I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate about me being refused entry to the academy game on Saturday morning. There have been many very sensible contributions that have helped me put things into the wider context of other actions that the club has taken starting from the suspension of 1575 coverage, through the banning of those who used to attend training and suspension of the public reserve team fixtures. As a result of your comments I now see their actions on Saturday morning as part of a co-ordinated attempt to manage news coming out of the club and where possible obtaining payment for early access to such news. I would paticularly like to thank DJ Fatty Boy who once again proved that one of his pictures can say more than I could in 1000 words. I would also like to thank oldschooltyke. His descenting voice made me go back to review what I wrote about the Portsmouth game to check if there was anything that I would be unhappy if it was said about a 16 year old son of mine. Whilst I have been critical of the academy management in the past, and with their record it would be hard not to be, my intention has always been to go easy with the boys. At least to my eyes, my report of the Portsmouth game followed this principle. Perhaps anyone who thinks otherwise could point out the relevent sentences. I first attended a game at Oakwell as a six year old in 1957. I have been a committed fan, missing only a handful of home games, since 1966. I have been a season ticket holder for many years. I had also been watching the academy for many years before I took it upon myself to start writing reports. I did so because I felt that there was a gap in the coverage offered by both the club and the Chronicle. I considered that that gap was responsible for the critisism of the work of the academy on grounds of cost. Regular readers will know that whilst I criticise the management of the academy, I have always been a supporter and have advocated it in preference to a centre of excellence. Nevertheless, as was pointed out by one my supporters, I was not warned about my reports and I am not trusted to attend academy games, presumably because of the fear that I will continue to report on them. I am not a person who seeks to be the centre of attention. It was the fact that postings to this board allow posters to retain their anonymity behind a nom de plume that encouraged me to start my reports, but I find that I am the centre of attention, something that I do not want. As I said in my original posting, I do not want any fuss. Therefore, my academy match reports WILL NOT restart even if the club was to relent. I will not go where I am not welcome, nor will I do something that the club considers harmful. I will continue to support the club as a season ticket holder and the odds are that the person responsible for this decision will be gone before I am.
well... i hope that you are not too disappointed..... or even disillusioned. you've done nothing out of line..
Don't let it get you down I've been feeling disenchanted with the club for a number of seasons now culminating in the non-renewal of a season ticket dating back to 1984, in fact my most anticipated fixture of the year is tonight when a bunch of forty-somethings run out at the Yorkshire masters. These were players that I grew up with and have shared some of my proudest moments with. I feel no association with the current football club at any level other than that they are still the first result that I look for ("My blood" is somewhat true) The official site/Barnsley One/AFC Barnsley/Academy/Supporters Club only hush-hush meetings conspiracies will go on until the "Alistair Campbell" at the club gets the boot or all the floating voters have been alienated leaving us with 4 figures support at Oakwell. I'm hoping it's the former.
My pleasure, I'm surprised I've bit been banned as we know how sensitive they are, I actually wish I'd been banned 3 years ago for 3 years.
Red Rain, i have enjoyed your match reports ever since i started coming on here. The reports were always honest, unbiased and well written. The fact that they were honest and unbiased is what probably caused them to take this draconian action. Keep your chin up old pal, without us the club is nothing and they must be wary of this. Banning such a popular poster as yourself is a massive own goal in my opinion. Just enjoy the football and this lot will son blow over.
Its a bit hand bags this lot int it ??? .................didn't read the long thread..............too long, cant be bothered BUT FFS..........if the club is being an arse.............then be an arse back But don't let them stop you doing what you want to do Remember..........the club is yours as much as anyone elses They tried to ban the Taleban group..........all what this group did was move position
Well at least one side of this pathetic affair has come out with dignity.</p> The club is clearly the loser in all this; its PR for many years now has been pathetic and the goodwill of the fans will snap eventually. Then when they're down to 4 figure support, it'll be "who'd a thought it?" </p>
I often read your reports, and enjoyed doing so. It's a shame you won't be continuing to write them, but I fully understand why. I have to say that the 'community' dimension of this club seems to be non-existent. They really do need to try a little harder at building bridges with the towns people rather than slapping them in the face then asking for money.
i dont claim to be an avid reader of your reports, id say like a fair few of fans im only really bothered about the 1st team. however its astounding that you've been treated this way. the only way to provoke a response (for me) from the club would be to boycott barnsley world, now i wouldn't expect the fans far away to join in, as thats the only way to keep in touch, but id reckon a few cancellations and make sure they know why within 48 hours would make them think.
