I suppose
I should begin with an introduction of myself, as this is the first
of what will be a series of articles chronicling, "The Diary
of a Barnsley Fan", throughout this season.
Well,
I'm Neil Allen, a Barnsley lad, born and bred - still living and
working in Barnsley, and a season ticket holder for many years 'darn
at t'well'. (Down at Oakwell for those of you not from Barnsley).
I'm
no journalist, just a normal fan that has volunteered to record
how he feels about his football club throughout the season.
When
I'm not watching the Super Reds I'll be playing golf badly, or thinking
about what to write for my next instalment, which brings me on nicely
to this, my first effort…….
Deadline
I've
had a deadline for this for weeks, but I've waited, and waited -
hoping and praying to see some resolution to the mess we have been
in.
Well,
the deadline has arrived, (I even waited for the late announcement
on Monday), and we are still in administration with less than a
week to go to the season.
Players
have gone and we've only been allowed one pre-season friendly -
it's looking great!
Divided
opinion
Having
spent most of the summer reading the BBS, an internet forum for
Barnsley fans, it's clear that there is a camp of optimists, and
a camp of pessimists.
I can't
help thinking how reflective this is of Barnsley fans and football
fans as a whole. Despite everything, I remain an optimist.
I can
however understand why the pessimists, (sometimes called cynics
or call themselves realists), feel as they do, and I firmly believe
that it's this variation of opinion that makes football great -
after all there is no point debating this stuff if we all have the
same viewpoint.
None
of us yet know who is right and who is wrong - so lets keep up the
healthy debate!
Blind
faith
There
is no logical reason for my optimism; it is simply blind faith and
belief that things can only get better. The more I consider this
I question my sanity, but that is how I am. So why the optimism?
Good
manager
Well,
I believe that we have brought in a good manager who, assuming he
is ever allowed to work without his hands tied behind his back,
will bring in the players, the organisation and the work rate that
have been so sadly missing for many years.
The
players we have in on trial generally look to be of a good standard,
and some of our existing players who have previously disappointed
seem to be training well, ready to work hard for the new manager.
And
of course, it's summer, which means a long dull pre-season, a time
when most football fans talk up their chances and look forward to
the start of the new season.
It's
less than a week away now until we entertain Colchester, a team
that look to have strengthened well over the summer and finished
last season pretty well - so it's gonna be a test right from the
start.
Betting
coupon
There's
no doubt though, come 2.45pm on Saturday, despite everything that's
gone against us this year, I'll be walking up Queens Road thinking
about what to put on my betting coupon, convinced that we will be
getting off to a flyer!
Whoever
we play, whatever is happening, I feel that way every time I walk
up to the ground - that's what its like being an optimist!
Barnsley
to win 2-0 and Hayward to score first or last - that'll be on my
betting coupon, and then it's onwards and upwards.
COME
ON YOU REDS!
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