AFTER fighting their way through, the Barnsley lads had done it – they had won the English Schools’ Trophy.
Matched with Derby in the 1949 final, Barnsley Boys won two great matches within a few days of each other to secure this magnificent trophy.
The first leg was on their home ground on Saturday, May 7, 1949 before an Oakwell crowd of 27,000. From the kick-off Barnsley’s superiority was not in doubt, Lake scoring within seven minutes. Derby equalised ten minutes later, but Barnsley stepped up their attack and Levitt scored from a nice movement started by Smillie.
In the second half, Archer slammed in a ball from a free-kick just outside the Derby penalty area. Only brilliant saves by Briggs in the Derby goal kept Barnsley from adding to their tally.
With this 3-1 victory behind them, Barnsley Boys travelled to Derby County’s Baseball Ground four days later for the second leg where they once again put on a magnificent performance in front of a 21,000 crowd to win 1-0 through Levitt.
Next day, the victorious team was welcomed home to a terrific storm of cheers, rattles and bells from thousands of their supporters who lined the streets. It was a magnificient year for the team as they also won the Yorkshire Schools’ Shield, achievements which led to a civic reception at the town hall.
Barry Jackson, of Cawthorne, has loaned to Memories a photograph of the Barnsley Schools’ team being welcomed at Elland Road by the Mayor of Leeds, Ald Betts, for the first leg of the final of the Yorkshire Schools’ Shield. Standing next to the Mayor is Horace Sykes, chairman of the Barnsley Boys’ FC Committee.
The players are from left: Levitt (a schoolboy international), Brian Glover and Ron Smillie who later played for Barnsley. There is another photograph of the lads with the English Schools’ Trophy and the Yorkshire Schools’ Shield, taken at the rear of Holgate Grammar School.
Some of the players on this photograph are named as: Alun Thomas, Phil Roscoe (who also went on to play for Barnsley FC), Alan Williamson (goalkeeper), Wordsworth, Brian Glover, Colin Swift (later played for Barnsley), Ron Smillie, Ronnie Archer, Levitt, Alan Lake, Hodgson. Also seen are members of the Barnsley Boys’ Committee and they include: Les Eagle, Eric Bates and Don Goddard.
It was the greatest day for football in Barnsley since the parent club brought home the FA Challenge Cup in 1912.
