Toon didn't need the Hassell!How very dare they! With their short arms and deep pockets, those tight Yorkshire gets refused to give us three points and Barnsley 2 Newcastle United 2, was probably as fair a result as we deserved in the end. Backed by a minibus short of 7,000 fans, it was set up for and Newcastle were probably expecting, a perfect return. As it happens, apart from a spell in the first half, Barnsley were more than good for their point and battered us for spells. And this time we couldn’t sneak a win, though we came very close and it took a last gasp equaliser to spoil all of the black and white fun.
With roughly 7,000 fans spilling down the A1 and from various parts of the country, there was promise of a special day out and as the masses gathered behind the North Stand (and West Stand) in the bright wintery sunshine, the mood was vibrant. Hughton made several changes to the team that played against Coventry, as Ryan Taylor game in for Danny Simpson, while Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll (a surprise inclusion) replaced Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Amoeobi. The formation began as a 4-5-1 with Nolan playing mostly as a second striker but as the game progressed he dropped deeper. (more…)
Nice badgeFollowing on from the Coventry game thread, I thought it would be a good idea to put up another article for the Barnsley game, that you can just use for the match banter. This time yours truly will be in attendance but not all Toon fans are lucky enough to be there, even if there are 7,000 mad bastards making the trip. Particularly some of our fans farther afield. So this can be the place to come together during the match and p*ss and moan, as we usually do.
And if anyone can find radio, video links etc to the game for people who don’t have it, I’m sure that would be appreciated. As I’ll be on my way down to the game or holed-up in a boozer, I might not be able to update with team news and craic from the build-up, as and when we find it out but hopefully worky will.
Results went our way this week and hopefully we can just keep rolling on.
Barnsley: Famous for coal and bottle making.So, here we are with my next instalment of Newcastle United away fan’s guides. This features our game at Oakwell, Barnsley on Saturday 12th December and is scheduled for a 3pm kick off, which has been unusual for us away from home!
At around 115 miles from Newcastle, Barnsley is not a bad jolly away for the Toon. The journey is a pretty staight-forward one, coming straight down the A1 (like it is for all our away games), meeting up with M1 at Leeds and following that south down to J37 (A628); exit there and follow the signs into Barnsley. Pretty much as soon as you leave the motorway you will pick up signs for the ground but even if you miss these you will end up at the ground anyway, so long as you stay on this road. There is another way in off the A1(M) via Pontefract and picking up the A628. Frankly, sticking to the first option is quicker and cuts out the risk of getting stuck in traffic.
The train station is no more than 10 minutes walking from the ground so anyone who comes via a train will be fine.
Right, now your around the ground you’ll need to park. On your way to the ground, the chances are you will have seen at least a sign, if not the building itself, which is the Barnsley Metrodome, a big leisure centre type thing which you can try parking at, or on any nearby streets, just watch out for tow away zones! (more…)
