The sad thing for me is

It just doesn't feel like the same Barnsley FC that my dad took me to see for the first time 40 odd years ago or that when he was in a bad way medically I had the immense pleasure of calling him and telling him that little Clint had scored and we were destined for the Premier league or taking him just before he died to see our beloved team at Wembley he'd had the chance to go before but always said no the first time would have to be to see the reds or he'd not go. But that's all gone, I just see a failing echo of a once proud little club from Northern mining town whose tag of Battling Barnsley is long forgotten and has been replaced with an insipid empty shell of a club with players who don't really care a manager just waiting for his compo cheque and senior management who just haven't got a clue how to run a Football club or connect with and understand its fan base.
I WANT MY BARNSLEY FC BACK NOW

 

As a lad born and brought up in Donny I had no natural affinity to Barnsley. Football club or town.

My dad, no longer with us, was originally from Consett, County Durham, moving to Donny as a young kid so his dad could keep his pit job, he transferred to brodsworth pit. All his family were and are Newcastle fans, apart from my dad, who bizarrely was a Liverpool supporter.

Up until I was in my teens, so was I. He took me to the odd game, Wembley for a charity shield, anfield a couple of times. It was great and all that but all a tad grand.

My mother remarried a bloke from Wakefield, who's dad was originally from Barnsley and used to steward. He was a season ticket holder and started bringing me to a few games when I was eleven. It was different to Liverpool. It was a bit smaller scale, little old Barnsley, trundling in division two, managed by Danny Wilson who id seen on sky for Wednesday a couple of years back, with players like Darren Sheridan and Neil redfearn. You don't get many folk like stumpy turning out for Liverpool.

I fell in love with the club, there was only a certain amount of bribery of buying me various Liverpool kits that would prevent the inevitable day where I went from 'supporting Liverpool but following Barnsley too', to being a fully adopted red. I'd be just about fifteen at this point. Ashley ward had not long won us a game at anfield, I'd celebrated that but still didn't click on. A certain referee and a certain game nailed home my allegiance.

So it went on. Mum and the step dad didn't stay together. I went to Wembley in 2000 at seventeen on a coach, not really knowing anybody. I still don't know that many fans to this day as I'm not 'from tarn'.

I got a season ticket as soon as I could afford one. I'd come back from uni early (never went back), mainly as my dad was ill and I'd become next of kin when I turned eighteen, so I got a job.

I was nineteen when i was in a position to buy a st. It was the first season in what's now league one, initially under Steve Parkin. All through administration, I bought one of those bloody stupid true red bonds, still got the certificate signed by Gordon shepherd. I think there's still a white seat in the east stand with my name on too.

I was in Cardiff when we beat Swansea, at Wembley when we lost to Cardiff. I remember the excitement and relief when Isaiah rankin popped up against Brentford.

I had to give the st up quite a few years ago due to work, I had to work evenings and the occasional Saturday. I still work nights, no Saturday's, but I could never get to a midweek game so a st would make no sense. I get to pretty much all the home Saturday games and go away here and there.

I've started bringing my oldest. New generation. He loves it.

I won't be back at oakwell whilst this continues though. If mr cryne is too stubborn to admit his error, that LJ is no good, his method of running the club is no good and the buying only kids with no experience policy is no good, then he's getting no more of my hard earned and I'm not subjecting my little lad to it. He's turned eight now but he still doesn't like nightmares.

The beautiful little club that only had one stand open when I first went, the club that took my heart and made me switch allegiance from the club my dad had taken me to, the club I'd seen promoted to the top flight, in the ora stand as was with the ex step dad, looking in wonder at the age of 14 at hundreds of grown men crying buckets after clint scored. The club I supported through administration, genuinely distraught when I thought we were going to fold. The club at which I renewed my season ticket when Sean Lewis took over. I met him in the box office. Nice fella, he'd gone the following week. Throughout Peter Doyle gas and oil, to Patrick cryne. A man who's feet I'd once have gladly kissed. Ups and downs, battling Barnsley.

The rot started setting in last season. I never really wanted Wilson to come back. I actually thought it was right he went. If only I knew how hampered he (and flicker, hill, more) was, I may not have done. LJ has limited power, I get that. It should be limited completely and imminently.

Unfortunately I'm beginning to care less and less. I am more upset that I'm not bothered anymore than I am upset at the state of the club. The Barnsley football club that drew me in is dead. Can you imagine anyone changing their allegiance in a manner like me now? They'd have to be a masochist.

I'll continue to follow from afar and post from here. I'm not on permanent hiatus either. But whilst this club is still being managed by Lee Johnson, and if it is still run in the same way with the next manager even, I won't be returning. Every game I miss makes the next one easier to miss. It might be that by the time the rot stops I've lost interest altogether.

There was a time when the biggest thing in my life was this football club. My number one priority. Wife and kids came along and naturally took over those mantles. Other things too, unwell grandparents and so on.

Unfortunately I'm now at the point where I'm reluctant to defer a big shop at asda just to listen to a game on player.

It is the most depressing time to be a Barnsley fan I've experienced. Administration and this division wasn't as bad last time, at least we had the togetherness as fans, the sense the community wanted to help and that. Now the feeling is that the club isn't arsed, the town is t arsed and a lot of the fans aren't arsed anymore either.

I don't see it turning round anytime soon. As I write this I realise how much I still do care, because I'm pretty choked up thinking about it.

 

The club needs your support thru bad times and good.....you've done it before .....do it again

 

Very good read that Troff.

 

The problem is that supporting the club is exceptionally hard when you don't agree with anything that is being done by it, from top to bottom.

I'm not somebody who walks away when it gets tough, it's just difficult to care when those at the very top seem not to.

I wouldnt post on here if I had no interest I suppose.

 

I think that sums up a lot of peoples thoughts. We need an experienced manager that is allowed to manage and recruit players as he sees fit and I think things would improve almost instantly. Whats Holloway doing these days ?

 

It isn't the same Barnsley under Patrick cryne that's why

 

Absolutely 100% with you on that.

 

I'll sound like a broken record but the club's lost its soul.

In losing players like Hassell, Steele, Foster, O'Brien & then Wilson we've got rid of everyone the fans felt a connection to.

We've just become an attempt at a production factory for bigger clubs.