Patrick was a local man and as such many of us must have memories of him in earlier life. I would like to start the ball rolling with my memory of the great man. In the mid/late 60s Patrick lived in Wilson Street in Wombwell and I lived in the adjacent Wainwright Avenue. There was an old Chapel occupying a space in the area between the two streets and we used it two days a week as a youth club run by a man who I remember as Mr Knight who had two sons. Patrick and I attended with lots of the other young people (we would have been about 16/17 at the time). The memory I have is of a Sunday afternoon in Wombwell and that was pure hell for young people at that time, because they just about rolled up the streets on Sunday in those days. Burrows' garage at the time offered an escape route for people who wanted to break out by offering 'mystery trips' to a destination unknown on Sunday afternoons. They were designed for young families who wanted to take the kids out, but although Patrick and I were way too cool for that kind of thing, we decided on this particular day to give it a shot. We sat at the back and did what young lads did, making jokes and having a laugh. I remember that Patrick was a big fan of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and he did a pretty good impression of both of them. The trip took us to Matlock Bath and I remember him, in his best Peter Cook voice saying that it was the kind of place where the bus dropped you off and you were still in the same place when it came back to pick you up. He was joking, because we had a good time investigating the place and really enjoyed it. I always thought it was interesting that he chose to live in Derbyshire when he had the choice of where to live. I was as surprised as everyone else when Patrick emerged as the saviour of the club that we both loved and how successful he had become. The next time I saw him after he had taken over the club was in the boardroom on a match day where I had been invited by an away club director who I know. I remember him commenting something about me 'getting where water couldn't get'. I reminded him of that day and we had a laugh reminiscing. My memory of Patrick is of an unassuming, understated man with an outstanding low key sense of humour. I am deeply sorry at his passing and I think the world is a poorer place when people like him leave us. I was privileged to know him and I feel grateful and humble to have had that time.
A good number of years ago, without any warning, Patrick sent a VERY generous cheque to my wife for our daughter's charity. Of course, we sent him a letter offering our thanks, gratitude and appreciation. Fast forward a few years, I attended a Supporters' Trust meeting in Redfearn's Bar. Patrick was a guest speaker, along with Ben Mansford & Lee Johnson. At the interval, I thought it only right and proper to thank him in person and this was my first opportunity. I approached him and started to introduce myself. Patrick held his hand up and stopped me in my tracks. "You don't need to introduce yourself, I know exactly who you are". I was gobsmacked! I'd never met Patrick before, how could he possibly know who I was? Patrick started laughing, "You're Laura's Dad and you post on the BBS under the name of Just Like Watching Big Lil. How is Laura doing these days?". We passed a good ten minutes in extremely pleasant conversation and I managed to thank him for his generosity previously. He just passed it off by saying "It was my pleasure". Patrick was a true gentleman to myself and my family and I will be forever grateful for what he did for our club.
My memories always involve travel. First one was being in traffic at the side of his car the night we beat Huddersfield in the playoffs. I wasn't sure whether to wind down the window or wave or what, so did nothing. Then there was Wigan away when we had cemented our place in the playoffs, again sat in traffic. Last time was going to Derby away last season, and we were sat in my car scoffing a burger at the services. Partick and James came out chatting. He looked well and in good spirits. My regret is that we didn't stop him and have a chat that day, and my mate said exactly the same.
My memories of Patrick involve random conversations on Facebook. He used to message me from time to time just to have a chat about nothing in particular. He'd worked out I was JamDrop on here and gave me some advice when I was going through my dark time and making my decision to leave teaching which I am very grateful for. I enjoyed our conversations but always felt slightly nervous as I didn't really know how to speak to a successful business man and the club I love's owner. I regret that now and wish I'd have been more chatty and relaxed when conversing with him.
Are you sure you got your dates right. I think you you would have been more 15 ish if you were Pats age. I seem to recall he was 3 months older than than me. I lived over in Frederick Street and my Dad worked for Burrows until they sold the Leeds -Rawmarsh stage route to Yorkshire Traction which I'm sure was in 66. My Dad was then employed by Tracky until he died in 1970. I went to work for the Tracky in February 1968 having worked at Rodwells' Garage up Hough Lane. I remember the Burrows Mystery Tours and one going to Matlock Bath. We could have been on the same trip. Pat was just another Wombwell High School mate and never stood out but then neither did I. It was best to keep your head down at the hell hole of a school. After I left in 1966 I didn't hear anything of him until iSoft came on the scene. I have lived in Wainwright Avenue for about 43 years and use to see Pat parked up outside his Mothers bungalow at the top of Wilson Street after home matches.
I had the pleasure of a four ball golf beating his brother in laws who were man utd fans in Portugal . My son used to play football with James so when Patrick overheard i was in Portugal for 2 weeks he invited us and my 2 boys to spend time with him and his family at his villa. My surprise was when we were on sky playing Luton town i think he invited us over to watch the game at his villa , we won i think 3 1 and always remember him on the rug in front of the tele just like me a true fan down to the core. Both Jean and Patrick were great hosts and i feel humble to have had the pleasure of their company along with my family. I never got to say farewell, i spoke with James outside the ground and regret not getting to the supporters trust meeting. Life is short and far too much we let things get in the way of our family life, which i think Patrick pointed out in his poignant programme notes. I know this Saturday is going to be an emotional day ,and a sad day that we have lost another legend as we did with Rimmo. I do hope we can fill the ground like we did at Wembley 3 times to say farewell to a true Barnsley Legend and fan . "He truly was one of our own" RIP Patrick .
No, I’m not sure about specific dates. I’m 68 and the announcement said that Patrick was 66, so I am older than he was. I think that they did trips every year to various places and I’m sure that Matlock Bath was on the itinerary every year. 1966 sounds about right for me though, I’d have been 17 and he approaching 16. I always thought he was a year below me a Wombwell High and I hated it as well by the way. I’m pretty sure you would know me.
I met Patrick a fair few times over the years, Supporters' Trust meetings with the club, fan engagement forums, occasionally swapping emails or phone calls. I even went to meet him to discuss the technology underpinning the recruitment computer model that he and James were building which was an interesting insight. Apart from being the saviour of our football club, I will always remember his love, passion and dedication for Barnsley FC and the town, his love of the history of the club, of Preedy, Bartrop and more recently Connor A quiet, unassuming man with a fantastic intellect and a really great, dry, often self-deprecating sense of humour. It was always evident that the continued existence of Barnsley FC was his number 1 priority (apart from his family). I remember thinking at one of the fan engagement forums, as he was midway through was of one of his eloquent replies, is there a more committed and dedicated Barnsley fan? Another thing that surprised me about him was when he explained that he loved reading the BBS, even with all the stick, deservedly or otherwise, he and the club got from certain quarters. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the last Supporters' Trust meeting he attended as I was out of the country which I am deeply disappointed about. I will be there on Saturday though to pay my respects. The other times I heard him talk with great pride and love was whenever the subject turned to his son James. I've never met him but if he's anything like how Patrick described him, or indeed anything like Patrick himself, then its great that he's on the board of the club. My thoughts are with him and Jean in this difficult time.
I met Patrick in the Directors lounge at half time, the last home game of 14/15 v Rochdale. We scored 5 in the 2nd half. Matt Goodwin kindly arranged for me to present Patrick my painting of Old Oakwell, all beautifully framed in oak. Some of you lads and lasses have a print of it, PC has the original. We had a nice 5 minutes chatting, though Mansford was hovering sycophantically, just in case I said something untoward. Git. We shared a few memories, where we stood in the West Stand etc. Both agreeing that when it is replaced the West should just be a modern enlarged version of what it is now. He was genuinely chuffed with the painting and very complimentary. Saying it covered his two big passions, painting and Barnsley Football Club. On the back of the frame I had written, 'To one of us, from all of us...'
Great memories mate, l grew up on John Street and my dad told me he grew up just round the corner on Wilson St. I believe his mum remained there, my dad was later an employee of Mr Cryne for over 10 years. So cheers Pat.
My personal interaction with Patrick was on the whole via Facebook. I imagine many of you on here are ‘friends’ with him on Facebook. If you are you’d have probably noticed that 99% of people on there would simply agree with whatever he had to say. Now my first private message to him would be one he’d have got off many others. It was during the horrific spell under Lee Johnson. I thanked him for all he’d done at the club and explained the majority of fans are behind him ect. He thanked me and that was that. The next one I asked him about the new recruitment system. I never expected a reply however a few hours later he popped up. Giving me a detailed explanation of how it worked. In brief he explained to me that using a carefully designed statistical analysis model the club were now tracking every player in every division down to the Evostick and including the Premier League u21s. He followed up by saying no one had ever watched Josh Scowen play. Not even a video. He was recruited directly by statistical analysis with Danny Wilson giving the final approval. As you can imagine I was amazed he’d taken the time to reply. Like Jamdrop explains you do feel a sense nervousness despite only chatting via social media. After all it was very rare you would hear from Patrick at all, never mind speaking to him personally via your Facebook account. As time went on me and Patrick began to speak more and more. I began to relax and speak freely. It was almost like talking to a mate. However always BFC related. Going back to what I said earlier regarding many simply agreeing with what he had to say. I would not do this, where debate and opinion came into I would challenge him. He seemed to respect this and it wasn’t long before he was asking me my opinion about various things. Now this is where things got really interesting for myself. One day he popped up asking for a contact number. He said he’d mentioned our conversations to LJ and they’d like me to come in and have a chat. I won’t go into the details but the experience was something I will not forget. Me and Patrick would carry on talking fairly regular from this point. A few times things became very heated. There’s a funny story about Alfie Mawson. Patrick was adamant we would never get more than £4 million for Alfie. I disagreed massively. We argued and argued of the reasons why. He told me it was the worst logic he’d ever heard. When he was eventually sold for over £5 million plus the sell on he joked he’d remembered our discussion and asked for more. I always said I should get part of his sell on for that. Now the next bit gives a small insight into where previous bits of information may have come from. As well as statements I make where some would think I’m simply just making it up. As we all know Patrick was a very intelligent bloke. He knew I was Redarmychris. I reckon he knew who most of us on here were. He was an avid follower of the BBS despite his frustrations with it. He would give me snippets of transfer info knowing full well they’d end up on here. Now I can’t say 100% on this, but I do believe that to some extent he was using me for the benefit of the club to test the waters with fans. To some extent I was using him too, it was great to have information I would never previously have known. I am not ashamed to say I would ask him about transfers ect. After all, if you don’t ask you don’t get. Unfortunately and understandably, when Patrick became ill the conversations stopped. I messaged him a handful of times to wish him well but would not hear back again. Aside from what he’s done for our club I will always be grateful that he took the time to get to know me. I would never say he knew me as a person but he certainly knew me as a fan. He made me feel so much closer to the club I love. Tomorrow will be an emotional day for us all. I have no doubt those in attendance will give him the send off he deserves. Whatever happens tomorrow it will be about Patrick. Come on you Reds.
Thanks for sharing these, I regret that I can’t add anything as I never had the pleasure of meeting Patrick but the appreciation & respect I felt for him has now been met with admiration. Hope we can surprise a few today - breaking a run of nearly 18yrs without a win at home against Fulham would be a fitting send off. COYR.
I don't remember Angela Rodwell but I was at John Street School too from around 1957-8 to 62. At Rodwell's Keith Rodwell was called Mr Keith, Jack who was the owner was a horrible bloke and was called Mr Jack and the old grumpy old foreman Reg Backhouse was always called Mr Backhouse. I hated the place.
I thought that Patrick lived in Yvonne Grove which was off Wilson St. lived in Rose Grove. Patrick was in the year above me at Highfields so,he would have gone up to Wombwell High in 1962. I went to Wath in 63 so I did not know him at secondary school. My relative Alan Pettinger ( no longer with us).remembers Patrick at Wombwell High. He recalls Patrick wore a duffle coat to school. Again he disappeared from the radar until saving BFC. My mother's last home (now in care) was in Turner Ave just round the corner from Patrick's mother's bungalow.