Shaw Lane AFC have signed the man who inflicted one of Barnsley FC's most humiliating FA Cup losses and are close to bringing in the player who gifted the Reds' one of their greatest shock wins in the same competition.
Damien Reeves, who got the only goal as non-league Altrincham beat the Oakwell club in 2015, has signed for the Ducks and could be joined by fellow striker Kayode Odejayi – as well as another ex-Red in Dale Tonge.
The club have almost agreed a deal with 35-year-old striker Odejayi, who netted five goals in 82 games for Barnsley between 2007 and 2010 including a famous winner over Chelsea in the FA Cup.
He still lives in Penistone and was most recently at Stockport County in the National League North, one division above the Evo-Stik Premier which Shaw Lane have just moved into after their fifth promotion in six seasons.
They are in a similar situation with Tonge, 32, who played 55 games for his hometown club Barnsley between 2003 and 2007 including in the 2006 League One play-off final win over Swansea City.
Tonge, who can play as a full-back or holding midfielder, made more than 200 Football League appearances for the Reds, Rotherham and Torquay and spent last season at FC United in the National League North.
Shaw Lane manager Craig Elliott hopes the duo could have the same impact as former Barnsley right-back Neil Austin who signed for them last summer and helped to secure promotion.
Elliott said: "'We've got an agreement in place with Kayode but it's not definite yet. We're just making sure it's right for us and right for him. Dale Tonge is more or less agreed but we're waiting for him to come back from holiday.
"I want to sign players because they are good players, but if they are local or have a connection to Barnsley then that is a big bonus. The perfect example is Neil Austin, who I can't speak highly enough of because he has been a dream signing on and off the pitch."
After scoring against Lee Johnson's Barnsley in the season before last, Reeves suffered two successive relegations with Altrincham into the same division as Shaw Lane and decided to leave the Lancashire club after netting 166 goals in 270 appearances.
Reeves, 31, who lives in Doncaster, said: "That game was one of my career highlights. It is always nice to score in a big game and it was a massive win for the club. It was very strange because we were doing quite well in the Conference (now the National League) at the time, and Barnsley were struggling in League One but, after that game, we lost our form and got relegated and they ended up getting promoted."
Reeves says he had offers from the majority of clubs in the National League North and was in discussions with one in the National League, but he chose to join Shaw Lane after speaking with Elliott. The plasterer said: "The way the manager spoke about the club and his plan for the future really won me over. The plan is for me to drop down a level with the aim of going back up next season.
"To get five promotions in six years at any level is amazing and they have only been losing about three games a season which is an unreal stat. It is a very exciting club to be joining."
Reeves joins a striker's department at Shaw Lane already consisting of Carl Stewart and Chib Chilaka who have joined this summer and have good non-league records. Last season's top-scorer Gavin Allott has left the club. Elliott said: "Damien is a great signing. "We create a lot of chances and I think he's the perfect player to stick them away. I think he will form a really good partnership with Chib who is a big targetman."
The Ducks are currently looking for a new ground to play for the 2017/18 season, although they will keep the same name Shaw Lane for at least one year and may have to continue to groundshare there with Barnsley RUFC if they cannot find a new home.
