RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Barnsley
DATE – Saturday 10th March
KO TIME – 1.30pm *please note new kickoff time*
THE GROUND – Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley – click here and here for maps of the area – the red circle shows where the ground is.
Oakwell is just east of the centre of Barnsley, only a couple of miles from jcn 37 of the M1.
Away supporters are seated the North Stand, where normally up to 2,000 seats are allocated – but depending upon demand, this can be increased to around 6,000.
For ticket news for this fixture click here.
This is an all ticket fixture and there will be no cash turnstiles on the day.
GOING BY CAR?
Travelling from the north east, get yourself onto the A1/A1M southbound; just after you pass junction 45 (for the A64 Leeds/York road) you’ll see signs for the M1 – so take the M1 southbound.
You join the M1 at jcn 48 and you need to stay on it until you reach jcn 37.
Turn left onto the A628 Dodworth Road – just stay on this road and follow the signs for Barnsley FC, you’ll see the ground after only a couple of miles.
There’s a good size car park near the ground and some street parking too; also car parks on Queens Road just west of the stadium, and County Way, just beside the station.
GOING BY TRAIN?
The railway station is only about 500 yards from Oakwell.
The 9.40am Virgin Trains service from Newcastle gets you to Leeds at 11.08am – change for the 11.34am Northern Rail service which gets you to Barnsley at 12.22pm.
Going back to Sunderland, the 4.12pm Northern Rail service gets you into Leeds at 4.48pm, then the 5.05pm Virgin Trains service will get you into Newcastle for 6.34pm.
For train times for that day, check the National Rail website.
STOPPING OVER?
Premier Travel Inn, Wombwell, Barnsley tel 08701 977024
Travelodge Barnsley, tel 08701 911621
New Country Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley, tel 0845 456 6399
SCRAN AND BOOZE
There will be no alcohol sales inside the ground on matchday for away supporters.
Drinking in the centre of Barnsley apparently isn’t recommended for away supporters but very close to the ground is the Metrodome which has a bar and restaurant.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
There’s an ATM in the interchange at Barnsley railway station, or more in Barnsley town centre. If you’re coming by car there’s one at the Woolley Edge services on the M1 just before you turn off for Barnsley.
LAST SEASON
Promoted from League One via the play offs after finishing 5th with 72 points. They beat Swansea 4-3 on penalties in the final.
THIS SEASON
Currently 22nd of 24
P33 W9 D5 L19 F35 A58 Pts 32 GD -23
HOME FORM
P16 W6 D4 L6 F19 A21 Pts 22 GD -2
LAST 6 MEETINGS
21.10.06 Sunderland 2 Barnsley 0 (Whitehead, Brown)
16.04.99 Barnsley 1 Sunderland 3 (Summerbee, Clark, Phillips)
21.11.98 Sunderland 2 Barnsley 3 (Scott, Quinn)
06.04.96 Barnsley 0 Sunderland 1 (Russell)
28.10.95 Sunderland 2 Barnsley 1 (Howey, Russell)
24.03.95 Barnsley 2 Sunderland 0
TRIVIA
Former Sunderland midfielder Colin Healy now plays for the Tykes, as does Lewin Nyatanga.
Credits: Barnsley FC, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Link, Rough Guide to English Football, Soccerbase, multimap.co.uk, National Rail.
