantly, there is also a finance issue relayed to the loss of my job - as iFollow subscriptions and match pass uptakes have been significantly impacted by the new tv deal according to BFC. This is the main reason I’ve been asked to step down. I hold no animosity towards the club, and to be fair, the CEO has been trying to help me with the impact of losing the club commentary I’ve done with pride for so long. He has told me there may be a chance of a return to the role if things change for the better financially. I don’t expect pity or sympathy; I’ve had a good run and made some great memories in the commentary box; it all had to end at some point. I hope iFollow Barnsley subscribers enjoy future broadcasts and that the team are successful. Best regards, and thanks for your support.
You’d think after 28 years and as THE voice of Barnsley FC a better outcome could have been achieved on this. Sad news.
Sorry about the out come as Matt as been very good over the year. Hope thing work out well for you mate.
Have we knocked Ifollow on the head? It seems about as reliable as my VI mates matchday commentary at oakwell
No surprise really. This is the unseen impact of illegal streaming and copyright theft. Right here. Yeah loads do it, and with the cost of living it’s no surprise, but this is a direct impact of it.
I'm on iFollow this afternoon and it's perfect in sound and video. The commentator is doing ok as well but I'm sorry to hear that Matt has been dismissed from that job.
Matt is a legend for me. The lack of professionalism from the club on comms is a thing that still exists to this day. It is not getting any better on any level, in fact it has gone back about 10 years, since Whitey left. I'd be the first to petition the club to reconsider this. If the owners claim to be on the side of the fans, listen. Simple message. I'm happy to speak to any one of them. Can message email address & phone number. As I work as a DJ / agent / media consultant, they will probably ignore me, despite being a life long Barnsley fan.
I'm a mild mannered ape but I'd be firing with both barrels after the initial iFollow output. He can feel very hard done by in my opinion.
Only listened to the iFollow commentary once this season and it was truly awful. I hope the club will reconsider, otherwise they've lost my money.
Same here, I’m absolutely gutted about this. I’ve been listening for all of those 28 years and at 36 that’s pretty much all my memorable life. Matt IS Barnsley to me. That’s what a match day sounds like. Even on home days where I’m not listening as I’m there, I watch them back on iFollow and hear his commentary then. I can’t imagine he’s on that handsome of a wage and after 28 years you think they’d value his services more than saving a few quid.