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| Contents | |
Future Developments North Stand External View What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? North and East Stands (photo) Pontefract Road End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park West Stand (photo) Admission Prices Fixtures 2012-2013 Ground Layout Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Oakwell Location Map |
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| What's Oakwell Football Ground Like? | |
| Approximately three sides of the ground were redeveloped 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) is an all seated, covered stand for home supporters, which has a capacity of 4,500. This stand was opened in 1995. The other end, the North Stand, was previously an open terrace, but is now a relatively new single tier, covered stand, housing 6,000 fans. 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 stadium 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 an electric scoreboard at one corner of the North Stand, on top of a security control room. The teams come out from one corner of the ground between the North and West Stands. | |
| 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? |
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| 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). I found this club 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. | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| Neil Tubby a visiting Norwich
City fan, recommends the Dove Inn on Doncaster Road.
This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide,
is an outlet for the Old Mill Brewery. It is only
a five minute walk away from the ground down
Oakwell Lane and is happily frequented by both
home and away fans. Further along Doncaster Road
(on the right after the Primary School on the left) is
the Barnsley East Dene Working Mens Club, which is
happy to admit visiting supporters (including
accompanied children) without entry charge. You can
also leave your car there at a cost of £1.50. Kevin
Downsworth a visiting Hull City fan
adds; 'The Barnsley East Dene Club was very welcoming to us as away
fans for a pre-game pint. Handy
parking too and only
about a ten minute walk away
from Oakwell'.
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) Wetherspoons in the centre of town, but I should point out that I wasn't wearing colours. Alcohol is available in the away end in the form of Carlsberg bottles (£3.40), when the whole stand is allocated to away fans. Unfortunately if the stand is split between home and away supporters, then the only bar on the concourse is situated 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 (although it can be slow to get out of after
the game has finished) or street parking. Map showing the location of the Oakwell football ground (at the bottom of this page). |
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| 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 and Barnsley. | |
| Admission Prices | |
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All areas of the stadium*: |
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| Programme Price | |
| Official Programme £3. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website. | |
| Fixtures 2012-2013 | |
| Barnsley FC fixture list (takes 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: 2011-2012: 10,332 (Championship League) 2009-2010: 12,964 (Championship League) 2008-2009: 13,189 (Championship League) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Oakwell | |
| Callum
Atkins (Blackburn Rovers) 29/12/12 Stephen Marvin (Ipswich Town) 12/2/11 Dan Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday) 16/1/10 Jon Spencer (Coventry City) 15/8/09 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel
accommodation in the area then first try a hotel
booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all
types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets
from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast
establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced
Apartments. Plus their booking system is
straightforward and easy to use. 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. Access their Barnsley Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad. |
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| Map showing the location of the Oakwell football ground, railway station and listed pubs: | |
| Instructions
for using the map: - Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in / out using the + / - keys. - Click and drag an area of the map to move around or use the up/down, left/right arrows - Click the Satellite button to see aerial view photograph.
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| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have
something to add, please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net
and I'll update the guide. |
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