A look at the Reds’ rivals in the third tier from August, following the play-off finals

LUTON TOWN. 22nd in Championship. 144 miles from Oakwell. Record v Reds: P:65. W:28. D:10. L:27

The Hatters have suffered consecutive relegations, having reached the Premier League for the first time in 2023.

As usual, Luton have several former Barnsley players although some may leave. They are Mads Andersen – who has struggled with injury since leaving Oakwell – Reds academy products Jacob Brown, Jack Walton and Jordan Clark, plus strikers Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow.

Luton, now managed by Matt Bloomfield and set to receive £39million in parachute payments for the coming campaign, have been made the favourites for the title with many bookmakers but have won just 19 games across the last two seasons, losing 47.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE. 23rd in the Championship. 302 miles. P:69. W:19. D:19. L:31

Conor Hourihane made his professional debut for the Pilgrims, having been let go by Sunderland and Ipswich, then played 142 games before being sold to Barnsley in 2014.

The Reds’ longest trip of the league season will be to the Devon club who were relegated from the Championship on the final day of the season.

After a 15-match winless run, they picked up under Bosnian manager Miron Muslic who arrived in January and oversaw an FA Cup win against Liverpool.

But he is reportedly set to move to German giants Schalke 04.

CARDIFF CITY. 24th in the Championship. 210 miles. P:57. W:14. D:14. L:29

The Welsh club are in the third tier for the first time since 2003.

Since then, they have won 16 of their 25 meetings with Barnsley and are unbeaten in eight since Conor Hourihane played in a 4-3 away win for the Reds in 2016.

They are unbeaten at Oakwell in eight, winning six.

Cardiff finished last in the Championship, after not winning any of their final eight games.

Former Arsenal and Juventus player – and current Wales captain – Aaron Ramsey was their caretaker boss at the end of the season, but they are currently looking for a new manager.

STOCKPORT COUNTY. 3rd. 37 miles. P:95. W:32. D:33. L:30.

County almost secured back-to-back promotions, and a fourth in seven seasons after being in National League North, the sixth tier, in 2019.

But they were beaten on penalties by Leyton Orient in the play-off semi-final having won seven of their last eight league games to finish on 87 points.

Manager Dave Challinor called Orient not having a clear offside goal ruled out in the first leg ‘the worst decision I have seen in 15 years of management’ then criticised his own fans for leaving during the penalty shoot-out.

The closest non-Yorkshire club to Oakwell of next season’s league rivals, County were four points behind the Reds in January but finished 26 clear of them.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS, 5th, 171 miles. P:14. W:7. D:4. L:3.

After being top in December, the Chairboys’ form tailed off and they slowly slipped down the table to fifth, losing their last three league games, then were edged out by Charlton in the play-off semi-final.

Although they were praised for running close big-spending Wrexham, the Buckinghamshire club are thought to have one of the heftiest budgets in the division under Kazakh billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze.

That is despite some of the lowest attendances at around 5,500.

They may face a battle to keep hold of League One Player of the Year Richard Kone, although they turned down a reported £6million bid from Luton in January.

LEYTON ORIENT. 6th, 183 miles. P:59. W:24. D:11. L:24

The Os lost the League One play-off final at Wembley to fellow London club Charlton Athletic on Sunday, missing out on a place in the second tier for the first time since 1982.

It has still been a huge season for Richie Wellens’ side who were in League Two in 2023 and in the League One relegation zone in December – then going on a remarkable run including two four-goal wins over Barnsley.

They relied heavily on loan players so may have to find replacements for the division’s top-scorer Charlie Kelman and Spurs teenager Jamie Donley who are expected to play at higher levels next season.

READING. 7th. 190 miles. P:84. W:28: D:24. L:32.

Despite missing out on the play-offs when they lost to Barnsley on the final day of the season, the Berkshire club will look to put the days of transfer embargoes and points deductions behind them.

Former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig has bought the club from controversial owner Dai Yongge.

They have already lost star defender Tyler Bindon to Nottingham Forest while many of their other young players are out of contract.

Reading are unbeaten in 12 visits to Oakwell since 1998, drawing the last six.

BOLTON WANDERERS. 8th. 55 miles. P:53. W:17. D:17. L:19

Barnsley essentially finished off the Trotters’ chances of promotion in April with a 4-1 win at Oakwell – a performance the Reds may look to make the template for the coming season.

Barnsley did the double over Bolton – their first league wins in the fixture since their Premier League season – and produced two of their best displays.

With their budget, and average attendances of more than 21,000, Bolton look likely to get back to the Championship eventually, while their new manager Steven Schumacher has previously taken Plymouth up.

Wanderers have released ex-Red Gethin Jones but still have former Barnsley strikers John McAtee and Victor Adeboyejo.

BLACKPOOL. 9th. 88 miles. P:110. W:47. D:25. L:38.

Barnsley have sacked their last two head coaches Neill Collins and Darrell Clarke in spring of the last two years following defeats to Blackpool.

The Seasiders looked like they could be making a late dash for the play-offs in March and April but fell away late on. Their veteran manager Steve Bruce was Conor Hourihane’s boss at Aston Villa.

They released former Barnsley youngster Jordan Rhodes but still have Hourihane’s former promotion team-mate with the Reds Ashley Fletcher. Coach Richard Keogh just moved from Bloomfield Road to Oakwell.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN. 10th. 18 miles. P:82. W:29. D:16. L:37.

While Barnsley had a disappointing second half of the season, Huddersfield’s was even worse.

The Terriers only won five out of the last 23 games, with their 18 points the third lowest total in the division in that period. After sacking former Barnsley boss Michael Duff in March when two points off the top six, the gap grew to 14 under interim boss Jon Worthington who lost the last six games of the season. They have appointed former Derby and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant to his first manager’s role.

They released former Barnsley defender Matthew Pearson as well as Scott High who is from Hoylandswaine. Huddersfield spent millions in January but have been on a downward trend since losing the 2022 Championship play-off final.

LINCOLN CITY. 11TH. 55 miles. P:77. W:35. D:16. L:26

The Imps did not build on the fantastic finish to the previous season in which they were a missed penalty away from pipping Barnsley to sixth place.

Michael Skubala’s side were never really in the promotion hunt, although they did finish above the Reds.

They lost twice to Darrell Clarke’s team, despite being the better side at home then almost coming back from 4-1 down to draw at Oakwell.

Former Reds loanee Ethan Erhahon, now among the best midfielders in League One, is thought to be of interest to Championship clubs while Lincoln face a fight to keep out-of-contract defenders Paudie O’Connor and Sean Roughan.

ROTHERHAM UNITED. 13th. 12 miles. P:56. W:25: D:14. L:17.

Conor Hourihane is not the only coach being given his first permanent head coach job by a South Yorkshire club following a spell in interim charge.

Matt Hamshaw – who spent ten years at Rotherham as a coach before moving to Derby with Paul Warne – returned after the sacking of Steve Evans in March.

The New York Stadium will once again be Barnsley’s shortest trip of the season, and they will look to continue their excellent record against the Millers who they have beaten six times in a row and not lost to in 14 games since 1982. The second meeting of the season in the league will be the 50th league match between them.

STEVENAGE. 14th, 149 miles. P:4. W:1. L:3.

Alex Revell took over from Steve Evans as manager, having failed in his first spell years earlier.

He led them to a comfortable mid-table finish, having done the double over the Reds – with a 3-0 home win and last-minute 1-0 success at Oakwell.

Stevenage’s ground is one of the newest for Barnsley fans but one of the least successful places to visit.

They have seen one game called off just before kick-off then two defeats.

WIGAN ATHLETIC. 15th. 62 miles. P:21. W:6. D:8. L:7

Wigan were the lowest scorers in the EFL in the 2024/25 season, with just 40 goals from their 46 games.

But they conceded 42 which was League One’s best defensive record outside the top three.

The Latics finished with an unbeaten run of eight games, conceding just four goals, but only won two of them.

That steered them well clear of relegation trouble after only winning two of 16.

They have not lost at Oakwell in nine visits since 1954, conceding just twice.

EXETER CITY. 16th. 260 miles. P:26. W:9. D:4. L:13

While it will not be the longest trip of the season, after Plymouth’s relegation, the Reds will still have to make the four-hour trek to St James Park.

The Grecians have been regular tormentors of Barnsley in recent seasons, winning on their last three trips to Oakwell. They have finished 14th then 13th in the last two seasons after promotion from League Two.

They have released former Barnsley captain Angus McDonald and lost Caleb Watts to rivals Plymouth.

MANSFIELD TOWN. 17th. 40 miles. P:37. W:14. D:11. L:12

Nigel Clough, who has been with the Stags for more than four years, is the fifth-longest serving boss in English football behind Harrogate’s Simon Weaver and Premier League gaffers Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta.

The newly-promoted Stags looked to be sliding from mid-table into a relegation fight but ended a 14-match winless run against Barnsley in Hourihane’s first game.

They released George Williams, and Matty Craig’s loan has finished, but still have former Oakwell academy players George Maris and Rhys Oates.

Mansfield did the double over the Reds.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED. 18th. 100 miles. P:46. W:18. D:8. L:20.

The Posh’s 18th-placed finish was their lowest since they left League Two in 2008.

They had been in the play-offs in the previous two campaigns but were in a relegation fight until pulling clear in the final weeks.

Captain Hector Kyprianou has already moved to Championship Watford at the end of his contract while star attacker Kwame Poku is reportedly of interest to Premier League clubs.

Darren Ferguson will pass 900 games as a manager if he stays for another season. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five trips to London Road.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN. 19th. 110 miles. P:28. W:8. D:6. L:14

Kevin Nolan guided the Cobblers away from danger after taking over in December.

They are, as usual, among the bookmakers’ favourites for relegation at this level having finished 19th, 14th, 22nd, 22nd, 16th and 21st in their last six third tier seasons.

They released former Barnsley player Will Hondermarck but still have ex-Red Cameron McGeehan.

Barnsley threw away a 2-0 lead in a draw at home to Northampton – Hourihane’s final game as a player – then nearly did so in the away match but held on to win 2-1.

BURTON ALBION. 20th. 65 miles. P:15. W:7. D:5. L:3.

The Brewers staying up was remarkable considering they were bottom and 11 points from safety in January with 14 points from 24 games.

But, under Gary Bowyer, they finished on 47 points and overtook Bristol Rovers to secure survival with a game to spare. The Staffordshire club will probably have the lowest attendances in the division again next season as they average just over 3,000.

They have former Barnsley players Harry Isted, Tomas Kalinauskas, Jason Sraha and Jasper Moon but none of them played regularly in the 2024/25 season. They have been in League One the longest of its current clubs.

DONCASTER ROVERS. 1st in League 2. 19 miles. P:77. W:25. D:24. L:28.

Barnsley’s near neighbours won League Two on the final day of the season, having gained promotion the previous week.

They will now play the Reds for the first time in league games since the 2018/19 seasons – following two EFL Trophy meetings in that period.

Rovers are managed by Grant McCann – the former Barnsley midfielder – whose son Bayley made his professional debut for the Reds last season and has been offered a new deal.

Rovers’ long-serving defender Joseph Olowu has turned down a new contract offer.

PORT VALE. 2nd in League 2. 62 miles. P:117. W:50. D:20. L:47.

Barnsley have not played against any club as many times as they have faced Port Vale.

They are set to play at least their 118th and 119th games against the Staffordshire club in the league meetings this season.

Vale appointed former Barnsley defender Darren Moore on a five-year deal during their relegation season to League Two last year then he led them straight back up automatically.

The Reds have won the last four meetings, with Vale’s most recent trip to Oakwell being a 7-0 beating on the opening day of the 2023/24 season.

BRADFORD CITY. 3rd in League 2. 27 miles. P:110. W:41. D:31. L:38.

The Bantams netted in the seventh minute of injury-time on the final day to secure automatic promotion and a return to the third tier for the first time since they were relegated in 2019 while Barnsley were going up under Daniel Stendel.

The most recent meeting was in 2023 when Bradford won 5-1 in the EFL Trophy, with a red card for Jack Shepherd who then starred on loan for the Bantams during their promotion campaign but is expected to return to Oakwell. Bradford were averaging attendances of almost 18,000 in the fourth tier which will make them one of the best-supported teams in League One.

AFC WIMBLEDON. 5th in League 2. 185 miles. P: 2. W: 1. D:1.

Barnsley will play at the new Plough Lane for the first time after the London club won the League Two play-off final against Walsall on Monday.

The Reds won 4-1 in 2019 at Kingsmeadow which Wimbledon then shared with Kingstonian. But the following year, after a brief tenancy at QPR’s Loftus Road, they moved to the new ground next door to the former Plough Lane site which was their home for most of the 20th century. Johnnie Jackson’s team won their last four games of the season 1-0 – against promotion rivals Grimsby to complete the league campaign then in both legs of the semi-final with Notts County and at Wembley. They had the best defence in League Two with 35 goals conceded.