The Joys of being a Barnsley Fan

In the current climate at BFC, with only one win so far, the pervading 'doom & gloom' and frustration is understandable. I saw my first game in 1955 age 7, we beat Liverpool. I played for the 'Colts' at 16 before we had an Academy and worked for the Club after I retired from a proper job. Supporting your home town club is in your blood, it's part of the fabric of your life just like your family. Despite the depression and frustration of our current predicament I would not abandon my allegiance to BFC or swop places with any other football supporter. I would not be as happy with my team as I am now than if I was in Liverpool, Manchester or Madrid. When your life support machine 'flat lines' you're dead, continued success is a 'flat line'. Life is so much richer when it has ups and downs. When you've had your lows you appreciate the highs so much more. I would not wish to change anything of the past decades of supporting my team, not for a 'gold pig' and a pension. Owners will come and go, just like players, managers and coaches. The only constants are the Club and its' supporters and when we're gone we'll be replaced by our kids and grandkids (like mine). So my message is enjoy supporting your team despite the depression in the assured knowledge it will get better before it gets worse again.

 

Well said. Once you have nailed your colours to a particular team's mast they are difficult to remove. It is disappointing to go through such a barren run. Things will change. it is unlikely that we can stay up from our current position so I suspect we may see our better players leave either in January or in the summer. However, I suspect that with a bit more maturity in our current squad next season, there is no reason for us not to be challenging for promotion from league 1 next season.

I think that , given the make up of the English league and the money spent in the championship, we are destined to be a yo-yo club for a while. As GK said owners and players come and go. I remember the tail-end of the Joe Richards era, now that was a low ebb.

 

League 1 is littered with clubs who failed to get promotion immediately and have since struggled. There are 8 former PL (or old Div 1) teams and another 8 that have been in the Championship (even if fleeting). If we look at the Championship as it stands, all of the teams above us who are likely involved in the relegation mix are former PL sides (apart from Luton).

Getting out of League 1 is by no means a certainty and we'd inevitably lose our out of contract players (the ones who are most experienced!) and our better performers.

What would likely be left is a bunch of young players with little or no experience of league 1 who've been battered week in week out with the better elements stripped out.

This squad at present, though in parts technically better, doesn't have the ability to mix it and take the rough and tumble you get in league 1. My current expectation would be a lengthy spell in league 1.

 

Well said GK.

Having said that, I'd change around your last sentence. I think it is more likely to get much worse before it gets better again. And I agree with DannyWilsonLovechild that I don't believe this squad will come straight back up. I think a stay in Div 1 is more likely. As is making a loss on many of the incomings from our best transfer window ever......