By Chris Wright
Right, it’s been a while so we thought, with the international break now in full lull, we’d revisit that old Pies staple: our ‘Around the Grounds’ series – this time stopping off for a nosey around Barnsley FC’s one and only home of the last 127 years: Oakwell.
These days Oakwell boasts a healthy 23,000-seater capacity, with the rickety old West Stand being the only original part of the ground. Parts of it date back to 1904, though it has been redeveloped and touched-up several times over the years having been converted into an all-seater stand when The Tykes were promoted to the Premier League in 1997.
From the nippy outside toilets to the brown brick perimeter walls to the ridiculously precarious television gantry; this is what Northern football grounds are supposed to look like…
Ain’t she purdy?
The Football Guide Ground have some cracking photos of Oakwell in its former guise, i.e, before three of the four stands were modernised in 1993…
(Photos: PA)
More in Pies’ Around The Grounds series…
City Ground, Nottingham Forest
Princes Park, Dartford FC’s Wooden Eco Stadium
Molineux, Wolves
The New Maracana, Rio De Janeiro
Griffin Park, Brentford
De Kuip, Feyenoord
Upton Park, West Ham
San Mames, Athletic Bilbao
FC Gspon’s Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, The Highest Pitch In Europe
Valley Parade, Bradford City
Prenton Park, Tranmere
Wankdorf, Young Boys
Estadio Municipal, SC Braga
Home Park, Plymouth Argyle
Victoria Park, Hartlepool United
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
Ninian Park, Cardiff City
Wankdorf Stadium, Young Boys
Portman Road, Ipswich Town
Recreation Ground, Aldershot
Saltergate, Former Home Of Chesterfield
The Crown Ground, Home Of Accrington Stanley