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Barnsley Ground Name:
Oakwell |
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| Contents | |
| What's The
Ground Like? Future Developments North Stand External View (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? North and East Stands (photo) Where To Drink? Pontefract Road End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train West Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme Price Pontefract Road End (photo) Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Ground Layout Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| Approximately three sides of the ground were re-developed in the 1990's. On one side is the particularly attractive two tiered covered East Stand running along one side of the pitch. Opened in March 1993, this stand has a capacity of 7,500. Opposite is the classic looking West Stand, part of which dates back to 1904. It was made all seated in the mid 1990's, but is only covered at the rear. On its roof is perched an ugly precarious looking television gantry which obscures a probably more attractive gable. At the Pontefract Road End (now named the CK Beckett Stand) of the ground is an all seated, covered stand for home supporters, which has a capacity of 4,500. The other end, the North Stand, was previously an open terrace, but is now a relatively new single tier, covered stand, housing 6,000 supporters. This is the most recent addition to the ground being opened in 1999 and has greatly enhanced the overall look of Oakwell. The North Stand is shared between home and away supporters. The amount of seats given to away supporters varies according to demand. An unusual feature of the ground, is a purpose built stand for disabled supporters. This is a three floor structure that sits at the corner between the East & South Stands. There is also a new electric scoreboard at one corner of the North Stand, on top of a newly constructed security control room. | |
| Future Developments | |
| Scott Kilner informs me; 'The club are looking to replace the old West Stand. It is anticipated that the new development will be more or less identical to the existing two tiered East Stand. However no firm timescales have been set as to when this might happen'. | |
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North Stand External View | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are housed in the new North Stand, where the facilities are good. The normal allocation for away supporters is 2,000 tickets although, if demand requires it, then the whole of this stand can be allocated (6,000). This club I found to be particularly friendly from the car park attendant to the programme seller. Even the P.A. announcer had a sense of humour (although a little optimistic), when he announced that perhaps the visiting fans would like to come up again to see the next Barnsley home game, so that we could see a decent game of football! However, I have reports of fans getting hassle at Barnsley (especially in the town centre) and stewards acting a little heavy handed, although I've never personally had any problems. It is advisable to keep colours covered especially around the town centre. The delicious 'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.30) is available inside the ground, along with cheeseburgers (£2.80), hot dogs (£2.70), sausage rolls (£2) and chips (£1.70). | |
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North and East Stands | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| Paul Sammon, a lifelong Tyke, recommends the Outpost on Sheffield Road. The pub is a ten minute walk from the ground. Gary Holding a visiting Blackburn supporter adds; 'A few minutes walk from the away end is the Metro Dome - an all in one leisure centre, which has a bar inside which serves good food and ale'. Drinking in the town centre is generally not recommended, especially near the Bus & Train Stations, although on my last visit I had a hassle free pint (or two) in the Joseph Bramah (Lloyds No.1) Wetherpoons in the centre of town, but I should point out that I wasn't wearing colours. Alcohol is available in the away end, when the whole of the stand is allocated to away supporters. Unfortunately if the stand is split between home and away fans, then the only bar on the concourse sits on the home side. | |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| Leave the M1 at
Junction 37 and take the A628 towards Barnsley. Stay on this road
(the ground is well signposted) and you will eventually see the
ground on your right. There are a couple of car parks located
at the ground, but they are mainly for permit
holders only. Inbetween the ground and the MetroDome is a car park
for visiting supporters, called Queens Ground, which costs £3
Cars, £6 Mini Buses and £10 Coaches. Otherwise you can
try parking at the MetroDome itself or street
parking. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. | |
| By Train | |
| Barnsley railway
station is about a ten minute walk away. This station is served by
trains running between Sheffield & Leeds. From the train station turn left away from the town centre and head towards the bridge that the dual-carriageway runs over. Go under the bridge and turn left up the slip road and then take the first road on the right and head towards the Metro Dome leisure complex at the top of the hill. Oakwell is now clearly visible. Thanks to Ian Ambler & Bryn Williams for providing the directions. | |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United. | |
| Admission Prices | |
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Home
Fans*: Under 12's tickets must be bought in advance of matchday. Tickets for Under 12's purchased on matchday will be charged at the full Juvenile price. | |
| Programme Price | |
| Official Programme £3. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2009-2010 | |
| For the Barnsley fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
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| Record & Average Attendance | |
| Record
Attendance: 40,255 v Stoke City, FA Cup 5th Round, February 15th, 1936. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 22,650 v Manchester City Division One, March 11th, 2000. Average Attendance: 2009-2010: 12,964 (Championship League) 2008-2009: 13,189 (Championship League) 2007-2008: 11,425 (Championship League) | |
| Fans Reviews Of Oakwell | |
| Dan Brennan (Sheffield
Wednesday) 16/1/10 Jon Spencer (Coventry City) 15/8/09 Mike Churchill (Walsall) 7/1/06 | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Barnsley page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything
is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide. | |
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Return To The Main Menu | |
