Barnsley Supporters FC in IFA Yorkshire Cup Final
The Reds have successfully progressed to the Final despite having been drawn against Yorkshire's other two notoriously strong sides in the Quarter and Semi Finals and go into the game hoping to be the first name on the new Yorkshire Cup trophy.
BSFC are members of the Internet Football Association which was founded around the European Championships in 1996 and has blossomed ever since. A gentleman called Dave Walmsley wanted to show that football fans could come together in the spirit of the game, play football and build bridges between their respective teams. This was after Graham Kelly the then chief of the FA was publicly sceptical about the ability of English supporters to behave themselves at Euro 96.
Barnsley are involved in the IFA League, Yorkshire League and Yorkshire Cup throughout a season which culminates in the summer WorldNet tournament held in Leeds. This is a competition featuring 64 teams from around England, Scotland and abroad. Previous tournaments have seen teams from Greece, Africa, Italy, Ireland and France land on English shores to try and bring home the prestigious WorldNet trophy.
The route to the final
The Reds were given arguably the toughest possible assignment in the Quarter Finals when they were drawn away to local rivals Rotherham United who were unbeaten in League and Cup in 2008-09. Things were already looking bleak for a severely weakened Barnsley side when they trailed 2-0 inside the second half, but when captain Jon Harper was forced off through injury there appeared to be an even bigger mountain to climb for the Reds.
However, goals from Gaz Kemp, Sam Owen and two from Kieron Brown inside the last half hour turned the game on its head and left the Millers shell-shocked as they exited the competition.
BSFC were drawn at home to Hull City in the Semi Final. The Tigers currently sit in third place in the IFA League and are always a tough challenge for anyone in the country.
The fixture was played in a howling wind at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Cudworth and despite playing into the gale in the first half Barnsley managed to somehow hold onto a 0-0 scoreline at the interval. Striker Simon Newey put the hosts ahead early in the second half only for City to turn the game on its head in the space of two minutes. However, twice the Tigers counter attacked with devastating effect to catch the Reds cold and take a somewhat fortunate 2-1 lead.
Barnsley piled forward late on and Newey's second goal forced a dramatic penalty shootout to decide who made the Final. Both sides converted their first three penalties, with Newey, Rob Pick and Ian Sowden all hitting the target for the home side, before Phil McNulty buried Barnsley's fourth attempt. Goalkeeper Danny Haig then pulled off a fine save to deny Hull their fourth conversion, and it was down to Sam Owen to smash home the winning penalty to send Barnsley into the Final.
Saturday's early team news
Early team news for Saturday's Final is that Newey, one of the heroes of the win over Hull, is unavailable due to work commitments, as is defender Bill Redfern. Meanwhile winger Lee Beard is doubtful due to a shoulder problem and centre back Ben Wanless is attempting to overcome a knee injury.
Earlier on this season Barnsley travelled to North Yorkshire to take on this weekend's opponents and came away with a 2-2 draw, so it promises to be tight affair again this time around.
Kick off at Honeywell is 1pm.
Barnsley Supporters FC v York City (from) Recent results
Barnsley Supporters FC recent results Links
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The Internet Football Association
IFA Stats Posted Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Danny Haig, Josh Mills, Alex Varley, Jonno Smales, Stephen Holder, Gavin Saville, Chris Lee, Ben Wanless, Julian White, Allen Cooper, Lee Beard, Richard Brown, Phil McNulty (vc), Jon Harper (c), Sam Owen, Matt Goodwin, Rob Pick, Ian Sowden, Kieron Brown, Chris Johnson.
Barnsley 9-1 Whitby
Tranmere 1-4 Barnsley (played at Prenton Park Stadium)
Barnsley 2-4 Rotherham
