Saturday 19th August 2023 ko 15:00

EFL League 1

BARNSLEY 1 (Cole 69)

OXFORD UNITED 3 (Brannagan 8p Williams 53og Goodrham 87)

Att 11,753 (620 away)

Entry £23

Programme £4

Official car park £5

These Robyn revisits are proving to be interesting. It had been the best part of two decades since I’d visited Oakwell and back then I’d taken the Oxford United supporters’ coach straight in and out. This time out I hankered after finding more about the South Yorkshire town than just the football. And yes, I have been to Athersley Recreation!

When I think of Barnsley I think of coal mining, Arthur Scargill was born in nearby Worsborough Dale after all and I’d recommend you visit the Oaks Colliery Disaster Memorial on Church Street. It commemorates the 1866 firedamp explosion that killed 361 miners- Britain’s worst mining tragedy. The piece was sculpted by Graham Ibbeson, and nearby is another of his works, the statue to that doyen of cricket umpiring, Harold “Dickie” Bird.

You really do need to complete the triumvirate of Graham Ibbeson statues by visiting the Barry Hines Memorial in Cheapside. The statue is of “Kes” his most famous character in his novel “A Kestrel for a Knave” and yes Robyn and did make a point of watching Ken Loach’s film the next day.

The great joy of Oakwell is that is remains completely part of its community- you can even see the town hall through the gap between the North and West Stands. They’ve played here since 1887, and I’ve no doubt your eye will be drawn to the Archibald Leitch designed West Stand dating from 1904. Sadly, its neither listed nor used by fans (on safety grounds), and the Oxford United media team did rather pointedly comment that “Safety grounds” didn’t extend to them. Truthfully, I’d have swapped places with them in an instant, I’d have loved to explore there.

Elsewhere the ground features 3 modern with the away North Stand seemingly far too large for the away followings Barnsley get in either League 1 or the Championship. It was built in 1995, just after the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Certainly 620 Oxford fans enjoyed the space of a 6,000 capacity stand, even if less than half of it was open!

Despite Oxford’s excellent win at Derby County the previous Tuesday the one thing I didn’t expect was an away win. Oxford had never won at Barnsley and had only managed to score twice, through Gary Briggs, and Andy Melville- two centre halves! But once Marcus Browne had been brought down by Mael de Gevigney and Cameron Brannagan stroked away the penalty, Oxford took control. After that we saw sons with famous fathers to the fore. Stanley Mills’ (father Danny) run and cross was turned into his own net by Jordan Williams, before Andy Cole’s son, Devante nodded home from a corner to give Barnsley hope.

But Oxford have some excellent products of the youth system coming through, and two combined for the winner. Gatlin O’Donkor held off a stiff challenge to feed livewire winger Tyler Goodrham. He raced through, and he is one of those few players who when clean through you have absolute confidence that he’ll score. He did, and celebrated as only a local lad playing for his hometown club does.

As a fan it’s always lovely to see your side win away and win well. We made back to the M1 via a well organised away car park, but writing this with a week or two’s hindsight there was more to it than just that. It was a treat to frame Barnsley in a completely different way, and Robyn managed another step towards her 92. It really was a win-win in all senses.