SPORT RETURNS

Barnsley fans will forever remember returning to the Oakwell seats for the Championship play-off game against Swansea in 2021.

At the time, the club were just three games away from the Premier League in a season which saw no fans in the ground throughout. There were about 4,500 season ticket holders who had been successful in the ballot spread around the North Stand, East Stand and Pontefract Road End.

They got their first glimpse of head coach Valerien Ismael, who took over from Gerhard Struber after the Reds had not won in seven games - their joint longest wait for a first win of a season since 1920.

They had also never seen in the flesh star players such as Daryl Dike, Carlton Morris, Dominik Frieser, Michal Helik and Callum Brittain.

Although the Reds lost 1-0, the reception for the players before and after the game, as well as the support during, was huge and the fans were praised by staff and coaches after the match. Ismael said: “I want to thank the Barnsley fans for an amazing atmosphere.

“It felt like 30,000. It is a big reward for everyone to finish the season at Oakwell with such an incredible atmosphere.”

It was clear Barnsley fans were excited to get back to the ground, but some admitted they were nervous due to the pandemic.

Liam Dyson, season ticket holder and creator of fanzine West Stand Bogs, said: “At first, I was adamant that I wouldn’t go to the match because I have a young baby at home and I was worried about safety.

“But I entered the ballot because it was one of those games I wanted to be able to tell my kids about. “I was a bit late and didn’t get to the ground until about 8pm.

“It was incredibly eerie and surreal walking up to the ground 15 minutes before a game and there being no one else there.

“Once I got in, I thought it was organised really, really well and it felt incredibly safe and wellstructured.

“Despite some moments of relative calm and silence, it was much noisier with a better atmosphere than I expected.

“I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it but I did and it was a really nice welcome back for those of us who were lucky enough to get a ticket. “The result was disappointing but you could see why this team has been successful.

“At the end I was about to leave then I realised it was bigger than a normal full-time and it was right to say thank you to this team and the staff.

“They have brought some joy and hope to the town during what has been a bad time.”