BRAVE ARMS MAKE SHORT SWORDS LONG

It's been just over two months since the Reds regained their second tier status. Just over two months since Adam Hammill's ethereal strike sent over 20,000 of us into raptures. It has been just over two months for everyone connected with the football club to both savour that icing of the 2015-16 season cake and prepare for the gargantuan meal that is a season back at Championship level. Welcome to my 2016-17 season preview and what will be my final blog post covering my beloved Reds. More on that later. But aye, let's tuck in... 

You only need to look at the bookmakers odds and the countless predictions from various media 'experts' to realise we are back in the second tier. We're tipped to either fight off relegation or succumb to relegation. What though is markedly different upon our return to the level is the amount of money being spent. By all accounts we've spent around £1,000,000 ourselves this summer which is quite remarkable, for us. But it's not even small change when Newcastle are spending about fifty times that figure and Aston Villa are splashing out £12,000,000 for a 30 year old striker who has never played beyond the level. It's comforting to know that the parachute payment system isn't being exploited. But it's not just the heavyweights of the division. Even the likes of Huddersfield, Leeds and Bristol City have signed players for fees they could only dream about in years gone by. 

But the club have managed (thus far) to hold on to the majority of the players who served us so well last season and that could well prove to be priceless. I understand there are some who worry about whether or not we're likely to miss the outstanding loan players we carried last term. I too will miss the likes of Josh Brownhill, Ashley Fletcher and Lloyd Isgrove. They weren't our players and I'm assuming the financial outlay on them was minimal. Yet they produced in spades for us. I've never been a big advocate of using the loan market. But I realise now just how vital a recruitment tool it can be for us, especially when we are now competing with clubs who can spend our entire annual budget on one player. Yes, for every Danny Drinkwater there's a Conor Wilkinson, probably. But for every Alfie Mawson signed permanently there's a Leroy Lita, maybe. 




From the Hammill extension to the retention of Sam Winnall, Conor Hourihane and Mawson, we have given ourselves a better chance of competing. Whilst we might lose money by keeping a couple of them, we might well not. I'd suggest we've already got more than our money's worth out of them anyway. Not every player we recruit will be made with resale value in mind. Of course you don't want to lose great players for nothing. But would it be more prudent to take less than a million for such players and increase the likelihood of another relegation and another £6,000,000 hit? I'm not so sure. And these are thankfully decisions for those well paid and well versed to make. Recruiting, retaining, releasing, none of it is straightforwardly simple. It's about risk/reward, about being brave and having faith in your own conviction. I believe those charged with running the club passed all the above with flying colours last term. 

Of the incoming players you'd be hard pressed in trying to predict how they'll fare for us over the course of the coming season as the club continue down the so far successful route of acquiring young players with growing reputations, usually from lower down the football pyramid. But it's probably fair to say that the arrival of striker, Tom Bradshaw has been the standout bit of business. The prolific Welsh international joins us from Walsall with the Reds beating other Championship outfits to his signature. With himself and Winnall boasting 64 third division goals between them in the last two years it's to be hoped they can hit it off as a Championship pairing because beyond those two, our options up front look decidedly sparse. 



In what looks a move to replace the pace and energy offered down the right hand side by the departed Isgrove, Liverpool youngster Ryan Kent joins on a season long loan. The tricky winger was hit and miss in League One last season wearing Coventry City's sky blue, but that first taste of 'proper' football and the chance to work alongside the mercurial talent that is player of the season, Hammill might well work in his and our favour. The 19 year old could do worse than using Adam as a mentor considering he's following the exact same route. 



The club made no secret of their desire to bring George Moncur to Oakwell and the son of former West Ham and Swindon midfielder, John arrived from Colchester after a superb campaign in Essex where he plundered 14 goals from midfield including two efforts against us. The soon to be 23 year old is a product of the fabled West Ham academy and is joined by a fellow Hammers graduate in Elliot Lee. And just like George, Elliot has a famous footballing father in former Newcastle and England star, Rob. Having also spent time with Colchester last season, the winger/striker will add much needed competition in attacking positions. 



The rest of our summer additions were captured from further down the leagues but it's noticeable in my opinion that some of them were captains at the clubs they've left. After so many rumours about a potential Oakwell move, Barnet's Andy Yiadom finally made that long journey and it's looking practically a given that he'll start for us at Ipswich at right full back considering the latest injury setback for James Bree. Fellow defender, Angus MacDonald is our most recent recruit, the 23 year old centre half joins us from Torquay and will offer us cover at centre half I would have thought, initially at least, however there are still big question marks over the future of Lewin Nyatanga who hasn't really been involved much since the turn of the year. The one player in our squad who has an enormous amount of experience at this level but looks the likeliest to depart. 

It would be remiss of me when talking about departures not to mention the egression of Ben Mansford to local rivals Leeds United. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea, he had good and bad moments as CEO but I think it's fair to say he was an upgrade on the bloke he replaced. I've spent time with his replacement, Linton Brown recently and I feel we've probably upgraded once more. Expect to see and hear less of him though. He doesn't strike me as the sort to covet the cameras and attention. Most of his good work will be done behind the scenes. 



I was though surprised upon hearing of Ben's decision to leave. I knew he was an ambitious sort, but it's the destination that shocked me. Not in any other era, admittedly, but there can't be much job security at Elland Road under Massimo Cellino. One can only assume it pays well. I'd be quite chuffed if that club fell down the divisions so I will stop short of wishing Ben well in terms of the club. But as a bloke I can, he was good with me and other supporters, fan groups etc. The charity walk of 2015 for example and more recently the charity song we did for Wembley. 




I would also like to thank the club for recently inviting my good friend and former Reds commentator, Matt Bailey back into the fold. I'm not privy entirely to how he'll be utilised going forward but I think it's a step in the right direction. There are good, local people around who can offer so much to the club. Passionate people. Loyal people. Take advantage of that, but not of them. It's similar I suppose to the coaching setup nowadays. Whilst the likes of Bobby Hassell, Martin Devaney and David Preece aren't born and bred Barnsley folk, they're lads who've made the town their home and shown tremendous loyalty and passion in their respective fields. It'd be blummin' silly not to put that to use. In my opinion. Obviously. It's my blog. 

Being back in the Championship also sees us reacquaint ourselves with a number of our near neighbours. That and a number of former players, a number of former players turned managers, as well as one former manager. Or head coach. 
It's been amusing to see Lee Johnson linked with so many of our players or linked with players we're targeting ourselves, not to mention his efforts to lure Hammill and to add Tommy Wright to his coaching staff. It's nothing new though, seeing managers hanker for former players and if anything it ought to be seen as complimentary. And regardless, little Lee has thus far failed in the main, to sprinkle a bit of Barnsley over his Bristol City. His acquisition of Brownhill is an underrated bit of business, but I'm told that deal was sorted long before it was announced and that the Reds weren't ever a possible full time home for Josh. 
They are still said to be ogling Mawson from afar, they've even been said to have put bids in for him. So maybe 'LJ' will still succeed at Oakwell, or maybe once more he'll have to bow down to Paul Heckingbottom. 




I would ordinarily be enthused about trips to the likes of Hillsborough, Elland Road and whatever they're calling the stadium in Huddersfield this season but the suggested ticket prices for these matches stink of urine extraction. The away end at the home of Sheffield Wednesday is one of the worst, most dilapidated stands I've had the displeasure of visiting. A lot. But even ignoring that, you've more chance of seeing me with a fringe than you have of me attending that particular stadium for the suggested £40+. I'm going to Huddersfield and paying £30 through gritted teeth. 
It's £30 next weekend at Oakwell too. We're setting no trends. I understand why that is but I'm a little disappointed that no membership or flexi scheme has been introduced to help home supporters out financially. 

I'm never not excited by the prospect of a brand new season. It's the mystery, the intrigue and unknown. It's unpredictable yet we still have a stab. And I'm even more fired up for a fresh campaign than usual. What these lads achieved last season will live with us as supporters forever. But I can't wait to see how they get on in what has become one of the most competitive divisions in world football. The head says we'll revert to the proper Barnsley and face up to the inevitable second tier struggle for survival. The heart hopes we continue this incredible 2016 form. Maybe we'll meet somewhere in the middle? 



We have hopes, dreams, aspirations. But I'm realistic. And so I only really expect one thing this season. I expect to see us continue down the same path that exhilarated me last time out in terms of the brand of football. There was a clear dichotomy between the football served up in the first half of 2015-16 and the second half. I've absolutely zero interest in seeing my team play keep ball unless we're leading in a game with time about to run out. I don't care how Barcelona play nor does it excite me seeing how many passes our centre halves racked up. I want to see my team looking to play forward and play quickly. I'm not claiming this is 'the' way to play football. I'm saying it's what I enjoy seeing from a Barnsley side. Always has been, always will be. 




After the events of last season I am minded not to bother with predictions this time around. But I suppose I'm glass half full in my outlook for BFC. I'm certainly not fearful, I don't see us being embarrassed and taking regular beatings. I'm expecting it to be a huge challenge, probably more so than usual for us at the level, but I also see the club in a far better place than usual at the level. And so it's vital that we all remain together. Strength in unity. 

And this is where I finish. I have my reasons, but have no desire to explain them. Not right now at least. But I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has ever liked anything I've put out there online. I'm truly grateful for any support I've ever received and whilst I have a perceived arrogant online persona that I've mischievously helped shape myself, you wouldn't believe the amount of times I've been lifted when reading or getting feedback from fellow Reds down the years. I've never seeked back patting, but it can be lovely to know someone enjoyed something you created. 



I've often felt inclined to call things a day. But I end up either lured, tempted or roped back in. I will still be a reader of twitter and the forums but my contribution online will be negligible from now on. I've been doing these blogs for four years now and creating videos for three. I've tweeted an incredible amount of tweets since 2011 and I think I've averaged about 20 posts a day on the forum for what seems an eternity. If you're my 'friend' on facebook you're in limited (but esteemed) company and you'll notice my output on there is practically redundant. And I like that. 




Self indulgent? My blog, remember? And it's about to finish. I promise. 



Thank you to the lads and lassies who supported anything I've done for charity in recent years, be it the two walks to Bradford and Chesterfield arranged by WSB and most recently the club endorsed charity song. On that note I will take the opportunity to pass on 'THIS LINK' which details the latest charity walk arranged by Reds supporters. Please give generously or perhaps get your walking boots on and tag along! 
And a massive wish of good luck to Norbs and Gaz at WSB in their future endeavours. What those two did recently with our club founders resting place is beyond words. Even for a gob like mine. Proud of the stuff they put out. 
Not to forget the lads from the trust who run the supporters bar at Oakwell. 





I've met some brilliant folk over the years, just through following the Reds and the internet has played a massive part in that too. As I say, I'll still be online, I just won't be participating as often, but feel free to message me if the mood takes you. And you'll still see my handsome face around Oakwell and local public houses I'm sure. 

But I'll end it here and by posting the link to my finest work. Be good to each other, thanks for reading/watching/listening/loving/hating. 



Whitey x 

182

SEASON 2015-16 // MY FINAL THOUGHTS

What a season. What a turnaround. What has happened to my bank account? But all good things must come to an end, allegedly and it appears the excitement and buzz amongst some of the Barnsley FC fanbase has sadly started to tail off a tad in the last few days as the realisation that footballers are employees and not servants begins to hit home. Some of them weren't even full time employees. The first of our heroes to leave the club, was actually never under contract here. A bit like having agency staff in your own workplace. We borrowed him. He did a job. He's now signed a permanent deal at another club. As is his prerogative. But I understand some of the angst and ire in certain quarters towards Josh Brownhill. I do. It's because he's joined 'that' club. The club we're now emotionally 'expected' to dislike. The one 'head coached' by Lee Johnson, that little bloke who used to be employed at Oakwell. 


Not just that, I suppose part of it is the cringe-tastic choice of words used by Brownhill on twitter to describe his move to Bristol City as a no-brainier. Yes, not a no-brainer, a no brainier. The passion of their fans played a part, he says. Aye, passionate bunch are Bristolians. Well known for it. And he reckons the 'sheer size' of the club was a big factor too. Yep. And so that's irked a few on social media. But if you've got any sense then you know better than to take stuff like that serious. What do you expect footballers to say when they sign for a club? 

"well, I've never heard of Bristol FC, don't even know where it is but the little bloke who had me at Barnsley is there and they've offered me a lot more money than Preston have, plus, when I look at the state of the midfielders here at... what's the stadium called? ... cheers.. Aston Estate, then obviously it's a no-brainier."


He gave it his very best when pulling on our shirt and was a key component in a team that's just been to Wembley twice, earning two trophies and a promotion along the way. A year or two ago, we had Brek Shea and Emanuel Frimpong on loan in our midfield.... And so I thank young Brownhill for his efforts as a short-term red. He'll go down in BFC history as an achiever. He's in select and esteemed company in that regard. I expect him to go on to have a very, very good career. But, unlike most, I won't be wishing him luck. I don't think he needs it. But I can't be hoping Bristol City do well, basically. I see them as a rival now. And I'd like three clubs to finish below us next season, minimum. And I'd take enormous pleasure from it were one of them to be 'The Robins'. Which is a nickname I thought belonged to Swindon Town. But yes, I'm sorry if it's not 'football politically correct' to want Lee Johnson and his lads to fail, but that's how I'm rolling. I like a bit of friendly rivalry, bit of pantomime. Adds to the intrigue. And so I hope Josh, Lee and anyone else who rocks up down there have an horrendous season so I can laugh at them. 


What I don't advocate is the sort of vitriol and bile aimed at the likes of Stephen McPhail and Jacob Butterfield when they left and later returned to Oakwell with different clubs. It's football. They're human beings. It's a religion to us. To them it's a job, a way to secure a living for them and theirs. If I was offered much more money to do the same job I do now, I'd be off like a shot. But aye. Wishing em luck? Naew. Not for me. There's exceptions, don't get me wrong. Lads we've developed. Lads from Barnsley. Lads where we've got money riding on em. Lads who've done reight well for us.... oops. 

Good luck, Josh Brownhill. It's all a stage. A show. It's not serious. I'll be giving him and Johnson a polite clap when they return to Oakwell, but after that they're fair game. In a friendly manner. I'm from Barnsley, not Bermondsey. 

It's just bitterness really, isn't it? We've just watched probably the most successful reds side we're ever likely to, certainly in terms of winning games and trophies. So it stings seeing lads leave, especially to a club that most of us see as no bigger/better. Just richer. But we'll soon have new heroes. And those too will one day follow the pound signs, and the cycle continues. It's exactly why I appreciated, adored and supported Bobby Hassell as much as I did. Loyalty in football is rare. As our owner and custodian, Patrick Cryne said to me recently on this very blog, only supporters are loyal. And if anyone deserves hero worshipping, it's that man. Mr Cryne. He still hasn't offered me a job, mind..... 




Star attraction, Adam Hammill is also set to join up with our friends from cider country, if reports/rumours are to be believed. That would sting even more. I'd love Adam to see out his career here. He's already a legend in my eyes, staying wouldn't cement that legacy. But I imagine it will come down to money again. And again, we won't compete. And I wouldn't want us to either. It's not sustainable. We don't have a billionaire owner nor 30,000 bums on seats inside Oakwell (which would be some feat.. think about it). We're a small fish again in a bloody big bowl. It's only become bigger since we last lined up in the second tier. Plenty of clubs who'd be quite at home in the upper echelons of the top flight were they run in the right manner. We've eight Yorkshire derbies to look forward to too. It will be some achievement just to preserve our status, but it was ever thus previously, give or take a couple of years following our Premier League relegation. We're always tipped for the drop. Just like dem blades are always nailed on for promotion out of League One. Bring it on. 



I'm pretty sure we'll lose players this summer. Some are bound to have attracted admirers. I'd be hoping the club would be looking to offer new deals to our key players, the likes of Adam Davies, Marc Roberts, Conor Hourihane, Marley Watkins and Sam Winnall. They're all under contract for another year or so, but their value to us is decreasing all the time. If they don't want to extend their contracts, then perhaps you look to move them on? I wouldn't know. I'm not clued up on all that nonsense. We've clever folk in charge of the club these days and so you trust them to serve us well. Which they've managed in fine style this past nine months, despite it looking more like a bed full of shit than a bed of roses before Christmas 2015. Good luck to them on that. It never ends does it? We've just achieved special things, but the wheel keeps on turning. You can't stand still. 

We've England to watch fail this summer in another tournament. I hope John Stones is involved and does very well. We could do with him moving on. See? It works both ways. I don't remember too much sympathy for Wycombe when we took Josh Scowen and (sort of) Alfie Mawson off them. We're a Championship club again. That's ace. I love it. But we're now the little tiddler again. And there are sharks circling. We're now the Wycombe. With - bizarrely - Bristol bloody City as the Barnsley. 


Ah well. I'm all Barnsley'd out for one season. I need a break. And so I shall wish you all well for the summer, enjoy your holidays if you're having any, enjoy spending time with your kids, revel in those free Saturday's traipsing round garden/shopping centres with the other half. We shall reconvene in eight weeks or so. For another exciting chapter in the good religious book that is, Barnsley FC. 


Whitey xx 



Here's a video to remember this season by. You Reds etc. 

PATRICK CRYNE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

It's been a while, hasn't it? 

What a season of contrasting halves we've watched as Barnsley supporters over the last nine months, eh? From those dark and desperate depths to the most perfect of peaks. A slide like no other, followed by a rise to remember. It hasn't been - as journalistic types suggest - a rollercoaster ride. Because rollercoaster rides end by coming down from a great height. And no matter what happens when our beloved Reds battle for Play-Off glory over the next seven days or so, there should be no come-down, no hangover, no headaches. Only feelings of pride, of satisfaction (with a side order of relief). Because at the beginning of December and, even as we entered this glorious year of 2016, the threat of another relegation was very real. 

Welcome back to the blog. You Beautiful Reds, indeed. 




As Conor Hourihane rifled home 'that' equalizer in front of the Ponty End against Sheffield United in added time, I stood on the gangway steps and gave a very half-hearted cheer. I was on that gangway as I was about to leave early. Roy was still at his seat, bless him. But I had no faith in the players getting anything from that game, such had been the standard of our play (again). It wasn't just on that day, it had been like that for the weeks preceding it, as we stumbled from one defeat to another. 

What a ridiculous season. 

I've seen Jordan Clark score the winner in injury time for bloody Shrewsbury. I've winced as Milan Lalkovic danced through our defence, then gave 'eyes' to the dugout. Hell, I cringed as I heard over the radio that Miles Addison had scored against us at Peterborough. I'd suffered enough by that point. But when Conor's bullet flew into the net to give us a late point, I didn't share the euphoria shown by Conor and his teammates, nor the passionate cheers from fellow supporters amongst what was by then a sparse Ponty End. That's how low I was at that stage. Here we were, scoring at the death to deny the one club I hate, I should have been in raptures. 

In the end, I clapped a little. Then muttered to Roy "we're still bottom of the league". 

I came home, quite drunk. It'd been an early kick off thanks to the delightful SYP. I didn't get my usual train straight home. I sat in the Old Number Seven.... "another pint of Blonde, pal". Nobody had died. But it felt like that. I looked at the league table on my phone. Just kept staring at it. I returned home a couple of hours later and got my head down for an hour. It was the night of the Tyson Fury fight. 

In my infinite wisdom, I broke with tradition and decided to do an episode of Not a Podcast, drunk and directly after a match. It's one of the best episodes I did to be fair. You could hear the despair mixed with my shit humour. I went through every player on the pitch and none came out with much credit. I gave Lloyd Isgrove a "one out of ten, for at least putting his boots on and standing on the grass". I referred to Hourihane's tweet that evening where he called that result a 'turning point'. I laughed on the Podcast. Because I know best. I scoffed at the idea. 

The only thing I got right in that episode was my prediction that Fury would be crowned World Champion later in Dusseldorf. I should perhaps stick to boxing. 





There have been 26 games since then, in two competitions. We went on to win 17 of them with just four defeats. One of those victories came about at Wembley, our first cup triumph since 1912 and Arthur Fairclough's history boys. It was a special weekend, that. Spent with the same lads who sat/stood with me at Doncaster as Lee Johnson threw away a point with his game-changing subs. The lads who like me watched on in horror as the likes of Crawley, MK Dons and Fleetwood took the spoils at Oakwell last season. It's what football's all about isn't it? That feeling of togetherness. Through thick, thin, thinner and thinnest. As Conor led the lads up the Wembley steps to lift that trophy I moved along our row to stand alongside Roy, to put my arm around him. I had to share that moment with him. I did an episode of Not a Podcast in the aftermath of that joyous occasion too, adding pieces of footage I'd captured in the famous stadium. The unbridled joy in my voice in that video gives me goosebumps now just thinking of it. 





I remember looking around the 'home of football' as the celebrations were in full swing, I had to take it all in. I thought about my old man taking me into the old Brewery Stand in the 1980's. I thought about everyone I know, friends who were there but who I couldn't see. I bet they're loving this, I thought. I thought about the posters on the BBS forum, the ones I don't know, even the knobs. Lads and lasses on Twitter, who I've never met. Again, even the knobs. I thought about Mr Cryne. 

I thought about everything in those moments. When we were promoted in 1997 to the promised land of the Premier League, I was about to turn 15-years-old that summer. I didn't take it all in back then. In 2006 I made sure to. As you get older, the more you realise just how small a club we are supporting in the grand scheme of things and just how rare and fleeting these moments really are. Just over a month ago, I milked everything at Wembley. If I was at rock bottom in November, I was higher than a kite on April 3rd. 

I don't regret feeling so blue six months ago. I'm a human being and my emotions are affected by events. Other than humorous quips on podcasts, I wasn't giving players stick. I remained as positive as possible. I went on twitter and the BBS the day after that draw against Sheffield United, hungover, back to business and predicted we'd make the playoffs. Slightly tongue in cheek, but I still backed the players. I rated them all. I just felt certain things needed tweaking. I wanted us to get at teams. It was all so ponderous, and repetitive. 

I also wanted Lee Johnson out by that point. Not just because of the results, but because of a message he sent me prior to the Altrincham game: "I guarantee we win the next three games," he said. I sat through the next game, Altrincham in the FA Cup, and I have to say that's the worst Reds match I've ever seen. All context in consideration. It has to be. 

But as I've pointed out, we soon turned things around and you have to give Lee credit for that. I liked the bloke as it goes. But I don't believe it was his idea to play 4-4-2. I don't believe Adam Hammill was his idea either. And we all know he didn't fancy Hourihane in a two. But he was in charge at the very start of the turnaround. He was at the helm for an eight game losing run, and then a seven game winning sequence. He's not middle of the road, is he? Bi-polar management, that. 

But yes, I thank Lee for playing a part in the season. But most of the credit from me goes to Paul Heckingbottom and his staff, his players and the supporters who've backed this group to the hilt this year. And of course, to all the board members who have overseen all this and to our custodian, Patrick Cryne. Which brings me nicely onto the main point of this update, an exclusive Q&A with the man himself.  

1. I appreciate your time at this stage of an extended season. How is Patrick today, how are you feeling about the Play-Offs? 

Exhilarated, Fearful, Anticipatory, the full range of fan emotions.  I thought I would be happy just to be in this position with the JPT under our arm and in the Play-Offs.  But now I am desperate for us to win.  

2. We've not really spoken much since Wembley, so how was that weekend for you, can you give us your take on it?

I loved it.  I mixed with a lot with our fans and players.  There was a lot of joy about.  The Oxford people were very gracious.  I thought the game was typically Barnsley.  It was not dissimilar to the Wigan game.  We start off like a team that is going to get a thrashing and then click into the better version of ourselves. 

Our team seems to know how to celebrate on the  field and off.  I made an early appearance at the after-game party, but it was already beyond boisterous even then, so I left. 

Oh yes, Alfie Mawson saved my life in a KFC.  I went in to get something sugary to avoid a diabetic collapse.  Alfie was in there at the front of the queue and bought me a full-fat Coca Cola just as the room was spinning to darkness.  Yes, Alfie Mawson saved my life.

3. Did you enjoy the pre-match entertainment at Wembley? I particularly enjoyed the cheerleaders. Can we have them at Oakwell?

I didn’t see the entertainment, I stayed in the hospitality area hoovering up all the free stuff.  I did this when someone showed me how little is made by the clubs after Wembley takes out all its staging cost.  The FA know nothing about the good socialist principle of the redistribution of wealth.  Greg Dyke Out!

4. Conor Wilkinson, Deon Burton, Leon Knight or Richard Naylor?

That list could be much longer.  I would have to say Conor Wilkinson.  I assume you are talking about the best looking....?

5. On the subject of loans and appreciating that you're talking to someone who has made it known over the years that he hates filling the squad with loanees, anything to add/gloat about regards loans?

You are comprehensively wrong on most matters, Andy.  However, you have other fine qualities.  Your “Rock bottom to Heckingbottom” line is genius.  I will have it put on my headstone.  In my view, loanees are a bridging step to arriving at the team you want to have.  If you cannot recruit the players to play the way you think will bring success, then the loan market is the right place to get players who can.  Of course, we get some wrong, but they are not as damaging in the long term as getting a 2/3 year contract wrong.  Some of our loanee picks have been inspired, for example Fletcher, Isgrove and Brownhill.  We would have seen more of Chapman too had Hammill not been so brilliant.  Of course, there have been some failures, but we sent them back without any lasting damage to the cause or our finances.  And we are where we are, JPT holders and promotion candidates.      

6. George Moncur? Tell me about him. 

John’s son.  He is the type of player we want.  He would be right at the top of the spreadsheet if we had one.  Did you see his body language when Colchester scored the equaliser?  He was more upset than our players (just joking).

7. I really liked your crowd theory on Facebook recently. It matched my own thoughts, that we are indeed a better supported club than folk realise. How important are the fans to the future of Barnsley FC?

Our support is amazing.  In terms of support from the urban area of Barnsley no club is better than ours in the English Football League.  There are 90,000 people in the urban area of Barnsley and 9,000 attend Oakwell.  That’s 1in 10.  It is not our fault that we are a small historic town rather than a City.  The Metropolitan Borough is one of the largest in the country comprising 14 historic towns, but it has a small population by city standards and stretches geographically from rural Penistone to Goldthorpe.  If you look at it properly, we are one of the best supported clubs in the country per capita of population. 

Our fans are the best, without doubt.  Look at the situation at Wigan last Sunday, we out-sang the League Champions even after they opened the scoring.

8. Great idea to give free tickets out to the school kids for the Colchester game a couple of weeks ago, and reducing prices for the Play-Off first leg is commendable too. Oh, and extending the early bird. In other words, what's going on? Why are the club finally, seemingly in tune with the fanbase?

I have been custodian of the club for little more than a dozen years.  For 10 of those years, I was beset by ill-health and embroiled in legal matters.  Those managing the club in those years were acting in my best interests, so they didn’t have the freedom to act other than as business managers.  For the last couple of years I have been able to get more involved.  We have put together a talented team of people led by Maurice Watkins.  The much criticised and then much praised Ben Mansford is an outstanding CEO.  Robert Zuk is a top accountant and Linton Brown is an excellent marketeer.  We have never been better managed or responsive to our customers – the fans.  We now try to look at things from the  fans’ perspective and we are more dynamic and adventurous in our decision making.  However, everyone in a football club is subordinate to the results.  Everyone gets praise when we are winning, but the blame goes everywhere when we are losing.

9. It does feel tight right now, doesn't it? The club I mean. Everyone united together. I know, results are paramount. They're key. But so much seems to be right, so much feels positive. You feel it as well I'm sure?

I know that we have a fully articulated plan in place rather than ad hoc decision making.  We know how we want to play in terms of playing philosophy, systems and tactics.  We know the attributes required by players in different positions.  The Head Coach has the recruitment systems in place to help him find the right players.  I think we can get better as a team and be more competitive.  We will have our off periods as we have had this season, but the approach will mean that we are developing players to get better over time.  

10. It was like this in many ways after the Houdini act at Huddersfield. That soon soured, it went pear. Why? Really, what the chuff happened to Flicker?

The prospects for a small club in the Championship are daunting.  12 clubs are receiving parachute payments from £64m down to £10m.  Several Clubs are owned by English billionaires e.g. Bristol City and Ipswich.  Others are owned by foreign billionaires e.g. Nottingham Forest and Blackburn.  If Barnsley get promoted back to the Championship we will get an additional £5m of TV revenues, but that is a fraction of what other clubs have.  To counter this, you have to get the right players by recruiting under the radar.  I believe we can do this.  We did it with Mawson, Roberts, Winnall, Hourihane etc.  In Flicker’s time we were in that era where a manager recruits people he knows or he’s been told of by mates or a trusted scout.  There was no science.  We have the science now and it is what LJ and Heckingbottom wanted.

11. What's your favourite type of music, have you a band or act you'd listen to above all others?

Fleetwood Mac is as middle of the road as my tastes get.  I like the stuff of my youth, for example Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.  More latterly, I like Avenged Sevenfold and Papa Roach.  James and I went on a road trip a few years ago to see Avenged Sevenfold.  We went all the way to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Unfortunately, they didn’t turn up through an alleged overindulgence in certain substances. 

I once dropped James and his mates off at an Arctic Monkeys concert at Old Trafford cricket ground.  I then parked up and bought tickets from a street tout and went in.  I didn’t want to miss out.  I do not understand Mansford and his attendance at a Little Mix concert or his liking of Westlife.... 

12. Danny Wilson, Mark Robins and Keith Hill walk into a bar. No, but if you had to appoint one of them as manager again, who'd be the one? And why?

I am sure none of them would accept if I did.  LJ once told me that I have a reputation for eccentricity on the manager’s circuit.  I am perceived as too intelligent and esoteric.  I liked Danny and Keith and I should probably leave it at that

13. So why didn't it work out with them?

The fans decide when the manager has to go.  It has happened now with Nigel Adkins.  I am sure the Blades ownership wanted to keep Adkins but the economic and vocal power of the fans forced their hand.  If you try to resist the fans you will get a shower of grief.  In the opinion of many fans we fired Danny too soon. You were one of them.

In the case of LJ, we kept him when the fans wanted him gone. Again, you.  Those situations were both very difficult for me personally.  I got a lot of grief.

14. Are you a drinker, smoker and have you ever participated in other recreational activities? Did Garry O'Connor ever 'sort you out'?

No. I don’t drink alcohol and I have never smoked.  I have an excessive personality without stimulants.  I have never been sorted out, in any sense. 

15. What's the likelihood of us losing players this summer?

Players have the power.  If they want to go they find their way out.  To date, no-one has expressed a desire to leave.  Quite the contrary, some have expressed that they are happy and want to extend.  Players from other teams are expressing a wish to join us via their agents.

16. Do you watch soaps on TV? If so, what's your favourite?

Not really.  I sometimes watch Emmerdale to see what the Dingles are doing.

17. Would you rather watch Sheffield United reserves vs Sheffield Wednesday reserves, in December, int snow, for scouting reasons, or would you rather listen to Ben Mansford explain what a brand is?

I would rather be cast at sea in a dinghy deflating through each plastic seam with every shark species circling, great white, hammerhead, tiger, football agents, lawyers etc than listen to Ben in full flow.  But watching the Blades and the Owls is going too far.

18. What's been your darkest hour as custodian of BFC?

It is a personal one really.  My son James was asked to join the Board and being a smart lad, he did his due diligence by speaking to everyone.  They all wanted him to join.  But in the end, he felt he did not have mandate from the fans.  This was impressed upon him first hand on a train back from Crawley.  He said he didn’t want to go ahead and the amount of disappointment I felt was oppressive.

19. Your finest hour?

Promotion to the Championship in 2006, beating Liverpool at Anfield and beating Chelsea at Oakwell were special moments.  However, the JPT win at Wembley was very satisfying.

20. Has Barry made more mistakes this season? Did he sign Conor Wilkinson?

Barry is now surrounded by good people.  Conor was down to LJ alone.  Everyone else said, “Noooooo”.

21. What's the strangest place you've visited? I once went in a public toilet in Mablethorpe, I was 9 years old and a man had what looked like a salami sausage in his.... but yeah, that was strange.

I once went to a leper camp in India, only to find that all the sufferers had better skin than me.  Except where extremities had fallen off.  Theirs not mine.

22. What's your username on the BBS?

Young Nudger.  You should have guessed this from the posting that said “Patrick, when you get the John Stones money cut and run”.  I hoped that everyone was going to get behind it...

23. What was all that stuff about a few years ago regards Italian investors? Wasn't somebody from Darlo involved? Have you never received any serious approaches?

No.  No one has ever come forward that could provide proof of funds.

24. The chuffing scoreboard. Not an issue of mine, it tells the score, but it is for others. What's happening with it?

In my mind, the scoreboard is a thing of aesthetic beauty, an art form.  If it had been constructed by Tracey Emin or Damien Hirst it would be celebrated and priceless.  The facts that bulbs fail by the day makes it living art.  Are fans really saying that they don’t know who is playing, or the score, or the time?  OK. OK.  We will replace it for next season.  Philistines! 

25. Have you and Don Rowing spoke since the weekend? What with ours and their result? What's your opinion on the gutter press suggesting Wigan gave us the win and the final day should be investigated?

No.  Wigan wanted to win.  Just as we did when we played Colchester.  Everyone wants to win on the last day at home.

26. Aren't Sheff Utd just the most horrid of clubs, from players to fans? And they smell.

I get on well with Kevin McCabe so I better not comment.

27. What's your favourite film?

“Don’t look now” from the Daphne du Maurier story.

28. Have you got a favourite book, and are you still an author yourself?

I like poetry and classical stuff.  My favourite book in recent times is Cormack McCarthy’s “The Road”. 

And yes.  I write post-apocalyptic books that sell very well indeed, particularly in the USA.  I will not tell you my pen name, or the next time we lose everyone will jump on Amazon/Kindle and give me bad reviews.

29. Recently, there've been discussions on forums about whether or not we're better getting promotion now, or waiting. I find it ludicrous myself. You take promotion every day, surely?

Only three are promoted every season so you have to take it when you can.

30. John Stones. Can we not force Everton to flog him? Before they ruin him. And what about young Holgate? Where's he disappeared to?

It’s funny.  I posted on my Facebook page that Martinez holding on to John was bad for the player.  Someone rounded on me and told me that Martinez was a fantastic manager.  My rationale was that Everton do not play in a way that will develop John.  John is not a head it, kick it player.  This last season has not only been poor for John, what about Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku?  I made a personal appeal to Mason and his family to stay at Barnsley.  That was the right thing to do.  But no one listened. 

Thanks to Patrick for giving me his time in what must be a very busy period for him and the club, and I'll say good night and God bless to you all. 

Cheers for reading (don't really give a toss). 

Whitey x