I’m still, for now, a season ticket holder. I’ve always missed the odd game generally speaking; I’m a dad and husband first so that comes first. I’ve sometimes had to work. I can think of one occasion I’ve previously missed two home games in a row. But I’m facing missing three in a row. In fact I will certainly miss three in a row. I didn’t come to Cambridge, I didn’t go tonight, and I won’t be at the Bolton game on 12th April as I’ve promised to take my older daughter out for the day with my wife. (It’s her 14th birthday this Saturday but unfortunately it’s grand national day so my bookie Mrs absolutely can’t have the day off). As it stands that leaves Peterborough and Shrewsbury, Monday and Saturday back to back. I’m not convinced I’ll come to both or even either of those. It might well be four or five in a row. And I’m not renewing this year. It’s sad. It really is. The saddest bit is that at the moment I’m barely bothered. I had the game on tv tonight, I watched it - but I was hardly gripped and invested. My passion for it has died. And that makes me really upset to be honest. And it isn’t because the team is crap - I’ve passionately and vociferously got behind teams with Paul Gibbs or Craig Ireland in them. Teams technical ability wise much worse than this. Supported through financial hardship much worse than this. But we were a club. Fighting as one. I’ve never, ever felt so cast aside from the club and separate from it all as I do now. Barnsley Football Club isn’t the club I fell for as a kid despite having never lived there nor having a familial link to the town. Battling Barnsley, fighting against the odds, often falling short, often a bit crap, but you knew what you were getting behind. You knew what the game was. What are we backing now? What is left? Disillusionment and disinterest leads to apathy. These things lead to empty stands, they lead to relegation, they lead to liquidation. It honestly feels like the club is on a slow walk to oblivion, that there’s not a thing that will be done about it as nobody with any say is prepared to listen (or at least doesn’t care what we say),and as sad as that is, I can no longer be complicit in it. Me withdrawing my minimal financial and vocal support won’t help the club I know. But I won’t be held to account for what comes next, nor will I feel guilt or regret for my decision. I have been attending games for over thirty years. Many of those years as a season ticket holder. I’ve passed the club to the next generation, my son and younger daughter are also ST holders. There was a time my biggest and only passion was the club, and was my only hobby and financial commitment. I grew up and had kids and that altered a bit - but there was still nobody more committed and passionate. But you killed it Barnsley Football Club. I only hope there aren’t as many people feeling exactly the same as I suspect there are.
Sorry to read that. I am going to renew but I’ve lost all the enjoyment. If it wasn’t for the people I went with I wouldn’t renew. I didn’t jump up today when we scored. I’m sure it’s happened when we’ve scored a consolation goal in a hammering but today I didn’t jump off my chair to celebrate an equaliser. I can’t remember that happening before. I didn’t even react angrily to De Gevigney losing the ball & Exeter winning it at the end. I don’t know if it’s because of how much of a **** show our club is or because it’s the first season in what feels like forever where we having nothing to play for or a combination of the two. It’s just all a bit weird.
Sad to read mate, but it sums up the apathy that I feel now and others I speak to also feel. Like you, I grew up (finally) and had kids, long term partner, house, busy job etc and started going less and less. But I was going to a few games a season still. Haven't been to any this season, watched a few on the Sky app thing, but haven't bothered for a few weeks with those either now. Very similar feelings to you - it's the fact that we don't have an identity any more, what do we stand for? Very few players seem to care. What's the point of going? Sad thing is that my son isn't going any more when he's here because I'm not going, he's more interested in other teams now, partly as a result of not going to Oakwell much/for ages. So that's a likely future fan fallen by the wayside too. Can only see it getting much worse before better too. Only way up is a takeover and there's probably a 90% chance that the new owners, whoever they may be, would be even worse judging by many others around the country. By worse I mean cause worse financial problems and more. I'm glad that my life is busy enough and I have other interests, other sports etc to spend my time on so that it doesn't affect me that badly. I know for some the football is a huge part of their life, it used to be for me. I feel for all of you in that boat.
I think the word you're after mate is apathy. That's what many of us are feeling. Yes I'd prefer we win, but am I that bothered? Not really. I'll be more bothered when we're in the bottom 4 next season as we've never been in the 4th tier in my lifetime, and I think it's on the cards unless something drastic changes.
I feel the same mate, haven't been since Blackpool said I was done after that, didn't even watch Cambridge match, seriously can't be bothered with it at the minute, it's like watching a frail old person no longer able to do anything for themselves, heartbreaking. It's not working, whatever it is we're supposed to be or trying to achieve. When Neerav took over he said judge us by our actions and he recognised the disconnect with the fans, spoke of prioritising things on the pitch as this hadn't always been the case. We appointed Duff he galvanised us, we looked like we knew how to win football games, we looked like we had a purpose to what we were about. The disconnect now feels worse than the summer of 2022, it's a shambles in all seriousness. The annoying and worrying thing is, it's fixable with sensible recruitment and a good head coach left to get on with moulding a team and playing how he wants, but stubbornly we won't change because we think following the modern day plan whilst losing millions every year is the right way, yet results suggest otherwise and our recruitment suggests we're nowhere near. It will get worse unless someone upstairs pushes the big red reset button and applies a sensible back to basics approach, we're not asking for silly money signings just football people being appointed and left to get job done, not data analysts.
And yet people still keep sticking up for them, and saying they are brilliant, because they put money in to keep us going (which is surely their job to do, as owners, isn't it ?). And to do what ehh, to just keep up in Lg One, and stay ahead of Lg Two.
I’m in the same boat. for me this what the club need to do - appoint a manager who signs the players and plays the system / tactics they want to. If they leave with the black book of contacts so be it go back to scouting players by actually watching them - get someone such as Danny Wilson / Mick McCarthy to go out and watch them if still hell bent on using data Somehow improve the match day experience so that the football is secondary!
A sad read but I agree with most of it. Even now though BFC is still a big part of my life and I’ll still renew. There’s a social side to it too. I really fear for the future though. Season ticket sales will drop through the floor so recruitment might get even worse….if that’s possible. It feels like the club is sinking and dying.
We gave our STs up a few years ago with the same level of disillusionment. Not just the playing side as we just had that great run nearby the top of the table. However the writing was on the wall that it wasnt enjoyable and would get worse. As a club, team it has. I was deep down hoping the emotion along with the club becoming more attractive, fun, engaging and successful would tempt me back. It hasn't and now i have replaced the Saturday habit with many other things. Once the habit is broken its hard to go back. Its the hope that kills you.
Point us in the direction of anyone 'sticking up for them' Some have correctly pointed out, as has Neerav, that they have put money in rather than take it out. I think we all agree it's s.hite
The sooner more people stay away the better. Voting with feet will be the only way to reclaim our club back. It’s going to be a long road, but eventually we’ll get there.
The apathy of our loyal fans is only reflection of the apathy on the pitch, watching that lad Watts run around bullying everyone was like when you're playing footy in the park as kids and a bigger kid comes and "joins in" by pushing everyone around - pathetic really. This is the most passive Barnsley team I've ever seen, no fight no aggression no passion, if you're going to be a bit **** then at least be a bit physically competitive.
Nobody has. People have said that they're appreciative for them to keep pumping money in - but have also criticised them for running the club that badly that they need to do that. He's just made it up.
I'll probably renew - not sure whether Dad will as his health isnt what it was and he struggles to get up the steps to the West Upper these days and wont go in the West Lower as its not covered. He might have more enthusiasm if there was something to get behind. Signings have gone down hill since James Cryne was sidelined at least he got some right whoever is manning the spreadsheet these days isnt doing very well We keep persevering with an unbalanced squad but dont adapt the system to the players we have. We need to get the next manager right but I dont have any confidence we will, and even if we do we cant handcuff him by forcing him to play a system for which we dont have the players
I've supported BFC since 1968. This season is the first that I have felt so depressed about the club and its future. I look back to the past glories, promotions from the 4th, 3rd and 2nd divisions, cup games against Man U, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, many many other great occasions in a packed Oakwell. Trips to Wembley, near misses at Wembley, local games at Donny, Rotherham, Sheff Weds and Utd where we've taken thousands of fans to pack out the away ends. Just think of the money we've all spent down the years, and with good fortune we'd do it again. And then there was the last 3 games. A lucky last minute equaliser, a **** up at Wigan and a **** up last night. So many empty seats last night reflects the malaise of thousands. It looked depressing from my tv. Now I probably won't even bother to watch it on my tv stick. So, so sad.
Absolutely echo your sentiments , I’ve been watching Barnsley over 50 years and been a season ticket holder for the last 40 years but I’m not renewing next year mainly for all the same reasons you’ve stated plus I’m becoming a grandad in August and their really is more to life than watching turgid football. I will always be a Barnsley fan and no doubt still get nervous on a Saturday I’ll probably even go to the odd game and really hope we smash it next season but for me it’s time to move on.
I don’t think people are saying they’re brilliant at all. Indeed, many are saying they are making a complete shambles of it. What I, and others are saying is they are not ‘robbing ********’ and bleeding money from the club. It’s not the criticisms most of them are richly deserved, it’s the not sticking to the facts.
Well I've been trudging darn Oakwell Lane since 1961 (and it ain't getting any easier) but even I've been having second thoughts about renewing. Match after match its feeling more like a chore than a pleasure, summat I do because I've allus done it. When Tarn are away my lad and I potter around the local clubs, Brig, Rec, Wombwell and Penny Church - and we actually enjoy ourselves in the process. Just this last weekend I spent most of the second half of Wombwell Town's match in conversation with Ronnie Glavin, not only a legend and a hero of mine but also a truly lovely gentleman. I digress. This morning I received a bill for car repairs for £375 and my first thought was "there goes the season ticket." Now I may still change my mind, but a hell of a lot will have to happen before I do. It certainly ain't gonna happen before the new Head Coach is appointed, and in an ideal world that appointment would be made by a new DoF.