Interesting article on lad who would be fourth generation of his family to be pro-footballer, anyone remember his dad? Or even his grandad who actually played for the reds in the 1960s? https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/...sign-for-a-professional-football-club-3640757
I remember his Grandad George. A popular player. There was an article in the Chronicle a few weeks/months back. Pointing out the connections. Don't remember if someone posted on here at the time.
Yup, I remember his Granddad very well. He once scored a truly stunning goal at the Ponty End, the second goal in a 2-0 victory over Halifax Town during the 1969/70 season.
I remember George very well. A good player and a good professional. When he retired from football I recall that he worked in the Council offices in Wombwell.
I remember George Boardman scoring at Notts County. He seemed to find his scoring boots at Easter time.
I remember George Boardman very well , he was a stylish player with a thunderous shot , He also had that knack of looking the same at the end of the game as when it started , not a hair out of place ! lol
It's a long time ago(!) and my memory may be failing but I seem to remember that he often removed his tie-ups in the latter stages of the game, leaving them on the pitch. After one game (and I think it may have been this one Kev) my brother and I left the Brewery Stand and raced onto the pitch to grab it. It was just a damp and dirty piece of bandage but it was a treasured possession for a long time!
George was an elegant player who was a regular in the number 8 shirt. Great to see his grandson coming through. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if we signed Ollie Banks in the summer and then saw Dyer Jnr, Hassell Jnr and Boardman Jnr coming through the ranks in time! Maybe even Cole Jnr might show us something in the league below?
That particular game made all the national newspapers prior to the match. The Halifax manager, Alan Ball Snr., had upset the Barnsley fans earlier in the season (a 1-0 home defeat to Halifax in the League Cup). He continually ran up and down the touchline, kicking the ball away when Barnsley were awarded a throw in. It infuriated the home fans, as the referee let him get away it with and said nothing. Some berk then sent Ball a letter threatening to kill him if he turned up at Oakwell again! A much subdued Ball did turn up, but there was no repeat of the League Cup shenanigans.
My memory is that grandad had enviable hair - in fact I’m sure his hair was in the first Reds team I remember.
Ball Snr was as obnoxious as they come and I remember that Halifax game as well. I suppose it’s a measure of how small our crowds were then that no one hopped over the wall and attacked him. It was possibly the worst behaviour I’ve ever seen in a manager.