AFC BARNSLEY (Barnsley F.C.)

Member Name: garsbfc

Product:	Barnsley F.C.
Date:	23/08/04 (466 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Community club, Academy pitch

Disadvantages: Some opposition to the idea

AFC Barnsley were formed in May 2003 after serious reservations began to surface regarding the future of Barnsley FC and whether they would actually survive to see the following season. Some disillusioned fans decided to protect the interests of Barnsley fans by making sure someone would continue to care about what the fans actually said and so set about organising how they would move onward. Forming the side was easy, everything else was the problem!
From the start several parties showed an interest and Clint Marcelle, the ex-Barnsley player was about to join as player manager but joined Hucknall Town instead. No matter how disappointing this was, it was to AFC's benefit as non league legend Mark Hancock agreed to be manager was better than anyone could have possibly dreamed of and he began to assemble a side worthy of playing attractive football with a steely determination. Next to join was Martin Tyrell, Assistant Manager of Askern Welfare and then Gary Wiggan, the secretary of Wosborough Bridge then joined on to give his valued expertise and good humour.
Those heady days of July 2003 seem a million years ago now as the club has strove onward and thankfully Barnsley FC was saved by Patrick Cryne and Peter Ridsdale, two people who only have the interests of Barnsley and its fans at heart. After the side began to conquer all before them in the local Sheffield League with a youthful squad, it only seemed correct to contact Barnsley FC and explain our stance and ideas. This led to the club offering to let us rent their academy pitch as AFC applied to join the Central Midlands League after originally failing to meet the league requirements in June 2003.
They now find themselves in the Central midlands League from this season and hope to progress as far as possible in the non league pyramid. After 3 games they are unbeaten, scoring 12 goals and conceding just the one. The original aims have not changed and they have agreed to always stay true to the
ir original purpose - to continue football in the Barnsley area and to actively encourage young people to involve themselves in sport.

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