‘It’s like watching Brazil’: Barnsley’s season in the sun
Image Credit: Premier League It is almost exactly 24 years since Barnsley celebrated promotion to the Premier League with a 5-1 defeat Oxford United on the final day of the season. Neil Redfearn scored a consolation goal that day as The Tykes suffered a thrashing, but it mattered not as a place in the top-flight had already been secured for the first time in the club's 99-year history. It was truly a remarkable achievement for the South Yorkshire outfit and it represented the culmination of manager Danny Wilson's quiet transformation of Barnsley from a mid-table second-tier side into one capable of challenging for a promotion place. More than a quarter of a century on, those same dreams could be realised once again as the club looks ahead to the play-offs after a magnificent season. With the Premier League just three games away, we look back to their last campaign in the top-flight and explore a time when Brazil played at Oakwell stadium. "You've just made it to the promised land" explained Carlo van de Watering, co-host of the popular Barnsley podcast 'The Reds Report'. For Carlo and many other Tykes fans there was a sense that playing Premier League football was something of an aberration, a fantastical experience that simply had to be enjoyed. To complement their seat at English football's top table, Barnsley played a superb brand of passing football that led to fans exclaiming that watching their beloved reds was more akin to watching Brazil. "My first emotion was let's just enjoy it and, of course, there's the tagline of 'its just like watching Brazil' but it really was like watching Brazil I think with the passing football that we played. "It was flowing football and it was brilliant to watch." It truly was. Wilson's side earned their first top-flight victory on a clammy midweek evening at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace fell victim to the flowing football and Neil Redfearn's left foot. With his collar up, Redfearn collected the ball mid-way inside the Palace half, nonchalantly shimmied his way across the edge of the penalty area and struck a piledriver into the top corner of the net. The trip to South London was one of many treasured away games enjoyed by the Tykes faithful that season but for Carlo and his fellow supporters, the result was largely irrelevant. "I remember when United beat us seven nil or whatever at Old Trafford, it didn't matter, did it because you never expect to win there. "I remember playing Chelsea, we're losing five nil and, you know, there's 20,000 of us Barnsley fans singing we're going to win 6-5. Yeah, we got battered but I can say I saw Gianfranco Zola and Vialli." However, the Tykes showed time and again that they weren't just there to make up the numbers as they enjoyed famous victories at Anfield and Villa Park, with Ashley Ward scoring the winner on both occasions. It was not only the league that yielded such monumental wins as Danny Wilson's men enjoyed a wonderful cup run that saw Barnsley brush aside Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur before they faced Manchester United in the fifth round. After holding United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, the Tykes welcomed Sir Alex Ferguson's champions to Oakwell where they played out one of the most iconic games the old stadium has ever seen. John Hendrie opened the scoring with a deft chip over the towering Peter Schmeichel before the largely unknown Scott Jones headed home a second, just prior to the break. Teddy Sheringham's reply was cancelled out quickly by none other than Jones, who scored perhaps the only brace he would ever score in his career, with another crashing header. Andy Cole added a second for the visitors but it was a mere consolation as Wilson's side held on to knock the champions out of the FA Cup. "Scott Jones, I mean, he had to fill in because it was an injury close to the game and to be honest nobody had really heard of him, but yeah he popped up with a couple of goals. "But I think that that was the advantage of us that season that we would expect it to lose every match and when results went that way it was a bonus." Such results meant more than just three points for Barnsley, it meant that the town was able to shed the negative image it had been unfairly handed by the press during the 1980s and gave locals something to be proud of. "I suppose Barnsley was still in the aftermath of the mining industry sort of closing down, there was the miner's strike and mining was all that Barnsley had. "So to realise the dream of playing in the Premier League, it just united the town and people started to notice Barnsley for the right reasons." There is a poignancy to Barnsley's promotion push of this season as, just like in 1997, the town is emerging from a traumatic period and uniting around the success on the pitch, albeit virtually. "You look at the greater scope of things, people have lost lives, jobs, so a lot of people have been worse off. So it's been great that during those times that we've been able to have this lift, to enjoy what we see on a Saturday to go on that run." Looking into his crystal ball, Carlo was optimistic about where the club could be, come May 2022. "Survival on the last day from the Premier League. Is that too much to ask?"
James Coppinger states he’s “loved every minute’ at Doncaster
(Photo credit: Doncaster Free Press). Doncaster’s James Coppinger states his motivation throughout his career was always to be happy. The 40-year-old is preparing to make his final appearance for Rovers this weekend, ahead of his retirement from football. After spending 17 years in South Yorkshire, he states his good relationship with the club is behind his long stay. He said: “We’ve been loyal with each other. There have been opportunities to leave, which in some cases I haven’t found out until after, but Doncaster have always matched my expectations. I have spoken to lads who have left, and I’ve told myself ‘the grass isn’t always greener’” “I never felt the need to leave. I’ve never played for money, my motivation is to play football and to be happy, which is why I’ve stayed here.”
Although Doncaster has now become home for Coppinger, it wasn’t instant love at first sight. “I remember walking through the door at Belle Vue with the porta cabins thinking what the hell is this, but as soon as I walked into the dressing room I felt at home and that hasn’t changed, I’ve loved every minute.” He also admits an early conversation with former manager Dave Penney convinced him he had joined the right club. “I had been at a team that were used to losing every week and were stuck in that mentality, so I spoke to Dave (Penney) and asked him what the difference was and why they were doing so well. “He just said: ‘we are huge on team spirit; we’ve got a fantastic group of players who work hard for each other.’”View this post on Instagram
Coppinger also admits the match in which he was scouted by Doncaster was far from perfection. “I remember the game; it was a tough one away in terrible conditions, but I’m glad I played. I was so grateful to get the chance to come back up north and join a club on the up and flying high.”6️⃣9️⃣4️⃣ down ... one to go. ❤️ #DRFC https://t.co/UNHDdZJ03V pic.twitter.com/JNotF9qEei
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) May 6, 2021
Sheffield’s beloved nightclub is back on its feet after 14 months
The Leadmill, Sheffield's oldest and most-beloved nightclub and live music venue, reopened its doors - sort of. They are open again for the first time since their short, 5-week seated experience whilst Sheffield was under tier-two lockdown back in September last year. Liam, a promoter for the venue, admitted that the last fourteen months have been "a really rough time, the start of the lockdown was devastating for us and the local community." Community is at the centre of The Leadmill's ethos. When the general manager was made aware that local retailers were hiking prices of products such as selling toilet roll, they used their wholesale contacts to order large supplies and sold them to the local people at cost price. Liam said of the move, "We saw so many people in need and shop owners were trying to capitalise on the fears of people to make some extra money. We knew we had an opportunity to give back to the community that has shown us so much love over the last forty years." That commitment to helping the community was immediately repaid when a Crowd Funder, set up as part of the Music Venue Trust's #SaveOurVenues Crowd Funder, raised £24,480. The campaign was set up to help prevent the closure of hundreds of independent music venues across the country. Acts which have previously performed at The Leadmill also chipped in to help save the historic venue. Alex Turner, lead singer of Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys donated a guitar to the Music Venue Trust which fetched £128,544 at auction, of which £7,200 went The Leadmill to pay for staff wages, rent and operating costs. Billy Bragg hosted a live streamed gig to raise further funds for the venue - amassing over £10,000 in donations during the day. Liam and the rest of The Leadmill's staff were ecstatic by the support shown. "The generosity of our customers has been mind-blowing. We care about our customers and it means everything to us - we'll make it worth it for you all." After over a year without any consistent income The Leadmill was forced to get creative and turn the pavement in front of the venue into a beer garden for its grand opening on the 12th, in line with the government's latest Covid-19 restrictions. The area, which for over four decades has been the site of dozens of smoking, lovesick indie music fans, has been transformed into a vibrant, intimate and socially-distanced beer garden - much to the joy of its long-adoring fans. Ben Armitage, a former Sheffield Hallam student, said: "We've all missed coming here, it's the best place in Sheffield for nights out if you love independent music and it's great to see that they've managed to stay on their feet." While the plan for The Leadmill is to focus on the indoor opening on May 17th and the grand re-opening on June 21st, Liam assured us "anything is possible at the moment, the beer garden has been an enormous success and we may bring it back for special occasions. "We're always pushing to be bigger and better, we missed out on our big 40th birthday celebrations last year so we'll have to reorganise and properly celebrate that once everybody is back." The beer garden operates on a first come first served basis and is at 6 Leadmill Road, Sheffield S1 4SE.
Owls’ assistant manager Jamie Smith ‘excited’ for tomorrow’s relegation clash against Derby County
Image credit: Yorkshire Live Ahead of Sheffield Wednesday's season defining game tomorrow, assistant manager Jamie Smith has spoken to the press. The Owls face Wayne Rooney's Derby, who have lost their last five games in a row and require a Rotherham draw/loss to stay in the league.
Credit: www.fotmob.com
Doncaster boss urges players to use Peterborough promotion celebrations as ‘next season’s motivation’
Andy Butler wants his Doncaster side to use Peterborough's celebrations as motivation for their own promotion push during the 2021-22 campaign.
Ahead of Sunday's clash at The Keepmoat, Butler said: "We can use Peterborough getting promoted to push us on. It's not nice to watch teams celebrating in front of us but we can draw on this, use it to drive us on and make sure it's us there instead next season."
Butler predicted a tough tie against the Posh, but felt that Rovers should go into the game with some confidence following their 2-2 draw with Darren Ferguson's men at London Road just ten days ago.
"We were decent at their place, even Ferguson said that we were a real thorn in their side. It's always nice to get a victory in the last game, especially at home.
"The onus is on us to prove we are a good side, to finish as high as we can and take the result into the start of next season."
Butler revealed that he had been interviewed for the permanent position at The Keepmoat, with the club looking to make their appointment quickly.
"The interview went well- we have the second stage at some point in the next week or so. The club are keen to appoint someone as soon as possible so they can start getting players in.
"It can be difficult to get a squad together, so don't want to be left on the back foot.”
Sunday's tie is sure to be an emotional one for Rovers fans, with James Coppinger set to make the last appearance of his 17-year spell at the club.
Butler said: "James has been an unbelievable servant, he's a Doncaster legend. Everyone in and out of football speaks so highly of him and he's always helping the youngsters out where he can.
"What a person, what a player, what a career- all young players should be looking to emulate him."
Butler had his own message for the Doncaster faithful, who he said will be missed on the terraces for the final game of the campaign.
"If it's not meant to be in terms of me being in this position next season, then it's not meant to be- but I want to thank the fans and tell them I have given everything I have for Doncaster Rovers."
Rovers will be without Taylor Richards, who has cut short his Doncaster loan to return to Brighton and receive treatment for a groin injury. However, Butler was impressed with the way Richards had applied himself this season.
"He's improved a lot this year. If he can put work rate and ability together, Brighton will have got some player on their hands- the way he’s adapted to League 1 football has been excellent."
From Germany’s rock to Barnsley’s hero – Valérien Ismaël’s journey to management
Feature image taken by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Barnsley's promotion push in the Championship has been spearheaded by the influential Valérien Ismaël, who came in at the start of the season to stabilise the South Yorkshire side. Instead, the Tykes have secured a play-off position, with only three matches separating them from the Premier League. But his rise to management is something that has gone under the radar. Speaking after the match against Millwall, it was clear that 'trust' was a fundamental aspect to his management style. He said: "The most important aspect to management is loyalty, because you have to make sure the players have belief, and if they have that, then they'll perform to a higher standard." Ismaël's players have responded to his demands in spectacular fashion, losing just three times in 18 matches, allowing the club to climb above their promotion rivals. During this sensational run-in, they won 13 of their games, creating a buzz that hasn't been seen in the city for a very long time. Evidently, Ismael's tactics have rubbed off on his squad, with striker Victor Adeboyejo, 23, full of praise for the Frenchman's modus operandi. When asked about how vocal the manager was, he said: "the gaffer speaks to me all the time, but he does that with everyone in the squad. It's nice to have someone that always has faith in you. "The manager has made sure that all of us (strikers) have a big part to play. He makes us feel special." During his time as a player, Valerien was a tall, strong and ferocious centre-back, making a name for himself during his time in Germany. Accustoming his Barnsley side to a 'three at the back' formation, his defensive capabilities as a player have certainly been influential to his managerial strategies. He was sensationally part of a Werder Bremen side that won the league and cup double in 2004. His talents were eventually swept up by Bayern Munich in 2005.
Valérien Ismaël at Bayern Munich. Photo from tablesleague.com
Q&A with Neil McCubbin and Matt Windle ahead of their Commonwealth title bout
On June 11, boxers Neil McCubbin and Matt Windle will contest for the Commonwealth Light-Flyweight title at Sheffield Arena Car Park. They will be boxing for a title that has been vacated since 1987 and has not been held by a British fighter for 119 years. Ahead of the main event on a Dennis Hobson card, both fighters spoke to the Sheffield Wire ahead of their huge night. It's a pleasure to meet you both, please tell us a little bit about your background and career in boxing up to this date? Neil McCubbin: "I started boxing between the ages of 11 and 12, from then I had 45 fights as an amateur, I won Scottish titles and was also a member of Team GB. I was always more suited to the pro game so after my last Scottish title I decided to turn pro and it's been a really good move." Matt Windle: "I was an amateur for just under nine years, I won a couple of Midlands Titles and reached the quarter finals of National Championships, totalling 65 amateur fights. I've always boxed at senior level except for four fights aside after starting boxing when I was 15, I turned pro in 2015 and although my record does not look great, I feel like I won my previous two West Midlands title fights but now I'm moving onto bigger and better things." You are both fighting for a title that has been vacated since 1987, with Commonwealth champions in other divisions being household names such as Joe Joyce, Lyndon Arthur and Zelfa Barrett - how significant is this fight for you? MW: "I used to watch every single Friday Fight Night religiously, and it was always a British, Commonwealth and/or European title fight on the line. It's funny because I remember watching Carl Froch win one with Spencer McCracken in his corner and he's now my trainer. To be there now challenging for a title, it's huge, it's almost like a childhood ambition coming true." NM: "The last British person who won it was in 1902. So for this to come about is a huge opportunity, so when I take this [title back] it is going to skyrocket! So yeah, I am looking forward to it."
Windle versus McCubbin will be streamed live on Fightzone (credit: Fightzone)
British boxer, Sunny Edwards, won the IBF flyweight world title last Friday
Why should fans get behind you for this fight? MW: "I think there's a multitude of reasons, it's such a huge fight because I want to bring this historic title back to England. I really genuinely believe that this will be an exciting fight to watch, even for the casuals who want knock-downs and tear ups. So one for the boxing purists and armchair fans." NM: "I have got a fan-friendly style. For the casual fan it is fantastic because eight or nine times out of ten you will be watching a fantastic fight" Do you have anything to say to your opponent before the fight? NM: "He seems a very likable guy, so I wish him the best of luck and that the best man will win on the night." MW: "I hope he stays healthy because I don't want the fight to fall through! But I look forward to meeting him, we'll introduce one another by punching each other in the face before hopefully embracing after the fight over a beer or water." You can watch the fight online with Fightzone or you can purchase tickets for the show by calling Dennis Hobson Promotions on 0114 243 4443.View this post on Instagram
South Yorkshire fire service calls for public’s help in stopping arson
(Credit: DVIDSHUB) Fire and Rescue teams across South Yorkshire have appealed to for public help in cracking down on arson by reporting deliberate fires to a new dedicated fire line. South Yorkshire have begun working with FireStoppers after 3945 deliberate blazes were started in the county over the last year. Figures show that Doncaster had the highest number of these fires with 1116 set, followed by Rotherham with 1053, Barnsley with 989 and Sheffield with 787. FireStoppers is an arm of UK charity Crimestoppers which allows the pubic to anonymously report information on deliberate fires which is then used in fire and police investigations. The fire service hopes this new tactic will help reduce call-outs, protect public property, keep people safe and safeguard the environment Deputy Head of the Police and Fire Community Safety Team, Matt Gillatt said: “We’ve made great strides in terms of reducing house fires over the last 10 years, but nearly 4000 deliberate fires in one year is 4000 too many. “We want to show people that we are taking this issue seriously and we also felt we needed to provide people a safe, anonymous route to report details of arson attacks to us. “Other fire services across the country have successfully reduced deliberate fire setting by up to 20 percent through this service, and we’re hoping it will have a positive impact here. “Our ask of the public is simple – if you know anything about deliberate fire-setting in your area then please report it via the FireStoppers line and help us crack down on these fires.” FireStoppers can be reached by calling 0800 169 5558, or by using the online form: www.firestoppersreport.co.uk.
Former Doncaster manager hails ‘fantastic servant’ James Coppinger
(Photo credit: York Football Club). Former Doncaster manager, Dave Penney, says the club nearly missed out on signing James Coppinger in 2004. The midfielder, who bows out of professional football this weekend, was unwell in the build-up to the game in which Rovers were scouting him. Ultimately, he did feature in the match and the rest is history, as he moved to South Yorkshire for £30,000. Penney, who managed Doncaster between 2001 and 2006, said: “I already knew of him because he’d gone to Newcastle for big money. He had ended up playing for Exeter but being from the North East, I don’t think he was happy down there. “I knew the Exeter manager and had a decent relationship with his agent, so I went watching him at Kings Lynn. Apparently, he wasn’t too well in the build-up, but he played and did alright, so we signed him.”
Penney states as soon as he saw Coppinger in training he was impressed, and believes he will go down as one of the club’s all-time great signings. “His first touch, awareness and ability was better than anything else we had at the club during that particular time, and 17 years later it’s probably the best money Doncaster have ever spent. “He’s been a fantastic servant and compared to what they pay now it’s peanuts. I’m sure he could’ve been sold for a lot of money at some stage, but it didn’t happen because either he didn’t want to go, or the club didn’t want to sell.” Coppinger joined Rovers at a time when football was modernising. Penney believes the midfielder was part of a group of players who really benefitted from the advances in the game, which looked beyond physical performance. “We had a good group of talented fit footballers who had the same work ethic and fitness levels which took the club up. We also brought in a sport scientist and some people got a lot out of it. James took to that, and it’s helped him with the mentality side of thing which is massive.” Penney puts Coppinger’s longevity down to his physique and the good shape he has remains in. “He’s played so well because he is fit, as he doesn’t carry any weight and has the right body type. It’s helped him to carry on as long as he has, the 40s are the new 30s. “It’s difficult to compare era to era, but in the last 15 years he has to be at the top with everything he has done, including the goal he scored at Brentford to get Doncaster to the Championship.”6️⃣9️⃣4️⃣ down ... one to go. ❤️ #DRFC https://t.co/UNHDdZJ03V pic.twitter.com/JNotF9qEei
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) May 6, 2021
BREAKING: First Conservative seat in Sheffield in 20 years
The Conservative Party have won their first council seats in Sheffield since 2004 after they won a seat in Stocksbridge and Upper Don as Labour haemorrages votes. Conservative candidate Lewis Chinchen defeated the incumbent Labour councillor Lisa Baines by 1822 to 1325 votes. This follows the nationwide trend of a massive surge for the Conservative Party alongside serious losses for Labour. Follow our election coverage here on Sheffield Wire.
Gary Allen trial – The accused found pleasure in planning and executing attacks on prostitutes, Court heard
A man accused of murdering two women had a ‘strong dislike and distrust’ of women and believed prostitutes were the ‘lowest of the low’, Sheffield Crown Court heard today. Gary Allen, 47, is accused of murdering Rotherham mum, Alena Grlavkova, 38, in 2018 and Samantha Glass, 29, from Hull in 1997. He denies the charges. The court heard Allen had a history of violence towards women, including attacks on two sex workers in Plymouth in 2000. The second victim of these attacks, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence to the jury today. Recalling the attack, she said Allen had asked for oral sex and the pair had moved to a more secluded location. Once there, she requested payment and Allen had allegedly grabbed her by the throat, before putting her in a headlock. She said: “He was just squeezing, just squeezing my neck. I was struggling. He dragged me and I fell on the floor. I fell on my back. I tried to get up, but he held me down somehow. “I screamed ‘somebody help me. He’s attacking me.’ I think I shouted it three times. “He was punching me. I was trying to get him off me. He tried to put his hand on my mouth. He was trying to get his fingers in my mouth. I bit him.” She claims he then started punching her in the back of her head before running away, yelling ‘wh*re’ back at her as he left. The court also heard evidence from Rosemary Parkes who met Allen when working as his seconded probation officer. She was responsible for assessing whether or not a prisoner should be released on parole. Allen had been convicted of the indecent assault of two sex workers in 2000 and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. Mrs Parkes claimed in their meetings Allen spoke to her about his feelings towards prostitutes and towards women generally. She said: “He spoke openly about his strong dislike of prostitutes and his dislike and distrust of women in general. “He described prostitutes as being scum, the lowest of the low. “He targeted prostitutes as they go with anyone and he stated also that he gained pleasure from hurting and that builds from the planning stage.” She told the jury Allen had told her he still had the desire to hurt people and did not think he could change. Allen did not appear in court today. No reason for his absence was given, but the jury was advised to not hold it against him. He denies two counts of murder. The trial will resume on Monday.
Question marks over Oli McBurnie’s Sheffield United future amid Wolves interest
For others, the financial aspect of any deal for McBurnie is the most important. With relegation to the second tier and the economic impact of the pandemic, United cannot afford to incur a significant loss on McBurnie. If he is to leave, it will take a significant fee to convince some United fans that the deal is best for both parties.9) Oli McBurnie - not quite been his season! There’s something there, he’s only 24 & will come good, 12 starts only don’t forget. Goal return poor but puts himself about. Not going to recoup the money so a good asset next season and I’d keep. 20 goals next year? @SheffUnitedWay pic.twitter.com/IAiwTXU8kU
— Adam Wilson - The Statman - SheffUnitedWay (@adamblade83) April 27, 2021
The saga surrounding McBurnie's future, and whether a move elsewhere will materialise, looks set to rumble on throughout the summer. For whoever enters the Bramall Lane dugout, ending this uncertainty will be at the top of their list. The sooner this decision is made, they can either begin to help the forward prepare for what could be a defining season in his United career, or seal a move away that might open space for further investment in the Blades' frontline.For me his championship record is enough to warrant a chance, especially given the lack of creativity over the past two seasons. You also have to factor in what selling at a huge loss would mean for the balance sheet. Selling an £18m 'asset' for £5m, won't help future investment.
— Steve Food (@DundeeBlade) April 27, 2021