We caught up with Ethan Pinnock following the end of a successful season for the Reds...
Having struggled to get a regular place in the first team during his debut year at Oakwell, Ethan Pinnock’s second season went much better for him.
Automatic promotion, voted Player of the Season and included in both the EFL and PFA Teams of the Year, the 25-year-old defender has been a key figure under Daniel Stendel’s stewardship.
When catching up with the former Forest Green Rovers centre half, Pinnock was quick to describe the unity at the club and the rewards which that brought.
Ethan told us: “I can’t speak highly enough about how close everyone is at the club, so this is superb and reward for everyone’s hard work.
“And I don’t mean just the players and coaching staff, it’s been everybody, we’ve all been together and I think the celebrations following promotion have shown that. Like when we had promotion confirmed, everyone was out together making the most of it.”
The arrival of German Head Coach, Stendel was obviously pivotal in the Reds’ rise this season, and Pinnock admits that it’s difficult to imagine how the campaign could have gone any better.
Despite setbacks throughout the year, with the loss of staff and players be it through transfer or injury, Barnsley remained focused and their target was met with a game to spare.
“To achieve success after last season was the goal,” the defender explained.
“That was the plan when we came back in pre-season and we’ve really taken the Gaffer’s ideas on board and the season speaks for itself really.
“Winning the title would have been the icing on the cake, but we achieved what we set out to - automatic promotion.
“It’s been a real team effort and I’m happy that we stuck together when other sides could have dropped off with certain things that happen in a season.”
The Reds have received outstanding backing both home and away over the course of this glorious season and it’s something every player has referred to.
Pinnock, too, believes it helped spur the players on in their quest for an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.
“The fans have been excellent, right behind us from the first game and it’s been a big plus to arrive miles away for a game and see the away end full of Reds fans.
“I’d like to think we made them proud of Barnsley again.
“We’ll rest up now and come back looking to make a statement in the Championship, I don’t see why we can’t attack it and show up well, we’ve a great group of boys here.”
