QPR Report Interview: The Barnsley Perspective

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April 11 2011

QPR REPORT Q&A - The Barnsley Fan Perspective

This week, Owen from Barnsley Supporters Trust bfcst.org.uk has very kindly (and very swiftly) offered his perspective of Barnsley on and off the field. Very many thanks to Owen.


Starting simply: How long have you supported Barnsley?

I have been supporting Barnsley for over 35 years and a season ticket holder for most of those


How long have you been involved with your Website? How did you get to your site?

I have been involved with the Supporters Trust since our dark days of administration, initially via the Supporters Club, but then when we merged the Supporters Society and Supporters Club


How do you get on with the other Barnsley fan sites: Are there any serious inter-board conflicts (as there certainly are between certain QPR boards!)?

There are a couple of fan sites, the tykes mad site and the barnsleyfc.org.uk site. There is occasionally banter with opposition supporters but I only tend to fleetingly visit them these days


Who's Barnsley's biggest Rival (or Rivals)?
Any of the south Yorkshire teams, such as the two so called "big clubs" in Sheffield, soon to be in the lower leagues, where they belong We also see Leeds, Huddersfield and Doncaster as rivals


Are you happy with your Robbins and team and how things are? - Can you explain/do you understand how things got to this point?

Mark Robins has done a great job of stabilising the ship and moving us up the table We really though on a lot of loan players, which is always a concern, but we have some potential players in the academy that will be coming through over the next few years


What do you think of the current - and previous- Owners? WHY are they involved? WHO ARE THEY?! What do you expect? Could they realistically have done more to boost your chances?

Our current owner is Patrick Cryne, who has done a magnificent job at Oakwell. He bought the club to save us from disaster after the previous owner had put the club in debt. Patrick has backed our managers and the club and is highly respected and appreciated by the vast majority of Barnsley Supporters. He is supported by Don Rowing and Barry Taylor, our directors. They have helped to stabilise the club, following the potentially disasterous reign of Peter Ridsdale and Mr Doyle before him.


How do you think Barnsley treats its fans? Appreciates them? Listens to them? Screws them?

On the whole the club listen and appreciate the supporters. AS a Trust we hold regular monthly meetings with the board of directors at Oakwell, and we often speak with the other staff at Oakwell on regular basis as well. We hope that this dialogue helps to ensure that this relationship continues, which can only benefit all parties


Who are you Dangermen/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?

Our current key players are goalkeeper Luke Steele, as well as Marvin Harewood up front. In midfield Nathan Doyle is cruscial, whilst Jacob Mellis and Jacob Butterfield link up well


Who would you say was the greatest Barnsley player that you yourself personally saw? (You can name more than one if it's that close!)

That is difficult, Ronnie GLavin was superb, but then there is also Neil Redfearn, John Hendrie and Mick McCarthey, so difficult to choose, but I would have to go with Ronnie Glavin from the 1980's a real star player


Prediction for season promotion/relegation places - And how would that compare with pre-season prediction? In your heart of hearts, what were you expecting pre-season for Barnsley?

I wanted a mid table finish this year, but had hoped for a top 10 place. It looks like we are on trtack with a mid table finish, even though we have gone off the boil recently.


What is your view and the general Barnsley view of QPR (If we even feature in your consciousness) or of Neil Warnock?

QPR are champions elect, although I must say I have slight concerns over their ownership set up. Neil Warnock is a good manager, a former Barnsley player as well. We have always had a love hate relationship with him due to his Sheffield United links, but he is a good manager


What are your past Encounter Memories - Best Memory/Worst Memory of Past QPR- Encounters? Who is your favourite QPR Player over the years? (And your least favourite)? We share Nigel Spackman and Paul Hart, Ian Evans and a few others.

I do not take much notice of QPR players to be honest, but that said I have never had many good trips to QPR, we never win is the reason!!!. I remember that over head kick in the cup one year, what a goal but it broke our haearts again. As to Paul Hart and Nigel Spackman, enough said, dull managers, no personalities and thought they were better than supporters. Ian Evans is different a legend, especially in his links with Mickk McCarthey


Are you looking forward to playing QPR?

Yes, hopefully should be a good game, although any Neil Warnock team will not appreciate a drubbing by Sc**thorpe and will want to put it right. I predict a tight game with the odd goal or two to boot.


SCORE PREDICTION for Barnsley-QPR?

2-2 score draw, but I am a hopeless pundit


Where, realistically, do you think Barnsley will be in five years time?

We will still be a championship club, hovering around mid table


Do you have any advice for QPR fans, in the event that we do go up? (Spend more/spend less; keep the manager; change the manager, etc)

Don't expect too much, enjoy the experience and have fun, as well as deep pockets to pay those over inflated ticket prices you will encounter


What one or two questions do you wish I had asked you (and how would you have responded?!)

Cannot think of any at the minute


Very Many thanks again to Owen of Barnsley Supporters Trust bfcst.org.uk . Best of luck (after Tuesday)