::OAKWELL 1575AM::

Welcome to our ‘Commentator's Eye' Section.

We've given our commentary team total control of this section of the website. They can add to it whenever they want, from wherever they want (as long as they can remember the secret password!). This means they'll tell it as they see it without it being edited by ‘those in control'.

Make sure you're a regular visitor to this section to see what our team have to say on the latest happenings around Oakwell – and don't forget to keep in touch with the team by E-MAIL or by TEXT.

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Staying Up (?) & Signing Off

So, this is it then. The end of a long but enjoyable journey through a myriad of emotions. When we set off at the start of the season we knew it was going to be a tough year and so it has proved. The objective was to stay up and with two games to go we’re on course but I’m not going to tempt fate by saying we’re there just yet.

For me it’s also the end of the road, at least with Oakwell 1575AM. Time to find myself a new mic or laptop to sit behind from next year. I’ve not done bad though. I’ve managed nearly 11 years in the job which means I’ve lasted longer than ten managers, four chairmen and I dread to think how many players!

We’ve gone through three divisions, come within a last minute winner of heading at a rate of knots to a fourth and played at the greatest stadia this country (and Cardiff) has to offer.

Little did we know when we started things off against Huddersfield on that sunny August day that a few months later we’d be celebrating promotion to the Premiership. Over the years we’ve covered more than 300 matches as well as bringing you a large number of highlights packages from away games across the country.

We’ve had our share of ups and downs and differences of opinion with various people but that’s what football is about, opinions. So hopefully, people will understand that as fans with access to a microphone all we’ve tried to do is be honest and open and bring you all the action as we see it. As I always say it’s not up to me if the fans listening at home are happy, that’s down to those kicking the bag of wind around that grass field.

So, what happens next? As Barnsley fans always do, we hope and pray that good times are ahead! The challenge now for Messrs Shepherd and Davey is to move things forward and we shall join them on their journey.

Oakwell 1575AM will continue on and the team will be back with you in August to provide you with all the action live and exclusive from Oakwell. It’s just possible there could be a few announcements about the station soon so keep your eyes peeled to the club website over the summer.

As for me well I’ll be around somewhere….so if the bloke next to you at a game next season seems to be talking his way through the whole game and analysing every move then leave him alone…..it’ll just be me coming to terms with life on the outside!

Steve Pearson

* The Oakwell 1575AM team would like to thank Steve for all his efforts during his 11 years at the station and wish him every success for the future.

1996/97 And All That

Can it really be a full decade since the reds exceeded the expectations of even their most optimistic of supporters by winning promotion to the country's top division for the first time in their (then) one hundred and ten year history? I must confess that I don't remember a great deal about the game against Bradford City on April 26th '97, it's all a bit of a blur to be honest.

I know I was extremely nervous as I made my way down Grove Street that day and that it was also chucking it down with rain, but even though I summarised for Oakwell 1575AM alongside Steve Pearson, I can recall very few incidents from the actual match itself, save for Wilko & Clint's goals and some fella named Sundgot, who sent blood pressures soaring when he somehow contrived to hit Dave Watson's right hand upright with the entire net gaping, while the score was still 1-0 in Barnsley's favour.

It's all a bit hazy trying to recollect my thoughts of the after-match events as well. I'm sure I must've interviewed a victorious player or two, mingled with ecstatic fans - who just like me couldn't quite believe what they'd witnessed, and received the obligatory journalist's champagne soaking from various members of Danny Wilson's jubilant squad & backroom staff, before heading off to the exec boxes to partake in a celebratory beverage or three myself.

What I do find memorable as I take this nostalgiac look back at that heady time, is the fact that the reds went up to the Premier League in fine fashion, playing a cultured, intricate passing style of football that won them many friends. The shrewd young Wilson encouraged his side to play with a smile on their faces, which the players complimented with pride; passion; flair; finesse and a tremendous team spirit that has never quite been equalled since at Oakwell.

Danny may only have had a small squad to select from, but that first team pool was comprised of an uncompromising rearguard, a steely midfield and no shortage of attacking firepower which produced high calibre performances on a consistent basis throughout the entire 96/97 season.

So, we didn't imagine it, it actually happened - the soccer gods smiled upon Barnsley FC ten years ago and made the impossible dream a reality. The adventure was all too short, which leaves me wishing that I'd managed to fully appreciate what the club had actually achieved back then and taken time out to let it sink home instead of letting those "unforgettable" events of Spring 1997 wash over me. I won't make the same mistake twice though and when that kind of success comes knocking again I intend to savour every wonderful moment!

Matt Bailey

* Don't forget that you can listen to Matt, Adam, Andy, Chris and Allen every home matchday on Oakwell 1575AM & Barnsley World. SATURDAY from 2PM & MIDWEEK From 7PM. Tune in to hear YOUR commentary team.

THE NEW OAKWELL AM SITE!