1997/98 - LIFE IN THE TOP FLIGHT

THE euphoria of the promotion winning game against Bradford City was carried throughout the summer.

The fans backed the club and with a record number of season tickets sold it was expected nearly all home games would be sell outs.

Manager Danny Wilson bolstered by the season ticket sales and TV money strengthened his squad by bringing in striker Georgi Hristov for a record fee of £1,500,000.

He also signed Slovenian captain Ales Krizan, South African, Eric Tinkler and German, Lars Leese.

In the week prior to the season signed Darren Barnard from Bristol City.

Then opening day saw West Ham visit Oakwell and skipper Neil Redfearn headed home the first Premier League goal of the season after only seven minutes.

However two second half goals saw the Hammers take maximum points.

Four days later the first win was recorded when Redfearn again scored at Crystal Palace.

After four games six points had been secured and most people were satisfied.

The next game at home to Chelsea was to be shown live on TV and the Reds defensive frailties were cruelly exposed as the Blues hit six.

Confidence suddenly drained and in the next 10 games Villa hit them for three, Everton, Wimbledon and Southampton four, Arsenal five and Manchester United seven.

The only success during that time was a 2-0 home win over Coventry.

It was also during that time that Wilson brought in striker Ashley Ward from Derby and his first league goal for the club came in the win over Coventry.

The next away game was at Liverpool and another signing, central defender Peter Markstedt made his debut.

He had an outstanding match and with keeper Lars Leese being invincible the Reds of Barnsley came away with an impressive win with Ward scrambling home the winner.

Hopes again rose and they had two local derbies to follow.

Cruelly both were lost to last minute goals and the Reds remained at the bottom.

Then a run of good form began.

Although they conceded three at Spurs and six at West Ham games were beginning to be won.

In their next six home games they were unbeaten with four of them producing wins.

During that time yet another striker was brought in, the experienced Jan Arge Fjortoft coming from Sheffield United.

He scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Wimbledon and a crucial one in an exciting 4-3 success against Southampton.

Another away win 1-0 at Aston Villa put the Reds in good frame and climbing the table for the next game, a home match against Liverpool.

It turned out to be the pivot able game of the season and will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

With the score locked at 1-1, a pulsating game was demolished by referee, Gary Willard.

He dismissed Barnard and Morgan for for debatable offences.

Then with Liverpool leading 2-1 and the crowd in angry mood he left the field of play without telling anyone, including his linesmen, why.

After a short break he returned and Barnsley fought back and equalised.

It looked as if they would gain an unlikely draw.

However another controversial decision led to the sending off of Darren Sheridan.

From the resulting free kick Liverpool scored a last minute winner.

The club never recovered from that defeat and they managed only one win in their last nine games.

The win being a 2-1 revenge win over Wednesday.

Included in the remaining games was the visit of Arsenal, who were on the surge to the league and cup double.

Barnsley desperately needed a win but Arsenal were too strong and organised and ran out 2-0 winners.

At the end, despite the position that was now very nearly unrecoverable, the Barnsley fans stayed behind to acknowledge the champions elect.

The Arsenal players were to say the least amazed at the response.

A week later it was all over after a 1-0 defeat at Leicester.

The dream was over but for everyone who was involved in it it was nine months of pure theatre.

Arsenal as already stated ran out champions and at the foot of the table Bolton and Crystal Palace who a season earlier had accompanied the Reds into the Premier League now joined them in relegation.

The team went out of the F.A. Cup in the sixth round 3-1 at Newcastle.

This after a superbly exciting run that saw them beat three Premier League opponents.

First Bolton, then Spurs, after holding them 1-1 at White Hart Lane they won the replay 3-1 then a stirring 3-2 win over Manchester United again after drawing 1-1 away.