Like most lads at the time I were mad keen on footie and just prior to 66 World Cup mi big bro took mi to Oakwell and that was that. Hook, line and sinker.
Always loved football as a kid and I worshipped my grandad, who used to go to Oakwell. I pestered him to take me until eventually he did for my Easter present in 1977. We beat Workington 4-0 and I've never looked back. I've moved around the country through work and there must be dozens of people who remember me mainly for being a Reds fan. I suppose I was lucky, because I think the home game before my first game was the one where we lost 4-3 to Exeter, having been 3-0 up at half-time. As it was, the 4-0 win was indicative of the success we'd have during the first few years of me following the Reds (two promotions, Allan Clarke, Ronnie Glavin, Mick McCarthy, the League Cup run, etc), although if my first game would have been the Exeter one it would have been a more realistic example of what the next 36 years would be like! Most enjoyable times of being a Reds fan - 1978-1982, which were just fantastic. We expected to beat everyone and score lots of goals in the process. And the 90s after I moved to Brighton and London, as I met a great new bunch of mates in the London branch and we had fab times visiting all the southern away grounds and drinking ourselves into a sorry state.
Grandad took me back in 78. Start of a great era at BFC - remember walking up the steps in upper West stand and seeing the pitch for the first time - was hooked from that point onwards.
I live in Sale, just south of Old Trafford, Manchester. Barnsley FC were the nearest football team who weren't a bunch of cocks. (Apart from Altrincham, but they play 'footie in the park, jumpers for goalposts' stuff).
And so glad he did. It's my type of club. Would hate to support one of the traditionally bigger clubs, I love that we are always the underdog.
I think Hemsworth works. People are always pillocking him to get a job and he never says one way or the other, but he rarely posts in the day and never has really, apart from at weekends. I hope he's got a job, or he's on a course or summat. It's really tough for kids these days with so few opportunities about and I think it's really sad when they can't find something to do. They're not sad people, it's a sad situation.
In all seriousness I can't argue with any of that mate, my lad as been tiling for the last few years but he's struggling to find work now, he's been to the job centre and they put him down for warehouse operative or bar work.
My dad was an avid fan and took me to my first game in 1979, a league cup tie versus Lincoln City. I haven't lived in the Barnsley area since 1991 and I'd say that my pride in supporting them has increasingly grown over the years. I consider supporting them part of my identity; it explains to people where I'm from. Both my sons (now aged 7 and 4) have been born in Derby. They both go to training at Derby County once a week. Their school friends support Derby. They both love football and I've taken them to Oakwell a few times , but I think there's every chance that they'll support Derby. Fair enough, it's where they're from, but I hope they have Barnsley as their second team and don't rub it in too much when the Rams take three points of us . I haven't given up just yet though; I'm going to bring them both to the Wolves friendly in a couple of weeks time.
Because I'm from barnsley. Plus when were were skint as kids we could get in for nowt at half time when they opened the gates.