Who Gives You Extra?

I do like clubs who at least try and give their season ticket holders a sense of ownership, something a little bit extra when they have made a real financial commitment for the upcoming campaign.

It doesn't have to be much but it can foster a bit of goodwill that takes buying a season ticket beyond just being a straightforward financial transaction, increasingly one that happens online rather than down at the ground.

Something like the upcoming open day at Barnsley FC fits the bill...three different Reds sides will be in action on Saturday 16 July, culminating in the first team on the main Oakwell pitch at 5:30pm, the opposition yet to be confirmed but with admission free for 2022/23 season ticket holders.

Add in a funfair, Fan and Kids Zones and more and it should help give everyone a bit of a lift heading into the League One campaign after relegation last time around.

Notes On A Season - Barnsley FC

The above picture was taken at the training pitches to the side of Oakwell Stadium as Barnsley Under 23's took on Coventry City on a Friday afternoon in early September.

There's something that appeals to me about taking a bit of time off work to watch a game in the afternoon and at matches such as this there is always the chance you will be standing next to a recognisable footballing face of the past doing some scouting of players or opposition.

And Barnsley have made good provision for spectators with plenty of seating and standing areas. Under 23 games that are played on the main Oakwell pitch are usually free admission as well.

Just a few weeks into the campaign at the time, Barnsley's new Assistant Head Coach Andreas Winkler was watching and an elderly fan came over to say how impressed he had been by the start made by the club’s new German management team.

His reply was something along the lines of 'let's hope people are saying the same in six months time' but although the success has continued for the Tykes with promotion back to the Championship secured earlier this week, Winkler himself opted to join new Huddersfield manager Jan Siewert at the John Smith’s Stadium so will be locking horns with Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel next season.

Barnsley FC

I always enjoy visits to Oakwell, home of Barnsley FC since 1887, the ground is easily accessible from the town centre and there is always a nice sense of people walking to the game, following the same traditions as they have done for many years and maybe reminiscing about their favourite players from time gone by.

A number of those players will be inducted into the inaugural Oakwell Hall of Fame on Friday 12th October and there will be further events taking place around the League One home game against Luton Town the following day (kick-off 12pm).

Ticket prices have been reduced to £10 Adults, £5 Seniors, Young Adults and Under 17's and £1 for accompanied Under 12's.

Saturday 13th October is also Non-League Day up and down the country (and beyond).

I'll update as many offers as I can on Twitter but also follow Non-League Day for full details.

Barnsley U23's v Coventry City U23's

An afternoon off work to catch the Sky Blues Under 23's in action at Barnsley on Friday, the hosts winning the game 1-0.

This one took place at the Tykes smart Training Ground/Academy set-up behind the main Oakwell ground but both the grass pitch that this game was being played on and the 4G next to it had ample seating areas and vantage points to watch from.

The action itself can sometimes play second fiddle in these sorts of surroundings as you will often be stood next to plenty of faces you half-recognise, former professionals now involved in the game as coaches or scouts and looking at potential signings for their clubs.

Their presence on the sidelines forms part of the fabric of football up and down the country but the sound of German voices alongside them this afternoon from members of Barnsley's first-team coaching staff shows that the game is becoming ever more global.

Barnsley's next scheduled Under 23 home fixture is on Friday 14th September against Crewe Alexandra. Games played at the main stadium are usually free admission as well.

Shaw Lane AFC v Witton Albion

A big game at the top of the Northern Premier League First Division South on Tuesday evening as Shaw Lane and Witton Albion, locked together on 90 points apiece prior to kick-off, met in a promotion showdown.

Part of an impressive complex of sporting venues that is also home to Barnsley Cricket and Rugby clubs, Shaw Lane’s home is situated just a short distance from the town centre of Barnsley and offers a fine view but also, on Tuesday certainly, an exposure to the elements.

A strong wind, in addition to a hard looking pitch, was a factor for both teams to consider and Shaw Lane probably played the conditions better as they scored the only goal of the game (a cracker) shortly after half-time and then missed two or three more chances to make the points safe and nearly came undone as the visitors struck a post.

A large travelling contingent of Witton supporters made up a healthy attendance of over 600 and the important nature of the game was also reflected in the number of coats, scarves and hats showing the names of other teams.

Barnsley FC fans were well represented and the Tykes have reduced prices for their Easter Monday fixture at home to Brentford. Buy in advance by Sunday 16th and it is £10 Adults and £5 Concessions for both home and away supporters.

Shaw Lane are at home again this Saturday against Chasetown with matchday prices £6 Adults, £3 Concessions and free for Under 14's. 

Football For A Fiver: Barnsley FC

The idea for this blog came out of Coventry City’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy run of the 2012/13 season when the Sky Blues offered £5 tickets for their home ties and attracted over 30,000 to the Ricoh Arena for the Northern Area Final against Crewe Alexandra (we’ll gloss over the result).

 

So it is good to see that Barnsley, who won their Area semi-final at Wigan Athletic recently in a game where all tickets had been reduced to £5, are doing the same for the first leg of the final against Fleetwood Town.

 

All tickets, in all areas of the ground, are a fiver if purchased in advance (£10 on the day) and with the match scheduled for a Saturday (9th January at 3pm) there should be a cracking atmosphere at Oakwell.

Barnsley And Doncaster Rovers

Reciprocal price deals have made some headway in the Premier League and the reduction in some away ticket prices has led to the strange situation where it can cost significantly more to be a visiting fan in the Championship or below.

Well done then to Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers for agreeing such a deal and for a long-established local derby to boot when attendances could generally be expected to be higher than for a normal league game.

When Rovers host Barnsley on 3rd October and for the reverse fixture at Oakwell on Saturday 20th February prices will be £20 Adults, £14 Seniors, £10 Young Adult (17-21), £5 Under-17 and £1 Under-12.

As Barnsley FC chief executive Ben Mansford told his club's official website: "Fair play to both clubs for making this reciprocal ticket offer possible and thanks to the team at Doncaster Rovers for playing their part."

Oakwell That Ends Well For England Under-21's

One season ending and a new one beginning can be a blurred distinction at times, with the list of pre-season friendlies at the Around The Grounds blog begining on 27 June.

Just over two weeks prior to that, on Thursday 11 June, Barnsley FC host what must be the final game of the current campaign when England Under-21's host Belarus in an international friendly which kicks off at 7:45pm.

The reason for the game is that Gareth Southgate is preparing his men for the European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic which kicks off for England on Thursday 18 June against Portugal.

And the reason why the game at Oakwell holds plenty of interest is that Southgate is expected to name a squad that contains players who have already made their senior England debuts and who are already fairly established Premier League stars, Harry Kane being the most obvious example.

Tickets for the game cost £10 for Adults and £5 for Children & Concessions while those Barnsley fans who have already snapped up their season tickets for 2015/16 can claim a 50% discount when purchasing in advance.

Oakwell, Tuesday 3rd March 2015

This picture was taken ahead of Barnsley's League One clash with Coventry City at Oakwell on Tuesday night when home season ticket holders were able to bring a guest for just £5, boosting the attendance to a healthy 9,567 which is the Tykes biggest since a local derby against Doncaster Rovers at the beginning of January.

The stadium itself may be relatively unremarkable (although the old Main Stand remains) but the approach to the ground, through the tight-knit local streets and the amount of people walking down the hill from the town centre do stir up a sense of tradition of a journey that has been made by many generations of families over the years.

349 Sky Blues supporters braved the weather to follow their team, watched for the first time by new manager Tony Mowbray. The club have put together a Mowbray Match Package for the final seven home games of the season which are priced at £99 for adults in the standard zone of the Ricoh Arena.

A Great Gesture From Barnsley After Charlton Athletic Farce

Saturday's Championship fixture between Charlton Athletic and Barnsley fell victim to a waterlogged pitch after an inspection by referee Iain Williamson deemed the surface 'dangerous' with the full agreement of both managers.

It meant a third postponement in a row at the Valley after the FA Cup tie against Oxford United was called off twice and there has clearly been some exceptionally bad weather across many parts of the country recently.

However, Barnsley were notified at only 12:20 on Saturday afternoon according to their chief executive Ben Mansford that a pitch inspection was due for 1pm, obviously far too late for the 500 or so Tykes supporters making the journey from South Yorkshire. No earlier inspection had been planned as, according to Charlton's official website the club's ground staff 'did not deem it necessary'.

were confident the surface was in a better condition than at a comparative stage before the recent matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.
Read more at http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140111-club-statement-1288017.aspx#PxUUeaDxUSw3HqsU.99

An 'absolutely raging' Mansford has contacted the Football League regarding compensation for both club and fans while the home side's own supporters' trust issued a statement on Sunday calling for much greater clarity about when a fixture is threatened with postponement and regular updates via social media. After all, as the CAS Trust states, many Charlton fans come from great distances to support their team at home.

Full marks to Barnsley FC, however, as despite the postponement being out of their hands, they have offered anyone with a ticket for the Charlton game (which remain valid or are eligible for a refund) an equivalent free ticket for this Saturday's home fixture against Blackpool as a goodwill gesture.

Reciprocal Pricing Moves Into The Championship

Following the first successful agreements between Premier League clubs on the prices they charge to away supporters, fuelled by the Football Supporters' Federation's 'Twenty's Plenty' campaign, two Championship clubs have now announced a reciprocal ticket offer for their games against each other this season.

Barnsley and Derby County have pegged prices for their meetings on Sunday 29 December at Oakwell and Easter Monday at the iPro Stadium (Pride Park) respectively with the fact that both games fall during holiday periods a factor in the move.

Derby County President & Chief Executive Sam Rush told his club's official website: "I know Ben Mansford (Barnsley’s Chief Executive) very well and I would like to thank him and Barnsley for being so open to what is a great initiative to benefit both sets of supporters in following their team away from home."