Last week, Barnsley Player commentator Matt Bailey revealed via his twitter feed that he'd been relieved of his duties after the best part of 20 years in the job, be it on the Player service as it is now, or the Oakwell 1575am radio station. I think it's fair to say he was 'the' voice of the reds, and I can also call him my friend. And so I've had a chat with him today regards his sudden departure from Oakwell and here's what was said....
AW: So mate, after nearly two decades of broadcasting on behalf of the club you've been given the boot. Why?
MB: The official reasoning given to us was budget related - we were told it was purely and simply a cost cutting exercise, which we accepted until the club refused our offer to continue as volunteers. I thought this was strange and I refuse to accept that excuse now, I think there must be another agenda.
AW: I see Adam (Brammer - co-commentator) hasn't gone down the same route as yourself, he's barely said a word on the matter, why's that?
MB: I'm not sure. I know he's not happy with the situation, but maybe he'd rather save his energy for battles he's capable of winning? You'd have to ask him that question yourself. It'd be unfair of me to comment from Adam's perspective without his permission. I feel very aggrieved and that's why I've decided to "Go public."
AW: I take it there have been other staff laid off this summer at the club?
MB: As far as I'm aware there have been other part-time and temporary staff cutbacks, yes, but I'm not sure as to the extent of those measures, I can only speak from a Barnsley Player commentary point of view.
AW: Can you explain to us the new direction the club are going in regards commentary for our Player subscribers?
MB: Adam Brammer and myself have been relieved of our commentary duties and BBC Radio Sheffield will be providing the broadcasts from the beginning of the new season. I've no doubt the broadcasts will still be excellent, they just won't be by fans for fans - which means less partisan and passionate. I think a lot of subscribers liked the fact that we were biased towards Barnsley and enjoyed listening to fellow supporters who care as much as they do.
AW: Have you heard anything from the club since you went public with the news? They've still not confirmed it to supporters. Maybe there's time for them to reverse their decision?
MB: I've heard nothing official since last Monday (June 29th) when we were given the news that the club didn't want us to carry on in any capacity. The media manager informed us of this decision. We were more or less resigned to the fact that the broadcasts would be outsourced, so we offered to do TV style commentary for the full match replays, an offer which was also turned down without explanation.
I have emailed the club's CEO asking why we haven't been allowed to work for free and informed him that offer still stands, but I've yet to hear back.
I very much doubt the decision will be reversed now, but it would be fine by me. I'm happy to start again with a clean slate and I'd put as much effort in as I've always done.
There's a lot of hard work goes into a commentary both pre and post match, it isn't just about saying the first thing that comes into your head over the course of an hour and half.
AW: It's a good job, knowing your mind... Tell us about working for the club. What you enjoyed, what you didn't etc, the folk you've met...
MB: It has been a privilege working on the commentaries over the past 19 years and the majority of the people we've met have been great, a few not so great - but that's life.
Commentating on the first team games of my home town team was always something I'd wanted to do and I will miss it a great deal - more than the club could ever imagine.
I won't miss poor vantage points and technical problems that were beyond our control, but that ninety odd minutes working on a commentary can't be beaten in my book.
AW: Which games stick out for you that you've described? Any special moments/stories? Best players, worst players?
MB: I think this question is best saved for a time when the events of the last couple of months aren't so raw. Suffice to say there have been plenty of memorable occasions in the press box!
AW: Saving em for West Stand Bogs eh?
Were you ever chastised for being honest in your broadcasts? Because that's one of the things folk liked about em, you were a pair of supporters, you weren't pretending it was great when it was shit and said as much.
MB: I don't know if chastised is the right word, but I know that certain people at the club (past and present) would have preferred it if we had been less critical at times. But our style was always to be as honest as possible so as not to insult the listener's intelligence - subscribers deserve more than propaganda.
AW: Will you now be attending games as a supporter, paying the ridiculous matchday prices they've just announced?
MB: Probably not. First of all due to the fact that I would struggle to afford attending and secondly as I'm so dismayed by our treatment that it would be very hard for me to watch games knowing I should still be commentating on them. I wouldn't rule it out in the future though, BFC have been part of my life since 1978 and I will always follow their fortunes.
My son and daughter both have season tickets, but they are now past the age where they'd want me to tag along with them. That's something else I missed out on by remaining loyal to the club over the years..
AW: Have players/managers/coaches etc ever pulled you up for being critical etc?
MB: Only indirectly. On the rare occasions that club playing staff or management have taken exception to anything we've said it's been relayed to us by a media manager and we've explained our reasons for saying what we did and the matter has then usually been closed.
AW: After going out of his way seemingly last season to try and engage with vocal supporters and groups (me being one of em) and taking part in our charity walk, I find it strange that Ben Mansford has made this decision. If indeed he has?
MB: Ben Mansford informed us, but I very much doubt the final decision to dispense of us was made by him. In the meeting we had with Ben and the club's media manager, Matt Goodwin we were led to believe that it would be fine to carry on as volunteers and that Radio Sheffield would have no issue with that. It was only when I asked the media manager for an update that I was told things had already been concluded and our services were no longer required.
AW: Mr Cryne, ever met him?
MB: I have met Mr Cryne on several occasions and been granted at least one meeting with him. This may be misguided on my part, but I don't believe he has ever been overly keen on me. I'm sure he makes every decision (rightly or wrongly) for the benefit of BFC as he sees it though and the club couldn't operate without his generous backing.
AW: What's your opinion on this Bobby Hassell testimonial saga?
MB: I'm very surprised it's taken so long to sort, but as I don't know the full details, so once again it's not really for me to comment. I'm just glad Bobby and his family will get the opportunity to say farewell to the supporters properly and they can reciprocate and show their appreciation of his loyalty on the 18th of this month. He was a terrific servant to the club and a great ambassador for the whole town.
AW: I can only echo that, pal. At least it's sorted and I can't wait to say goodbye, properly. But back to you - How has this event affected you? Financially, health wise etc.
MB: Financially - very little, as our fee was nominal and basically amounted to expenses incurred, I can honestly say that I never did it for the money. Health wise - I've lost sleep and have been very depressed about the whole matter. If I'd done something wrong or our broadcasts weren't up to scratch I could understand it, but that definitely isn't the case and that's what saddens me.
AW: The support online since you spilled the news has been amazing. Bet that at least lifts your mood a little?
MB: I personally have been overwhelmed by people's support and it means a great deal to me. I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to wish us well or express their disgust at the club's stance. It has lifted my mood slightly, but I feel very hard done by and our harsh treatment will no doubt rankle for a long time yet.
I don't think protests, petitions or canceling subscriptions will do any good, but it is nice to know that people care and are outraged by our treatment. It also gives me a lot of satisfaction knowing that the majority of listeners enjoyed our no nonsense style of broadcasting and will miss us.
AW: I thought it was shít to be honest..
How did you get into commentary? Do you plan to continue? You should do a podcast, everybody is doing them now.
MB: I've been commentating ever since I can remember. On my mates playing footy in the park, Subbuteo games, computer games, overdubbing MOTD videos, me mam doing the washing up or shopping....you name it. I suppose I was always going to be let loose behind a mic at some stage and that opportunity was given to me by a lovely fella named Steve Davies who paired me with Steve Pearson on Oakwell 1575am in the autumn of 1996 after I'd sent him a tape of me describing the Reds v QPR on Sensible World of Soccer..
I'd love to continue and my offer to carry on working for Barnsley Player HD is still there. A podcast would only be a good idea if I continued to attend games at Oakwell or at away grounds in L1 which looks unlikely at present.
If bridges between myself and the club have been burned then I will almost certainly be looking to broadcast for another outlet at some stage.
AW: Good lad. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't. Anyway, you're also the lead singer in an indie band aren't you? Are they sacking you off too?
MB: Ha. They should do because I'm not very good, but I know the lad whose band it is very well and I doubt he'd get rid of me..
AW: Where do you see BFC right now under this regime?
MB: I think there's a lot of potential at the club, even though I'd like to see them engage with supporters and respect their opinions more than seems to be the case at present. I'd like to see a lot more effort going into engaging with the 'whole' of the support rather than minorities and cliques and better relationships/bonds forged. Not everyone has an Internet presence and those that don't should be considered more.
On the pitch - I believe they have a good young head-coach in place who has the ability to turn around the team's recent fortunes and I wish him all the very best on that front.
AW: It's my opinion that honesty goes a long way. I honestly found Ben Mansford a decent bloke last season where he went out of his way to engage with me. However, it's as obvious as the nose on Jim McNulty's face that these sort of meetings etc were done to keep (or attempt to keep) folk in check. Most folk are less likely to criticise if they're made to feel a part of something. Unfortunately, I'm not most folk and this removal of yourself and Adam has really illuminated my opinion on that, that lip service and agendas are at work. We're not part of anything.
But enough of that, is there anybody at the club you'll miss? Any you'll not miss?
MB: I'll miss most of the folk whose paths I've crossed there over the years. The people I won't particularly miss are very much in the minority. The media lads and photographers were good company on long away trips and we built up decent friendships on our travels, it's hard not to when you're cooped up in a car with someone for hours on end. Maybe Stretch (Keith Turner) could have cut down on his previous evening's curry consumption though!
AW: Can't beat a Bhuna. What's your thoughts on social media, blogs like this, the forums/twitter etc?
MB: Football is obviously a game of opinions and the internet/social media gives anyone who feels the need an opportunity to get things off their chest, which is fine by me. It's when slanging matches start and things get personal that I have a problem, but I must say I've very rarely had any trolls or haters spouting at me when I've conversed with folk online.
AW: Me neither. What?
On that note, why are my videos and blogs better than anything the media at BFC produce?
MB: Ha. Some of them are, some aren't. The club operate under a lot of constraints, both financially and time wise so maybe quality is unintentionally compromised as a result sometimes. I think anyone should be allowed to produce videos, podcasts, pics etc as long as there are no copyright infringements that could result in expensive court cases and the club are being shown in a good light.
AW: I agree. Before tha goes, do you fancy guesting in my blog on a regular basis? Be good for your fans to still get your opinions on BFC.
MB: If I'm not attending games it would be a bit pointless, but if I did start working on the club's games again, I'd obviously be delighted to contribute, thanks for asking, Andy and cheers again for your support and also for giving me the opportunity to express my views pal.
AW: My pleasure. I think you've taken it well to be fair. I'd have gone full mental, you know me. Enjoy your holiday, keep playing your music and I'll si thi sooin for a pint or six. You Reds.
MB: You Reds.
Whilst am here, I might as well update folk on what I might have coming up this season in terms of input online. I've an interview with Darren Barnard sorted, just waiting for him to okay the transcript. I'll be attending the friendlies with Mansfield and Huddersfield so might pop some thoughts on the blog afterwards. Two big days them, for me at least, for different reasons. I'm hoping to get Ben Mansford's thoughts ahead of the new season, but since I told him of my disgust at the removal of Matt and Adam I've not heard much since. Honesty eh?
I'm sure along the season I'll update the blog accordingly, I'll probably continue to guest on the Radio Barnsley Football Report and hopefully I'll knock out a few inspirational videos ala last season. Oh, and probably more silly videos of me at games. We'll see what occurs.
With the loss of Matt and Adam, it's even more vital in my opinion for proper Barnsley voices when discussing our beloved BFC. We've of course got the West Stand Bogs lads, who go from strength to strength. The Radio Barnsley team will be a year wiser and will hopefully continue their sterling work. So it's not all bad. I'll continue to do my thing, and if anyone has any suggestions or ideas then let me know (telling me to STFU isn't an option). If folk want to guest write for the blog, help with the videos, fancy doing a podcast or maybe even just summat as simple as meeting up for a pint at the game, as I say, get in touch. The main thing I love about my club and town are the lads and lasses who share my same passion. It's about the social aspect for me, as much as it is the winning games of football. We can't affect the latter much, but we can the former.
Below the photo of my beautiful face is a link to a video I put together in honour of Matt Bailey, the best commentator ever to be sacked for no reason.
Whitey
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