To Halifax and Back for Barnsley FC

Article by Chris Hawden

We have witnessed the dawn of Danny Wilson's rebuilding project.

The aim, to make Barnsley FC competitive once again and have a team competing for the play off places in league one as a minimum.

We have had several opportunities to view the status of Danny's new squad this term.

It started for me in a Pre-season trip away to Halifax Town.

Danny threw a young side out that day, many of those selected in the match day squad were academy graduates, some of them were given the chance to show of their silky skills for the first time in a reds shirt.

In addition a few old faces, the likes of Martin Cranie, Lewin Nyatanger, Big Jean (Jean Yves Mvoto), Dale Jennings and on trial we had Will Hoskins.

Throw into the mix new signings, Adam Davies and also Connor Hourihane and this was the start of a new dawn.

The other big signing of the year so far was Kane Hemming's who took no part in the game due to injury.

There were around 700 reds fans in the stadium that day, all bathing in the summer sunshine.

By full time I concluded that I had witnessed probably the worst performance I've ever seen from a reds side in the league, cup or friendly matches.

The side lacked shape, cohesion, were totally disjointed, passes went astray all afternoon and there was no creative flair to build chances nor any cutting edge up front.

The on trial Will Hoskins did have a reasonable run out and for me was the only player who looked the part on the afternoon.

Injury curtailed any chances he had of obtaining a contract with the reds.

Halifax who ply their trade in the football league conference won the game 2-0.

They simply out muscled Barnsley's young guns.

To say I was worried for the season ahead would be an understatement.

Talk on the terraces was of another relegation and within two years to play Halifax in the conference.

Pre Season continued with a tour to Italy, this highlighted our continued weaknesses, two matches played, two lost one being a 6-0 hammering.

Our loyal fan base was now starting to get anxious.

There was no transfer activity to shout about and nothing seemed to be happening at the Club.

The World Cup shouldn't have affected things at our level, so what was wrong.

In a nut shell, nothing, after a while, new signings started to float into the club, it was the old bus analogy, no bus comes for ages then two arrive together.

Danny Wilson had told us all preseason it was a waiting game, patience required, whilst he demonstrated this in abundance the clubs faithful fans, myself included, had not.

James Bailey, Ross Turnbull, Luke Berry, Reece Brown, Joe Dudgeon (on loan) and Sam Winnall have all joined the club.

Matches against Hull City and then our local rivals from S6 Wednesday, resulted in much better displays but both fixtures ended in draws.

Optimism started flowing back a little, the recent signings at least showing that our club did have ambition.

We have since added Leroy Lita and Devante Cole, son of Andrew Cole to inject some fierce pace and goal scoring prowess into the side.

Sure the team will take time to gel, this statement clearly evident in our opening day home loss to Crawley Town.

But two wins and a draw from our last three matches have allayed my fears and I do believe we are a team capable of competing in the top eight of this league.

I thought we laboured somewhat in the first half against Gillingham, but we scored two class goals a wonder goal hit from thirty yards out by Connor Hourihane and then a superb cross from Reece Brown was headed in by Sam Winnall, the guy deserves a goal he has been industrious throughout the opening games and needed the goal for his confidence.

Hopefully he will settle down now and become as prolific as he was for the Iron last season.

The second half against Gillingham was exhilarating, fast paced attacking football with a real clinical end product.

Dale Jennings looked much fitter and a revelation from his opening display against Crawley which had culminated in a sending off for violent conduct.

We witnessed the first glimpses of attackers Devante Cole and Kane Hemming's, these guys appear to have pace to burn.

Next up is a long journey to Yeovil and whilst they have started poorly, I respect their manager Gary Johnson and I'm sure they will be a stern test.

Saturdays game against Gillingham has left me salivating for more and I cannot wait, for our next home fixtures against York in the Johnston Paint Trophy a competition we have been trying to qualify for during the last eight years of our stint in the championship.

Then a real barnstormer of a game a much anticipated local derby against Doncaster Rovers in the league.

I sincerely hope we can bag more points on the road at Yeovil first.

But Bring it on.

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