I'm upset, and I don't quite know how to articulate it.

But I'll have a go.

My favourite time bar none was watching the Clark team evolve into the Hunter team and spend most of my teens watching not only the best football at Oakwell but the very best of times. The French have a word - terroir - for everything that is good about wine; the soil, the grape, the temperature, the cellar; the culmination of all that makes the perfect wine. I'd like to think there was a similar word to describe the experience at Oakwell in the early 80's. For me it was Norman Hunter, 11 players and a sub, massive crowds, passionate crowds, the smell of bovril, pies and tobacco, the smell of chimney smoke walking towards the ground, the club shop, my beloved corner of the Ponty, the walk back to the bus station surrounded by good folk, honest folk, blokes in NCB jackets buzzing about what they had just seen on the pitch. There should be a word for it, maybe one day I'll invent one.
Fast forward a few years, after the Prem dream it went downhill. But a man called Patrick Cryne emerged from the darkness and rebuilt my - our - dream. I can clearly remember (but can't find) some message he wrote or emailed BEFORE he took over. I paraphrase, but he mentioned his dream of seeing essentially 11 players with an allegiance to the area, playing good honest football, trying to entertain a good local crowd without being ruined by money.
And I now realise that from 2015 to current times he pretty much gave us that. Going to Oakwell with my lad, especially THAT season, was as close as I got to both Patrick's dream and to my memories of those halcyon early 80's days. The drive to Barnsley, parking up and time with good folks in the Dove or in Redfearns followed by good honest football provided by a good honest manager was a renewed experience; something that I hope the lad remembers in the same way I had done.
I've no allegiance to the town, but have loved following them. Patrick and Hecky's era made me love football again. Proper honest football.
If he goes, I'll find it hard to wish him well. Especially to a club I grew up hating. Part of me doesn't blame him. He's trying to better himself, like I am constantly trying to do. But he's a fan, like me, or so I thought. I don't want it to end. Even without Patrick at the helm, I DO NOT WANT IT TO END.
Results aren't that good, performances have dipped. But the last three years have been as close to experiencing the 'terroir' I'll possibly ever know.

Scribbled in a sulk, apologies for any rambling or typos.

 

I feel you mate. I wasn't around in the 80s but the 2016 calendar year was the best I've ever seen us in my short time watching the reds, and now the manager that headed that appears to be off to a local rival.

However, who's to say that the good times won't return and we won't have players playing for and winning in the red shirt. James Cryne is still on the board and has the town's and clubs interests at heart. There's still an Oakwell. The new consortium do seem like they want to do their best for the club. It's the end of an era but that might not turn out to be a bad thing.

 

Blimey....that first paragraph.....are you me??!

 

Actually ALL of it, ffs....you are me! I’m popping round tonight to see if I live at your house.

 

'I don't quite know how to articulate it'.

If you ever find out, don't publish it on here, send it to HarperCollins and you'll end up winning a Pulitzer Prize.

 

He can't be you, on account of him being me. Spooky or what?

 

****, there’s 3 of me!!?

 

No wonder Hecky wants out.

 

I'd suggest the word you're looking for could be "tykesoir".

Agree with all of the above.We must have started watching the reds at about the same time, and yes I also thought those halcyon days were long gone. The double Wembley season was something really special, not least because I could see how much it meant to my son. Rightly or wrongly, a lot of us have been watching through Wembley-tinted glasses ever since, but all good things come to an end I suppose. All I can do now is wish Hecky the best of luck in the future and say thanks for the memories.

Onward and upwards... hopefully!

 

Four actually

 

Somebody needs to phone the British Medical Council. Barnsley black market embryos scandal.

 

Five. I am Spartacus. Beautiful words there.

 

Cloning.

 

Well articulated mate, I’m with you on all of that .

 

Well said. Difference these days is sadly the money that has ruined the game in terms of teams that don't reach the Promised Land of the Premier League. Big Mick played well over 200 games for us, before fairly reluctantly moving to pastures new. No chance of that kind of loyalty now, with the money about. I'd have given up on it, if it wasn't for seeing mates on match days & the social side of things (BBS included in that). I have a party to DJ on saturday night & I'm wondering if I can face going on Saturday.

 

Make that 6... we should have a family get together... anyone know who dad might be?