Last Update:
November 22, 2024
Oakwell is a mostly modern ground. On one side is the particularly attractive two-tiered covered East Stand, which runs along one side of the pitch. Opened in March 1993, this stand has a capacity of 7,100.
Opposite is the classic-looking West Stand, part of which dates back to 1904. It was made all-seated in the mid-1990s but is only covered at the rear. On its roof is perched a precarious-looking television gantry, which obscures a probably more attractive gable.
At the Pontefract Road End (now named the Norman Rimmington Stand) is an all-seated, covered stand for home supporters, which has a capacity of 4,500. This stand was opened in 1995.
The opposite end, the Barry Murphy Stand, is a large single-tier, covered stand, housing around 6,000 fans. Replacing a former open terrace it was opened in 1999. Away supporters are housed in this stand.
An unusual feature of the stadium is a purpose-built stand for disabled supporters. This is a three-floor structure that sits at the corner between the East and South Stands. There is also an electric scoreboard at one corner of the Barry Murphy Stand, on top of a security control room. The teams come out from one corner of the ground between the North and West Stands.
Away fans are housed in the North Stand, at one end of the ground. This good-sized covered stand is mostly free of supporting pillars, meaning you normally get a very good view of the playing action.
The normal allocation for away supporters is 2,000 tickets and fans are normally housed on one side of this stand on the West side (towards the old Main Stand). If demand requires it, then most of this stand can be allocated, increasing the number of tickets available to 4,700 (the stand can actually hold 6,000 but the capacity has been reduced to keep a sizeable gap in-between the away fans and home fans located in the East Stand).
The acoustics of the stand are not bad meaning that visiting fans can really make some noise. The facilities on the fair-sized concourse are good and access is given to an adjacent open-air area if fans wish to smoke.
There is a row of supporting pillars running across the stand towards the rear. So, if your team has a large following and you are seated above Row NN, then a pillar may partially obstruct your view.
Food on offer inside the ground includes pies, burgers, and hot dogs, while alcohol is also served before kick-off and at half-time.
Oakwell Stadium is always buzzing with activity on matchday. With at least 10,000 football fans expected in the areas on such days, most of whom are home fans, the pubs near the stadium can equally get overwhelmed.
Thus, next time you visit either a home or away fan, a pint in any of the pubs near Oakwell Stadium wouldn’t be a bad idea. But beware there are away-friendly fans, especially ideal for visitors who would want to avoid the company of intimidating home fans on matchdays.
Popular with away fans and in easy walking distance of Oakwell is the Metrodome Leisure Complex, which has a bar inside. Other pubs for fans near Oakwell include:
- The Dove Inn – 102 Doncaster Rd, Barnsley S70 1TP
- The Corner Pin – 2 Wellington St, Barnsley S70 1SS
- East Deane Working Men’s Club – 111 Doncaster Rd, Barnsley S70 1UD
You can also check out the following pubs near Oawkwell Stadium whenever you visit:
- The Mount
- Haven & Ale
- The Joseph Bramah – JD Wetherspoon
- The Garrison
- The Old Number 7
- The Mill of the Black Monks
There’s nothing like some good scran to ease those pre-match jitters, and Oakwell Stadium is an excellent provider of good food to do just that.
Below are some examples of dishes you can expect to see during your visit to the ground:
Last nights @FootyScran in the home end at Barnsley 😮🤤
Salt and Pepper Loaded Fries 🍟
Lebanese Pork Flatbread 🫓
Magic @MadriCerveza Glasses too 🍻@meadowvalefoods @BarnsleyFC #FootyScran #cufc #barnsleyfc pic.twitter.com/duXogW7HMS
— Dan (@NottsNomad) January 17, 2024
This is the MAGIC of the #FACup right here at Oakwell 🙌🏻
Chilli beef burrito, chips & a Bovril ahead of Barnsley against Crewe Alexandra in the greatest club cup competition 🏆
Live on @BBCSport website & app with updates @footballheaven 📱📻 #BarnsleyFC | @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/InHDpwbLa1
— Adam Oxley (@adam3oxley) November 26, 2022
There are three main entrances to the Oakwell Stadium, each of which is designed to be predominantly used by a selected group of supporters.
The first of the three is located inside the main car park at the ground, and as such, is mainly used by home fans.
However, there is also a dedicated entrance for away fans, which is located outside the Barry Murphy Stand. This entrance, unlike its counterpart for home supporters, does not have level access into the ground.
Finally, there is an accessible entrance designed to cater for the needs of fans who require wheelchair access to the ground. This entrance is located between the East and South Stands and the door itself is over three foot wide.
Leave the M1 at Junction 37 and take the A628 towards Barnsley. Stay on this road (the ground is well signposted) and you will eventually see the ground on your right. There are a couple of car parks located at the ground, but they are mainly for permit holders only.
In between the ground and the Metrodome is a car park for visiting supporters, called Queens Ground, which costs £5 for Cars and £20 for Coaches (post code S71 1AN).
Otherwise you can try parking at the Metrodome itself (although it can be slow to get out of after the game has finished) or street parking. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Oakwell Ground Post Code for SAT NAV: S71 1ET
Barnsley Railway Station is about a ten minute walk away from Oakwell. This station is served by trains running between Sheffield and Leeds.
From the train station turn left away from the town centre and head towards the bridge that the dual-carriageway runs over. Please note that due to building works the temporary bridge over the railway level crossing is closed one hour before kick off and one hour after the game has ended (see the Barnsley Council website for more information and alternative routes to the ground). Go under the dual-carriageway bridge and turn left up the slip road and then take the first road on the right and head towards the Metro Dome leisure complex at the top of the hill. Oakwell is now clearly visible.
For travelling supporters who wish to stay overnight, you would want to explore a few hotels near the match venue. Most importantly, check out the prices for accommodation in any of the hotels where you want to spend the night before booking.
With that, below are a few options of nearby hotels that provide reasonably priced accommodation:
- Premier Inn Barnsley Central, Gateway Plaza, Sackville St, Barnsley S70 2RD
- Travelodge Barnsley, 512 Doncaster Rd, Stairfoot, Barnsley S70 3PE
- ibis Styles Barnsley, Whinby Rd, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3TX
Ticket prices at Barnsley for the 2023/24 season change on a match-by-match basis depending on whether the match is classed as category A or B.
Category A match ticket prices are:
- Adults: £22-28
- Seniors: £17-21
- Young adults: £17-21
- Under 19s: £10
- Under 14s: £5
Barnsley have been playing their home games at Oakwell as a football club. The stadium opened way back in 1888 and to this day there are still features of that original build present; one example being the seats of the West Stand.
The Barnsley stadium isn’t all old school, though. The other three stands have all been either rebuilt or extended since the nineties. That was the plan for the West Stand, too, but the footballing side of things let the club down before it spiralled into debt and eventually administration; this caused the ground to be sold, which is now catching up with the club today.
The Oakwell Stadium stands at 23,287, split over four main stands and one corner stand. Due to safety issues with the West Stand, the current capacity has dropped to 18,515
The North Stand is the most recent addition to the stadium and holds 6,257 fans. However, because it is primarily used for away fans, it is often not used to its full capacity.
The Norman Rimmingstand is on the south side of the stadium and holds 4,508 fans. It is a large single-tier stand with the club’s superstore built into it.
The East Stand is the largest of the five sections of the stadium. It’s a two-tier stand that was completed in 1993 with help from the football trust. Due to its size, the upper seating area requires many more steps to reach.
The West Stand is another two-tier stand, though only a roof covers the upper part. This stand held 4,752 people, though it is currently off-limits due to safety concerns. Planning for improvements to this section is ongoing, though no concrete plans are in place.
The Wakefield Audi Corner Stand is the last of five stands. It connects the East and South Stand and holds 202 fans.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Record attendance
40,255 vs Stoke City
FA Cup 5th Round, 15 February 1936.
Modern all-seated attendance record
22,650 vs Manchester City
Division One, 11 March 2000.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 11,807 (League One)
2021-2022: 12,756 (Championship)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 14,061 (Championship)
2018-2019: 12,527 (League One)
2017-2018: 13,704 (Championship)
For decades, Oakwell has been left to rot and decay because neither Barnsley nor Barnsley Council has owned the stadium. However, in 2023, the council became the sole owner of the stadium and the land around it after successful negotiations with the Cryne family, which had owned it since 2003.
In early 2024, Barnsley Football Club and Barnsley Council announced a new partnership that cemented Oakwell as Barnsley’s home for the next 30 years. As part of the new partnership, much-needed investment will be made at the stadium. Details are set to follow in the coming months.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday
EFL Championship
Saturday 8th February 2020, 1.30pm
Adrian Hurst (Sheffield Wednesday)
Barnsley v West Bromwich Albion
Championship
Friday 27th December 2019, 3pm
Gazman (West Bromwich Albion)
Barnsley v West Bromwich Albion
Championship
Friday 27th December 2019, 3pm
Henryk Piotrowski (West Bromwich Albion)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Stadium?
I had never visited Oakwell before so this was an opportunity to tick off another ground. Also with Albion in such great form at the top of the league I thought we had a chance of finally ending our Oakwell hoodoo where we hadn't won since the late 1940's!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A really simple journey up the M1, then J37 and A628 into Barnsley. All told less than 2 hours door to door. Arrived well before kick-off at about 1:30 and managed to park a stone's throw from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a pint in a local pub (the Mount- all home fans from what I could see/hear) and got chatting to a few Barnsley supporters. A very friendly bunch with a great sense of humour. Very relaxed atmosphere.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
Oakwell is located slap bang in the middle of the town centre and the stadium encompasses a mix of old (West Stand) and new stands, which is a welcome relief from some of the sometimes soulless and uninspiring modern-day stadia around the country. It also has old-style corner floodlights too. The North Stand, where the Albion fans were located, was absolutely fine. Great views. Fantastic atmosphere (over 3500 made the trip).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Albion took the lead in the opening 10 minutes when their keeper miscued a rushed clearance straight to Krovinovic who lobbed it back over him. However Barnsley had a lot of the ball and had a number of chances to equalise but our keeper Johnstone was in exceptional form, making some great saves. A similar picture in the second half. All square until the last minute when Barnsley deservedly equalised. Frustrating from an Albion point of view, but no qualms about the result. I bought a coffee and a pie in the ground. Reasonable prices/decent quality. Stewards were helpful, kind and unobtrusive.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Absolutely no problems at all. Away by 5:15, very little traffic to contend with, straight back onto the M1, Home by 6:45.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A fantastic day out. Oakwell is a lovely ground to visit. fans are welcoming. Easy to get to. Pity we couldn't secure the victory but that would have been hard on Barnsley. I would definitely go again!
Barnsley v Reading
Championship
Wednesday 11th December 2019, 7.45pm
Kevin Nash (Reading)
Barnsley v Stoke City
Championship
Saturday 9th November 2019, 3pm
Steve (Stoke City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
Bottom of the table clash! Also, a first visit to Oakwell and Barnsley in general and I wanted to see what it was like. Was staying in Sheffield for the weekend so it was a short trip over to Barnsley.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Went by train. A simple walk from the station to the ground through rows of terraced houses, helpful stewards and police pointing the way.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a pint in Annie Murray's before the game (an Irish pub in the town centre), and popped into the Dove for a local ale afterwards. The Dove was mostly home fans with a smattering of away supporters, loads of Barnsley memorabilia so obviously a home fan favourite. All very friendly and a decent pint in both pubs.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
Great to see a ground near the town centre, unlike so many new stadiums (ours included, unfortunately). In fact, the location reminded me of our sadly departed Victoria Ground. The stadium was more modern than I expected and was quite neat apart from the one older stand down the side (although it had a nice classic feel in my opinion!). The away stand had great views and an excellent atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Great atmosphere, great game and a great 4-2 result (for us)! Stewards and police very friendly, as were fans. Most away fans were standing and the stewards didn't insist on forcing us to sit as we have probably all experienced at other grounds (looking at you West Ham). Very crowded in the concourse and not selling beer (not missed though, go to the pub after, save yourself a few pounds and not be forced to drink Carling from a plastic glass!). It probably would be more comfortable with fewer fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy walk from the ground to the pub/station/bus/car park. Police guided us.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I would definitely go to Barnsley again. Recommended for any fans.
Barnsley v Swansea City
Championship
Saturday 19th October 2019, 3pm
Andrew (Swansea City)
Barnsley v Derby County
Championship
Wednesday 2nd October 2019, 7.45pm
Andrew Davidson (Doing the 92)
Barnsley v Coventry City
League 1
Saturday 30th March 2019, 3pm
James (Coventry City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
Another ground I'd never been to. An upturn in our recent form meant we still had an outside chance of making the playoffs and with Barnsley being a decent team, It should probably make for a good game of football.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
After driving over the peaks from Manchester where I live, I arrived near the Dove Inn around 1.30pm and the traffic was already quite heavy. After a few U-turns, I managed to find some street parking near to the pub.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I met my mate who had the tickets and went for a quick pint in the Dove Inn which had inside a mixture of both sets of fans with no problems. After that we headed straight to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
We walked towards the stadium and cut through a gate onto the club car park behind the South Stand. We then walked around the ground to the right towards the away end…. which was a mistake as this side of the ground is fenced off and we had to walk back around almost the entire stadium. Eventually, we made it inside and headed up to our seats. The away end is fairly large and modern as are the other stands with the exception of the stand to our right which looked ancient in comparison and the bottom half of which was exposed to the elements.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I grabbed a quick pie before kick off, (overpriced and nothing special) one of the stewards enquired with myself about a potential protest with regards to our own ground at the end of the game. I informed him that there may be a few fans have a bit of a sit-in after the game for 15 minutes or so but should be nothing to worry about. The game itself was a very entertaining one and but for a couple of defensive errors we'd have sneaked a win and nearly snatched it at the end but for a great save by their keeper. But 2-2 in the end was probably a fair result and the Sky Blue army were in fine voice throughout. As a side note if the weather's decent as it was for this game take a pair of sunglasses as the sun dropped below roof level just after kick off.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Exited the ground fairly quickly and headed back up the hill to the Dove Inn and had a glass of coke and chatted to a few Barnsley fans and tried to explain our horrendously complicated stadium situation to them. After the traffic had died down headed straight back over the peaks.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A decent day out but a draw probably all but ends our already slim playoff chances. I just hope that we can sort out where we'll be playing next season.
Barnsley v Bristol Rovers
League 1
Saturday 27th October 2018, 3pm
Burt Haggett (Bristol Rovers)
Barnsley v Luton Town
League 1
Saturday 13th October 2018, 12 noon
Ian Bradley (Neutral)
Barnsley v Oxford United
League One
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Barnsley v Brentford
Championship League
Saturday 28th April 2018, 3pm
Steve Smytheman (Doing the 92 – again)
Barnsley v Bristol City
Championship League
Saturday 31st March 2018, 3pm
Tony MacRae (Bristol City fan)
Barnsley v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 18th February 2018, 3pm
Jack Tyldsley (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
I had visited Oakwell once before and seen us win 3-1, and was looking forward to returning. It was also a huge six-pointer – one we couldn’t afford to lose.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We set off at 12 noon on the coach and we were in Barnsley by 1:15 pm. The journey was very easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We decided to follow the many Bolton fans up to the nearby leisure centre and saw that already at least 100 Bolton fans had taken over the waterpark bar. We sat in the sun with a view of the ground before entering at 2pm. The home fans were relatively pleasant but the atmosphere was tense.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
After entering the ground we stood in the outside concourse which was filled with sunlight – it was very pleasant. We then took our seats high up – the view was great. The ground itself looked disjointed, as all 4 stands were different. The stand to our right was very old and rough-looking, but the other two were decent.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
After being 1-0 down and booed off at half time, we responded brilliantly to lead 2-1 before in typical Bolton style conceding in the 93rd minute. A draw was still a good point for us though, and the atmosphere was fantastic.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We got back on the coach and were back in Bolton by 6:45 pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great atmosphere and a good result. A very good trip. Oakwell is indeed a good away day if the away backing is good enough.
Barnsley v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 13th January 2018, 3pm
Jay Thomas (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Barnsley v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 13th January 2018, 3pm
Aimee Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
It was the first away day of 2018, and with 4,700 tickets sold for Wolves fans, it promised to be a great atmosphere as Nuno’s men went in search of three more points in their quest for promotion. For various reasons, I’d missed our previous trips to Barnsley, work commitments, holidays etc, so it was another chance to tick off a ground towards my list.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We used the official supporters’ coaches for this game, as it worked out slightly cheaper than the train. We left Molineux at 11 am, and arrived at Oakwell just before half one. A trouble free, smooth journey via the A38 and M1. Once you leave the M1, Oakwell is well signposted (as Barnsley FC), but as it was a Saturday, so we did hit a bit of traffic travelling through Barnsley town centre, especially at the exotically named Alhambra Shopping Centre. The coaches park on a grassy hill, right next to the away end, which is handy, but not ideal on a cold, wet January day, as my previously clean trainers will attest to! Wear sensible footwear, or at least none which are white!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Next to the ground is the Barnsley Metrodome Leisure Centre, which welcomes away fans. I have to say, in the few years I’ve been following Wolves regularly, I’ve had a pre-match pint in some strange places. But never a leisure centre. I had visions of blokes coming up to me asking if I’d got change for the lockers! As it was, us away fans were accommodated in what could only be described as a large sports hall, complete with those multicoloured markings on the floor which nobody ever uses for anything. There were a couple of hundred people in there, I would say, including a few young lads having a kickabout with a roll of masking tape. Jumpers for goalposts and all that! They had plenty on offer to drink, I had a couple of pints of Magners. There was also a steady stream of people walking past with trays of food. At about 2:15, we decided to head down to the ground. The concourse, as you’d expect, was rammed. We managed to get served in a tiny bar area at the back, which you could easily miss as you shuffle and shimmy your way through the crowd.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
The word which leaps to mind when describing Oakwell is ‘traditional’. There is certainly nothing fancy about it, although my knowledge of Yorkshire and its people tells me they wouldn’t have it any other way. As away supporters, you are housed in a large, one tiered stand at the end of the ground. We took just shy of 5,000 fans, which our keeper John Ruddy said after the game was the most he’d ever seen in the Barnsley away end. At the other end of the ground, the ‘home end’ is an identical, one tiered stand. The real contrast appears at the sides of the pitch. To your left, is a clean, smart, two-tiered stand, with a large executive box in the corner. To your right however, is what I assume is the oldest stand, a tiny, one tiered, half empty thing which looked a bit sorry for itself!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
An afternoon of frustration is perhaps the best way to analyse the game. Whilst 0-0 doesn’t perhaps tell the full story, it certainly reflects the general lack of goalmouth action, on the part of both sides. It was a very scrappy game, with lots of stopping and starting, instigated largely by yet another awful performance from the referee.
The first half was a bit of a non-event really, we had a couple of half chances which we couldn’t hit the target with, but nothing else. Barnsley likewise failed to test Ruddy in the Wolves goal. Second half was a bit livelier. We had a goal harshly ruled out for offside, the linesman’s flag denying Diogo Jota what looked like a perfectly good goal. Jota also hit the bar with a thunderous strike, and then missed a great chance from close range when sub Ivan Cavaleiro picked him out with a gorgeous cross from the right side.
With 5,000 in the away end, the atmosphere was fine, but the home fans were fairly subdued. There were a few chants at times, but it was only in the final 10 or so minutes when they woke up. I suppose what doesn’t help is having the opposing fans at opposite ends of the ground. The more vocal section of Barnsley’s support was housed in the end behind the opposite goal, meaning any banter or chants had to travel the length of the pitch to be heard. If I was Barnsley, I’d be looking to use the larger Main Stand to get the singing going. The stewards were fine, and I paid the standard £3 for a very decent programme.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Straight back onto the coach, and back at Molineux by half seven. Happy days!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed my trip to Oakwell. Whilst it wasn’t quite the “cold, Tuesday night in Barnsley” that everyone tells you is football’s toughest test, but a chilly Saturday afternoon in January was just as tough. Ultimately, it’s a decent point away from home, and on another day we might well have nicked it. You can’t win them all, and I think the performance was decent enough. Oakwell is a traditional stadium, although some of it does look a bit tired, compared to many modern, clean stadiums across the country. I don’t know though, I think there’s something quite nice about a ground and a club which sticks to what it does best.
Barnsley v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 13th January 2018, 3pm
Richard Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Barnsley v Birmingham City
Championship League
Saturday 4th November 2017, 3pm
Jason Ponting (Birmingham City fan)
Barnsley v Aston Villa
Football Championship League
Saturday 16th September 2017, 5.30pm
Jack Wilcox (Aston Villa fan)
Barnsley v Brentford
Football League Championship
Monday 17th April 2017, 3pm
Fred Martin (Brentford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
Bees were on their now normal late season good run of results. We had never been to Oakwell before so a new ground for us.Also, my wife used to frequently visit Barnsley many years ago as a child to see her late grandparents so she thought it would be good to revisit the area and recall some memories of her childhood.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Being Easter Monday and facing a 220 mile journey along the A3/M25/M1, we decided to leave very early and reached Barnsley in plenty of time. Oakwell is well signposted.We parked for £4 in the visitor's car park close to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We took a casual stroll around the ground and surrounding area.We did not visit any pubs or food outlets before the game and we encountered very few home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Stadium?
The first view of the ground was as we walked from the car park. It was like going back to the thirties ( I can't remember back that far, but I can remember the 50's which were similar) You are faced with a red painted long brick wall topped with broken glass, inset into the wall are a number of single old style turnstiles.Behind which an old corrugated iron stand can be seen.Combine this with rows of typically Barnsley terrace houses on the opposite side of the road and you can easily imagine thousands of Yorkshire folk who have just finished their shift at the mine and making their way to the ground to support their team. Magical stuff 🙂 On entering the ground, then I would say that Oakwell is impressive and full of character with three sides being very modern and the fourth side evoking memories of bygone days.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Both teams were mid-table and had secured their place in next season's Championship League, so not much to play for, but this game was fa the from routine end of season stuff. A lively game that ended in fair 1-1 draw. The facilities were good.the stewards friendly, but the pies terrible.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The visitors parking is just across the road from the ground and getting away was very easy.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Oakwell was an excellent away day. Full marks to Barnsley Football Club for reducing prices for this game (only £10 for adults and £5 for seniors). Being a Brentford fan with our rickety old Griffin Park ground it was brilliant to see another ground where so many old features have been retained in some parts. Excellent banter with some of the car parking attendants too.My wife was driving and one attendant gave her detailed instructions of where and how to park. My wife replied "I am only a woman driver but I think I can manage." When we left the car park the attendant complimented her on her parking.and I said; "What do you expect, this lass has Barnsley roots." The attendant then spent the next ten minutes giving us a detailed description of how Barnsley had changed in the past 30 years..Lovely people and we cant wait to go again next season.
Barnsley v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Saturday 11th March 2017, 3pm
Kieran B (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
This would be my first visit to Oakwell and my 34th ground visit out of the current 92. Another ground to cross off the list in what has been a very dull year of football. We came into this game having drawn 6 of our last 7 (or unbeaten in 7), whatever way you look at it, it hasn’t been anything spectacular.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Four of us got the train from Suffolk at about 10pm, and we arrived in Barnsley via Peterborough and Leeds at about 2pm. Oakwell is only a 5-10 minute walk from the railway station but there are numerous signposts to direct you. It is hard to miss them.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We headed to the Calypso Cove Leisure Centre (part of the Metrodome complex), which is also signposted and en route to Barnsley FC. There is a very big bar space there, which could easily accommodate a huge away following. They serve a good range of Drinks from Ales to Spirits, I’m fairly sure I saw some people eating full meals there too. It was 2:40ish by the time we left and we rarely saw any home fans en route to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Oakwell?
Oakwell is a very nice ground. The three modern stands are impressive as is the old Main Stand to our right. Our stand was only given to us, and we were pushed to the left-hand side where about 800 of us were. You get a great view, just watch out for the odd stanchion pole at the back. Inside the stand, the concourse is spacious and its also open to an outside space to let people smoke or drink if needed. The ‘Beer Bar’ is different but nice.. It’s a little room at the back of the stand where alcohol is served. I can imagine it gets very cramped in there sometimes however.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was very forgettable, and the second half stayed that way until the 58th minute when Marley Watkins scored for the hosts. If it wasn’t for Bartosz Bialkowski it would have been all over but he made a superb save in the 82nd minute to keep it 1-0. Just when all hope was lost, Brett Pitman caressed a lovely ball into the box and another player we’ve heavily relied on this season – Tom Lawrence, stole in at the back post and equalised with virtually the last kick of the game! As Mick McCarthy said, “we stole a point” and I totally agree, extremely undeserved but I’ll take it all day long. The atmosphere was good from the away end and the home end had its moments. The stewards were friendly and did not have any bother with us at all. Food was good and as was the drink – 500ml bottle of Carling for £3.80. Toilets were standard.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We had a few minutes spare before our train so we grabbed a bite to eat from Greggs and some beer from Iceland and made our way back to the station. It took us about 3.5 hours to get home and we were back in Suffolk by 9:15pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Oakwell was a good day out, made better with that last minute equaliser, although it was a very dire game to watch. Ipswich are just seven points adrift from the drop zone – if things don’t start improving soon we could be in trouble. I like Barnsley’s ground however, and the day itself was an enjoyable one. I would definitely consider coming here again in the future.
Full Time Result: Barnsley 1 Ipswich Town 1
Attendance: 11,386
Barnsley v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Saturday 21st January 2017, 5.30pm
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
I always look forward to a first time visit of a ground. Plus the large away support along with it being a local derby meant we were expecting good atmosphere.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Chose to park in the Metrodome overflow car park which is used by Barnsley on match days. It's perfectly situated next to the away end of Oakwell and the only downside is if your team brings a large support (ie over 4,000) you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes to leave as the busses come in last, and so leave first (once everyone has finally found the right bus through their drunken haze!).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
By the time we got there it was only an hour before kick off so we just went to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Oakwell?
Oakwell is an old or traditional (depending on your point of view!) ground, however three of the four stands have obviously been rebuilt in more recent times so the view is unobstructed by pillars. Having the old style corner floodlights made a nice change. The West Stand looks like its been here since the beginning but it certainly has a bit of character about it.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Well it was a Yorkshire derby between us lying third in the table and them only a few points off the play off places. Added to that it took place in the evening with a lot of supporters well oiled by that time! So it wasn't lacking in atmosphere! It was a bit scrappy, but five goals kept the interest up. I was hoping for a win especially when we took the lead but I have to say they scored three well taken goals either side of half time which left us chasing the game. We got one, but couldn't find an equaliser. A small section of their more vocal supporters sat in the East Stand nearest us and a fight broke out after they discovered there were a few of our supporters amongst them. Their other 'vocal' supporters sit in the South Stand, surprisingly not behind the goal but in the right hand corner and a fight also broke out between a few of them and the stewards in the first half. After the game the Police made sure the fans were kept apart. That said the few stewards/staff I spoke to were friendly enough and I didn't see any overly officious stewarding. They were firm but fair and kept our more 'excitable' supporters under control.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As above. The Metrodome car park is handy but if you bring 4000+ supporters expect to wait up to 30 minutes to get out.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite losing we had a good day out, I felt Barnsley are well organised in handling large away support and hopefully the next time we go there we'll be hearing on a win.
Barnsley v Newcastle United
Football Championship League
Tuesday 18th October 2016, 7.45pm
Ryan (Newcastle United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
It was my first away game in over five seasons. As Barnsley had given us a large allocation of 5,900, I was able to get a ticket. Plus with almost 6,000 Newcastle fans in attendance I was looking forward to a great atmosphere.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got a supporters club coach down and it dropped us in the town centre.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Walked to the Joseph Bramah, a Wetherspoons pub where already a lot of Newcastle fans had gathered. The atmosphere was great and I spoke to a few friendly Barnsley fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Ground?
I was not impressed with the away stand, it seemed very old fashioned.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I enjoyed the game and the atmosphere was fantastic. Newcastle winning the game 2-0 was a bonus. Stewards weren't helpful and some could do with improving their attitudes, almost provoking trouble at times.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Our coach along with the others were escorted away from Oakwell by the Police and out of Barnsley very quickly, as away fans seemed to be number one priority.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Enjoyed the day. A great result and a great atmosphere.
Barnsley v Aston Villa
Football Championship Legaue
Tuesday 27th September 2016, 7.45pm
Andy Newman (Aston Villa fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Oakwell Ground?
I live in Derby so its not too far to travel, also I was hoping we might actually win an away game!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy although the traffic was slow getting off the motorway, I followed the advice on this website and parked at the Queens Ground which was £4.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight to the ground but the locals we met were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Oakwell?
As it was a night game it was great to see 'proper floodlights' which always add to the atmosphere. The Oakwell ground still has one old stand which is nice – gives it some history. The away end was good – we had a great view; the other stands were probably developed around the time Barnsley were in the Premier League and not too much say about them – rather unimaginative!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Pies were very good and decent value at £3; the programme at £3 also good value and good content with a fair slice given up to the away team. Stewards all very friendly as well.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems and really quick back onto the motorway from where we were parked.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the result – as we conceded an equaliser in the dying minutes (yet again) we really enjoyed the trip and would recommend it for any other fans.
Barnsley v Fleetwood Town
Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section Final 1st Leg
Saturday 9th January 2016, 3pm
Matthew Bowling (Fleetwood Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Oakwell Football Ground?
I was looking forward to it because it was an important game with Wembley on the horizon and it was a new ground for me to visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was on a supporters coach from Fleetwood. The journey wasn't too stressful we only got stuck in traffic when we arrived in Barnsley other than that the journey was fine. We were dropped off in the away fans car park which is directly next to the Oakwell ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
When we arrived I walked up the hill in the car park to the leisure centre, where I met up with a few mates before the game. We had a couple of pints and some food in the restaurant, there were mostly Fleetwood fans here but a few Barnsley as well, we always felt at ease and never felt threatened.
What you thought on seeing the stadium, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Oakwell Ground?
As we were walking down towards the ground you can quite clearly see the North Stand, simply because of its size because it's open at the side. The ground looked decent and the reduced ticket prices brought out a good attendance from both teams.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Before the match any Fleetwood fan would've taken a draw from the game. But afterwards we felt we deserved the victory due to some poor finishing from the Fleetwood strikers. In my opinion Fleetwood created the better play, but in the first half Barnsley had a shot cleared off the line with it being their only clear cut chance of the half. Fleetwood took the lead in the second half when the linesman ruled a deflected Ashley Hunter shot had crossed the line to put us ahead. Fleetwood then kicked on and should've had two or three, instead it was a player making his Barnsley debut Ashley Fletcher who brought the Tykes level with a header off the underside of the bar after a cross from the left hand-side. In the final few minutes Proctor missed a golden chance to put Fleetwood 2-1 up. The stewards were friendly, there was plenty of food on offer and the toilets were spacious as well which is good when you have a large away following.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy to get back to the coach because they were parked directly outside but it took us a while to get away from the ground. Eventually after about 10-15 minutes we got away and once again the journey back had no real problems and we were back in Fleetwood within two hours.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, it was a good day out and with a Fleetwood still well in the tie a day out at Wembley could be on the list.
Barnsley v Walsall
League One
Tuesday 20th October 2015, 7.45pm
Zane Alpine (Walsall fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Oakwell Football Ground?
Firstly Oakwell was a new ground for me, however prior to the game I had read that Walsall hadn't won there since the 1970's! After a surprise defeat to Chesterfield three days earlier to knock Walsall off the top of the league it would be interesting to see whether we could bounce back.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We went up on the supporters coach, which parked a few yards away from the away turnstiles, which were quite ancient looking.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to there being no nearby pubs and most of the shops in the town centre being shut due to it being around 7 o'clock, we went straight into the ground. I brought a burger and a hot chocolate from the bar which was quite expensive and set me back at just over £6 for the two.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The stand we were in looked almost identical to the one for the home fans behind the opposite goal. The two tiered stand to our left looked quite impressive, however the old stand on our right looked as if it had seen better days and the roof only covered half of it. With only a few hundred people sitting in it I could see why people would prefer to sit elsewhere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was dull and pretty poor from both sides, there were no real chances of note aside from a 25 yarder which went straight at our keeper, and a shot from the edge of the box by George Evans, who had only signed on loan around 8 hours previous to the game, going just wide. In the second half an outstanding save from our keeper following a header from a Barnsley corner seemed to motivate our players somewhat and we took the lead just after the hour mark with our new signing Evans finishing smartly to give us the lead. After that we seemed to be passing the ball around more confidently and went 2-0 up when Romaine Sawyers played a well disguised pass to Milan Lalkovic who got the ball ahead of their defender and put the ball into the corner against his old side. The atmosphere from our fans was quite edgy but extremely loud once the first goal went in, however there wasn't much coming from the Barnsley end, and I can't blame them, after losing their fourth successive game and falling closer to the relegation zone.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Our journey back was fairly simple and took around two hours for us to arrive back into Walsall.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed going to Oakwell and was pleased to see us continue our unbeaten run away from home, I would definitely recommend it for other supporters.
Barnsley v Everton
League Cup 2nd Round
Wednesday 26th August 2015, 7.45pm
Bobby Rooney (Everton fan)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Oakwell ground?
I was looking forward to visiting Barnsley, as I'd very much like to complete doing the 92. Seeing that this was an excellent opportunity for me to get to stadium number 47, and ticket prices at just £5, I thought why not. With former Barnsley players John Stones and Mason Holgate both signing for Everton in recent time, I was extremely interested in watching Barnsley, and seeing their youthful side in action.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
If you're coming from the West, you'll find that Barnsley is right at the other end of town, however, it is clearly signposted. We saw plenty of car parks in the region of £2-3, which was vastly cheaper than the £7-10 expected at stadiums in the Premier League. Due to running slightly late, we were fortunate in that we actually parked outside the away fans turnstiles much to our delight, so we parked for free. Oakwell itself is tucked away between streets, so it was quite a surprise when we pulled up to see the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to an accident on the M6, we were unfortunately stuck in traffic and ended up missing the first half, however, we noticed some bars, and the typical retail park chain of fast food restaurant chains within a close proximity to the stadium.
What you thought on seeing Oakwell, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Upon seeing the stadium, you walk behind the rather old fashioned stand, which you'd almost certainly associate with a lower league side from the 70s or 80s, however, this was the only old fashioned facet of stadium. Upon entering the stadium, there is a large outdoor section, in which the away fans were congregated, with a fan base of over 4,000, this mean there was ample room to maneuver when entering the stand. The away end itself is a large single tiered stand, which has only a couple of supporting pillars, which hold up the roof, which are located in the final couple of rows of the stand, so unless you're unfortunate, you'll receive an excellent view of the match action, and an excellent sight line of the rest of the stadium, which is made up of three modern stands and an older 'Main' Stand, which I'd previously mentioned.
As a side, who have played in the Premier League, and more recently the Championship, but with a modest budget, I found the stadium to be quite good, and something a Barnsley fan could definitely be proud of.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Having only arrived at half time, we were greeted by a very moody, and disappointed away end, as Barnsley were in fact 2-0 up. However, quickly into the second half, Everton scored through a Mirallas acrobatic effort, and a then equalised via a Steven Naismith header. However, 60 seconds later Barnsley had retaken the lead, which resulted in a rowdy crowd, which in turn helped our support create a fantastic atmosphere. After finishing 3-3, in an end to end game, the match went into extra time, where Gerard Deulofeu spun his magic twice more, forcing an own goal, and then allowing Romelu Lukaku to score, seeing Everton win 5-3 and progress to the next round.
Having arrived at half time, we were disappointed to find there was no food, or soft drinks available, however the stewards were friendly and the toilets were nice and wide to ensure no crushing.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was simply fantastic. Having parked outside the stadium, we were fortunate enough to not have to wait for the traffic to pass, and were allowed to leave the stadium immediately after, ensuring a speedy getaway. We stopped at the retail park for food on the way home, we were able to let all the match die down before a smooth return to Liverpool.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, we had a very enjoyable game at Barnsley even if we were an hour late! The ground is modern and provided excellent sight lines, and the game was entertaining as ever, the fans were extremely friendly and overall was one of my favourite away games watching Everton in the UK for a long time.
Barnsley v Sheffield United
League One
Saturday 4th April 2015, 12.15pm
Sam Rodgers (Sheffield United)
Why were you looking forward to visiting Oakwell?
I hadn't been to the ground before. Plus with both teams on form and it being a Yorkshire derby there was no better time to go.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Coming from Whitby, the easiest way to Barnsley was by train, via Scarborough and then Leeds. Getting from Scarborough to Barnsley was easy enough, and finding the ground wasn't too hard from the train station; mainly because of the large police presence along the route.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight into the ground, about an hour before kick-off, as we were seemingly led straight to the away end by police.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I thought the ground looked okay, I prefer traditional four-sided stadiums to modern 'bowls' and Oakwell was traditional. The stand to our right was fairly small and dated, but had character to it. The stand opposite seemed to be a smaller version of the away stand. The stand to our left was most impressive, it looked modern and large, mainly due to being two-tiered.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good, Sheff United played better and deservedly won 2-0. The 6,500 travelling Sheff Utd fans ensured a good atmosphere, although there wasn't much noise coming from the Barnsley supporters, although in fairness they didn't have much to shout about. The facilities in the away end were nothing special, although the Chicken Balti Pukka pie was probably the nicest pie I've had at a football game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the ground was easy enough, the problem lay at the train station however. Police officers contained around 350 Sheff United fans in an incredibly small space, only letting a few at a time through onto the train station every 10 minutes or so. We ended up being stood in this crowd for around an hour and 45 minutes!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the day was great, and I'd definitely go to Oakwell again to see Sheff United, although ideally the policing after the game would be better, and the game would be a 3pm kick-off, so I don't have to leave Whitby at 6:30am again.
Barnsley v Preston North End
League One
Saturday 21st March 2015, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)
"Barnsley", "Oakwell". Just say the names out loud; in this modern era of trips to the “Bibbleswick Building Society Stadium” and the “Crumperbund Community Care Scheme Ground” such names as Oakwell ring with even deeper nostalgia. Long may it remain “Oakwell”
I have always enjoyed and looked forward to away days at Barnsley, and this was no exception. If anything, the anticipation was even higher than usual as both teams were going into the match on great runs of form and were well and truly involved in the promotion hunt. I had spent the whole week in the build up to this fixture in a quiver of excitement; Barnsley had won 6 out of their last 7 games, and for us it was 8 wins out of the previous 9 so a truly mouth watering contest was in the offing.
With the season moving distinctly towards its business end, such form could prove crucial for both clubs as Preston were starting the day in 2nd place in the League and whilst we would obviously have been hoping to consolidate our grip on that all important prized automatic promotion spot, there would be no doubt that fans of the Tykes would be equally fervently keen that the Yorkshire club cemented their place in the play-offs, as they started the day in 6th position in the table.
To add to the spice, it had been designated our annual “gentry day” where Preston fans are encouraged to don bowler hats in memory of our one time manager, the late Alan Ball Snr, and “gentry day” usually generates a good turn out and a good atmosphere.
So it really was no hardship to zip out of bed at 7am to grab some breakfast with my partner before jumping in the car to trundle happily up north. The journey was smooth with hardly any delays, which is one of the rewards for getting going early.
Walking Down To Oakwell From The Metrodome
A note for folks travelling from the M1 by car, there are now signposts encouraging you to head north off the A628 for Oakwell but quite why I cannot fathom. The quickest way is to remain on the A628 and as you head round the town centre you will spy the floodlight pylons to the south and that’s when you will want to head off the main dual carriageway. Yes boys, its like the good old days where you drove into a town and just looked for the floodlight pylons, so put the sat-navs away!
We collected a friend from the railway station at approximately midday and then headed up Queens Road where some of the plum car parking is available for the early birds at a cost of £5. Again, one note for those travelling by car, if you really do want a quick get away after the match, then these car parks are not for you!
We took a stroll into the Metrodome leisure complex where security, although quite visible, seemed quite relaxed about letting us in the building to have a drink and a bite to eat in their restaurant and bar area.
As half-past one approached we made a move down to the ground, and as soon as the turnstiles were open, we piled in to make sure that the most excellent meat and potato pies were still as good as last time, and they didn’t disappoint.
Another grand feature of this lovely ground is that it still features unreserved seating for away fans which again is for me a fair reward for the early bird and also I feel contributes to a more spontaneous atmosphere building up, and not only that, the speakers that play music do not try to make sure that their heard in Peterborough so not only does the atmosphere build naturally, but you can actually have a conversation with your nearest and dearest as you enjoy the build up to kick-off.
West Stand
For my partner, this was her first ever “gentry day” and she was suitably impressed with just how many folk had travelled over from Preston for the match in not just a bowler hat but a complete suit as well! I believe the official figure given for the away fans was in the region of 3,000 that afternoon.
The facilities on the North Stand are much improved from the old open terrace where I recall catching my death of cold one evening as a howling gale with near horizontal rain came racing down off the Pennines. Yet despite that the ground still contains considerable character; situated near the town centre amongst the residential terraces and being high up on the North Stand, one had an excellent view of the old West Stand which oozes character ; you’ve only got to look at it and you can smell Bovril and cigarette smoke! Last but not least, the already extolled floodlight pylons, now lit as it was a grey afternoon just added to the nostalgic feel.
Before the match kicked off, the atmosphere was positively electric in the away end, you could positively taste the anticipation in the air…….and yes, you’ve guessed it, the match itself was a bit of a let down really. Both teams seemed more concerned about preserving their unbeaten records rather than going for the jugular, and given the long periods of head tennis that seemed to develop in the centre of the pitch, one couldn’t help but wish both teams would just go for broke instead and entertain us.
Such is the perils of the promotion run-in though ; given the free-scoring form of both teams they could have wowed us with a 6-5 thriller – but they didn’t. Chances in the first half were few, most of them fell Preston’s way and top scorer Joey Garner did tuck one away to cue an eruption in the away end and a flurry of hats being flung up gaily in the air (they only cost £3.99 ish from fancy dress shops).
View From The Away Stand
The second half continued in a similar disappointing vein except the chances seemed to fall more Barnsley’s way, and they took a deserved equaliser some 15 minutes or so before the death. There was a late flurry from the visitors, but it would have a travesty to have nicked it quite frankly. The draw was a fair result.
And so we let the crowds dissipate somewhat before heading off to the car as we were in no rush and continued to savour the lovely ground that is Oakwell. A great atmosphere, great to catch-up with some friends, great ground, shame about the match really!
As a postscript, I must add that I couldn’t help but smile the following day when I read how the Barnsley manager had described the match as a “good advert for League One football”; I can only assume he must have been watching a different game to the one we saw. As we all agreed it was a rather poor quality match, but of course, we still at least had another point in the bag, which I think was the consolation that both sets of fans took. Both managers did agree however, that a draw was a fair result.
If, and its still a big “If”, Preston NE do secure promotion this season, I hope Barnsley come up via the play-offs and we’ll be back next season for more pies!
Plus Points for Oakwell
1 the name
2 the floodlight pylons
3 the pies
4 the unreserved seating
5 the large allocation for visiting fans
6 the overall “northern” aurora round the ground
Minus Points for Oakwell
None
Barnsley v Doncaster Rovers
Championship League
Saturday, November 9th, 2013, 3pm
James Sneddon (Doncaster Rovers fan)
This was a highly contested South Yorkshire derby between two sides in a relegation battle. Doncaster had beaten their other South Yorkshire rivals in the division, Sheffield Wednesday, already and wanted to do the same at Barnsley. I was excited because it was my first time away at Oakwell and my grandad supports Barnsley (hence the family tension!).
The best thing about this away day was how cheap it was. Tickets were only £10 for Under 17's and I could get on a bus to Barnsley using my Travel South Yorkshire pass, paying only 70p for the journey. The bus I caught was the X19, which runs every hour. I caught the 10:45 to the bus station in Barnsley (which incidentally) is joined to the train station as well. I avoided going into the town centre as I was in my Doncaster shirt and I thought it was best to avoid the home fans due to the occasion. To get to the ground, I left the bus station and walked across the level crossing and turned left going up hill towards the Metrodome, where I walked past seeing the floodlights of Oakwell beyond. Also, going by this route brings you out at the away end and it was a straightforward enough.
As I had arrived early, I met some mates and on entering the ground, I watched the players warm up and even got a picture with Doncaster manager Paul Dickov, who happily signed programmes before the game. The stadium is very modern and suited for Championship football, but the interior of the away stand was a bit dull and the old West Stand on one side outdated. The away end was larger than I'd expected, which helped by allowing me to get a better view of the match.
Before the game, as it was the remembrance weekend, the whole stadium observed a minute's silence. The entire stadium fell silent, which is rare as there's often one idiot who tries to spoil it by making some noise. The game was played in poor conditions, with the teams having to withstand heavy rain in the first half. Rovers conceded a penalty on 25 minutes, but Doncaster keeper, Ross Turnbull dived superbly to deny Chris O'Grady. In the second half, there was more attacking play by both teams, with the away side having the better chances, but neither side could find the back of the net, with the game ending goalless. The Doncaster team applauded the visiting fans as they left the pitch. A 0-0 draw, was probably a fair result for the occasion.
As a preventative measure the Doncaster fans were escorted by the Police back to the train station. I followed the fans and then headed for the nearby at the bus station. I got back on the X19 to Doncaster easily enough and spoke to some Barnsley fans, who also though the draw was the right result.
In my opinion, Barnsley away is a must-do for anyone who supports one of their rival clubs. The atmosphere is buzzing in the away end. Plus the ticket prices were reasonable and it was easy to get to. I thoroughly enjoyed the day out and would recommend it!
Barnsley v Ipswich Town
Championship League
Saturday, February 12th, 2011, 3pm
Stephen Marvin (Ipswich Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I (and my son) always look forward to new grounds. As Ipswich Town fans, who live in the North, it's been a great experience to travel a one hundred mile radius to follow the team. Oakwell was no exception and we set off on a beautiful day over the Pennines and down into "Kes" territory.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey, by car, was very easy and the signposts must be the best in the UK! Very well signposted from the M1 all the way to the stadium. It was a little bit confusing once we got there, regarding where the Visitors' Car Park was located, so we ended up in Home Supporters' Car Park. Cost three pounds, which I thought was very reasonable.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We walked around the ground, through the home supporters to the away fans end with no problems. Warm, friendly atmosphere. We ate at the stadium, which was nice food and well priced. I agree with previous comments about the grilles giving it a prison-type feel, but it was nothing really, we hardly noticed.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I really liked the ground. The away end is one of those that can be split, but there was no need as the capacity was miles from being reached. We had excellent seats and the ground was both impressive (the new stands) and quaint (the old Main Stand).
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
We were approached by a man who asked if my son would take part in a shooting competition at half time. Naturally, he was thrilled and we set off to the half way line at the interval. We were looked after superbly and my son was given a signed ball (signed by both teams) for taking part. The stewards were friendly, the toilets clean, but I don't eat pies! (Despite coming from the North!) so can't comment there. The game was exciting, if scrappy in parts. Ipswich scored in the eighty second minute only to have it cancelled out in the ninety third, but the result was fair.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took a while. We weren't fussed. Probably about half an hour.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A superb day, obviously made special by the shooting competition, but I love clubs like Barnsley,whose supporters shun the big Clubs and support their locals.
Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship League
Saturday, January 16th, 2010, 3pm
Dan Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
The home game with Sheffield Wednesday is one of the first fixtures that Barnsley fans look for at the start of the season, and, with Wednesday having a new manager Alan Irvine at the helm for his first game in charge, we made the short hop across to Barnsley.
Finding Barnsley’s ground is pretty easy – we had a sat-nav, but with Barnsley only being a 20 minute drive from my house it was just in my knowledge! Oakwell is directly next to Barnsley Metrodome Leisure Complex and the ground is quite well sign-posted. Parking was simple, we got in the Metrodome car-park (it was free for home and away fans – bonus!).
We decided as this was a fiery local derby, and as I was daft enough to wear my colours, I went straight into the ground. Barnsley fans can be intimidating to some, though the ones I passed simply walked by, no trouble. I had a pie in the ground (£2.60) and it was nice and warm. Unfortunately, you’re served behind metal mesh, which gives the area as prison-like feel.
The ground only comes into site when you are very close to it, though it was larger than I’d anticipated. The older stand can't be seen from a distance as it is completely covered by the line of houses and shops, though the large two-tiered stand is clearly visible from a far. Once inside the ground, it’s a tidy stadium of the right size for a club of Barnsley’s fan-base. The old stand to our right, the East Stand I think, is a grotty affair and it slightly resembled the Main Stand at Edgeley Park, Stockport. The other two stands were good sized, tidy fixtures with the two-tiered stand especially impressive.
The game was a typical blood and thunder affair, with Wednesday getting a very well deserved 2-1 victory. Tommy Spurr and Jermaine Johnson scored, with an amazing fluke from Halfreddsson for Barnsley slotted in-between, and a good atmosphere. The one downside to the game was that I didn’t see much encouragement from the majority of the Barnsley fans, and the 4,800 Wednesday fans (in an attendance of nearly 18,000) completely out-sang the home side for most of the game! All Wednesday fans stood up all game, the stewards either weren’t fussed or simply thought that they’d be wasting their breath trying to get us to sit down!
Getting away was a bit of a charade – it took us 30 minutes to get out of the car park. They allow club coaches to leave first, so it was unavoidable. Once away, we had no hassle and got home in decent time.
I was pleasantly surprised by Oakwell and would have no worries recommending it to another fan or going myself again. With it being a derby for Wednesday, winning was especially sweet, but the overall day was good and I found Oakwell to be a nice, relaxed place to visit. Barnsley fans play there part in fairness, and possibly warrant a bit more credit for turning out in decent numbers most weeks. I found Oakwell to be a nice enough ground, average compared to places like the Ricoh and St. James Park, but it was good for Barnsley and the day was amazing for Wednesday. Definitely go again.