Gentry Day 2022 : Barnsley v Preston North End

Saturday 30th April Oakwell KO 12.30pm

Gentry Day

Pre-amble:
Well who's going after that debacle? (Have not been well and missed it, didn't even watch Sky but result came as no surprise considering the relative quality of players. We are what we are...mid table at best, a side that will struggle without its loanees. I'm familiar with the Barnsley team and believe me, ignore the League position, they have a number of players who would enhance our squad. It won't be an easy game but I'm looking for a reaction. Got my ticket and just hope a good performance will lift my spirits if up to being there. I want to see Lowe's game plan and match management work because I have my doubts and the more I see the more they grow).

South Yorkshire Police:
This must be unique...a match preview kicking off with reference to the Police. We all know that public services are stretched but the other Saturday 4,000 Boro fans made their way to Oakwell for a 3pm kick off. I am given to understand the officer with responsibility for the local football determined the KO time for this match, the banning of away fans from pubs and restricted the away gate.
I've got my bowler down, dusted it off and along with the rest of the away support intend to enjoy what is a day of commemoration and not allow SY Police to spoil it..and I just hope that everyone else respects the occasion. .

Barnsley FC:
We've had the club history many times before and I am not going to repeat it...no other club has played as many second tier games as Barnsley, now relegated after a season of struggle ends an eventful three-year stay in the Champ.

They scored a last-minute winner at Brentford in the final game of the Covid-hit 2019-20 season to avoid relegation and send Charlton down. Gerhard Struber, who had taken over midway through that campaign after the sacking of Daniel Stendel, left soon into 2020-21 for MLS side New York Red Bulls and was replaced by Valerien Ismael.

The former Bayern Munich man oversaw a remarkable turn around of the team's fortunes and improbably guided them to a fifth place finish last season when they fell to defeat by Swansea in the play-offs.

Firstly the fans blame the owners (don't they always?). For many years the club was kept on an even keel by local businessman Patrick Cryne but was put up for sale when he developed terminal cancer. It was bought by a mega rich American/Chinese consortium (arguably they have money to match anybody) but the club has become just another portfolio acquisition and not a penny has been spent the club has had to continue to be run based on its own generated turnover (very similar amount to PNE).

For those who think that a change of ownership is a panacea for a club's ills it should be noted that Barnsley's owners also have the French L1 side Nancy in their portfolio. Guess what has happened to them this season...must be a unique ownership double.



Unsurprisingly in view of the lack of investment following the play-off finish, the club lost its manager, Ismael, along with captain Alex Mowatt, both left for West Brom. In addition to which the excellent striker, Dike, on loan from Orlando went back to the States. (signed by Baggies in New Year window and immediately snapped a ligament).

Ismael's replacement Markus Schopp won only one of his 13 games in charge, a victory over Coventry in their first home game, and departed in November after a run of seven straight losses. (Nobody knows why the owners have shown a preference for foreign managers with zero experience or knowledge of the Championship although Ismael was a success even if his brand of football was considered diabolical to watch).

Sweden Under-21 coach Poya Asbaghi took over but failed to win any of his first 11 league matches at the helm, leaving relegation looking inevitable before finally ending his wait with a home victory against QPR. Surprisingly, that kick-started an upturn in fortunes as they won three times in February to give fans hope of staying up, with January loan signings Domingos Quina and Amine Bassi scoring crucial goals.

They could not keep the run going though and conceded late equalisers in home games against Stoke and Fulham in the space of four days in March, at a time when victory in both would have seen them climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since 2 October.

Still, they retained some hope up until Easter Monday's limp 2-0 home defeat by fellow strugglers Peterborough in a game where they had more shots and more possession but failed to score against a team who had failed to keep a clean sheet away from home all season. The final nail arriving last Friday in the derby match at Huddersfield.

Asbaghi left the club by mutual agreement following the defeat at Huddersfield and relegation from the Championship having won only six of their 43 league games. Under-23s boss Martin Devaney will take charge for the PNE game. The 41-year-old, who will be assisted by Tom Harban and Jo Laumann, was a member of the Barnsley side that won promotion from League One in 2006 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals two years later.


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Barnsley fans :
I'll say this for Barnsley fans they have stuck by the club this season, gates rarely dipping below 12,000. For those who do not know Barnsley the place is far larger than many people imagine. Geographically it spreads from the foot of the Pennines in the West (and places like Penistone) and along the Dearne Valley in the East....population is around 250,000 in the wider borough. Although long associated with mining (even on the club badge) and an industrial heritage the old mining areas have seen considerable redevelopment. One of my favourite off road cycle rides is from the smashing industrial heritage centre at Elsecar (where there is an excellent vinyl record shop for anyone with such an interest) along the Dearne Valley to the wonderful Worsbough Park (pronounced Woosbro) and up to Silkstone Common in the West. Where there was once Europe's largest coking plant and a fiery black sky there is now a RSPB reserve.

The town centre shows evidence of past wealth with some remarkable Georgian buildings including the magnificent Town Hall.



Sport was always integral to the mining life and the area has numerous cricket and football clubs..Oakwell itself being seen to be a representation of the town and located near the centre. I have a lot of time for the place and locals...except when they are full of Barnsley Bitter, be warned. There remains a legacy of bitterness between many sections of the local population and SY Police for the latter's role in the Miners Strike (it started at the local Cortonwood pit), a record passed from generation to generation and if there is any trouble at this weekend's game I would expect this is where it will manifest itself, not with away fans. The end of mining may have brought with it a vastly improved environment but whereas there used to be well paid underground jobs there are now call centres, storage depots, distribution centres, shopping centres full of Poundland, etc. and if there's one thing a Yorkshireman (or woman) can do it is bear a grudge.
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The match:
I have no idea what to expect from either side so I'm not even going to hazard a guess. Despite their position I think Barnsley have some decent players on the books in the likes of Andersen, Styles, Morris, Woodrow. A number of our recent away performances have been abysmal, rhetorical as that may seem. but given it is Gentry Day with a good away backing I'm sure RL will want to put on a performance.

Tables and betting:







Driving:
If coming off the M1 ignore the signs to the ground and just follow your nose...the signing just takes you on a wide loop avoiding the town centre whereas if you drive straight on you'll eventually see the floodlights.

Parking :
I have always parked in the adjacent leisure centre park (and never been done). Lots of home fans do as well. Other than that it's on the road parking in nearby streets...little paid parking .bar just outside the away end.

Now lets just hope the two teams turn up and put on a show for the fans and haven't already planned their holidays