Chief reporter JACK TOLSON takes a look through the Chronicle Archives from March 2008
JUST THE TICKET FOR REDS FANS
THOUSANDS of Barnsley fans braved icy winds to queue for FA Cup semi-final tickets yesterday.
The first supporters arrived at Oakwell 12 hours before tickets went on sale at 8am and queues snaked around the back of the East Stand.
Mark Postill, of Smithies, arrived at 2.30am.
By 10am he was clinging to a bunch of the highly-prized tickets.
He said: “There were about 400 people when I got here.
“It has not been that cold and it only drizzled a bit.
“There’s been a good atmosphere.”
Barnsley FC benefactor Patrick Cryne is preparing his lucky routine for the big day - including which tie to wear.
He said: “We are going to Wembley on the same coach we went to the play-off final in and staying in the same rooms and same hotel.
“We’re doing our utmost to repeat the superstitious things.
“I’ll try to follow the ritual but I am a bit worried because we have a new club tie for the final.
“I want to wear the same one I have worn for previous finals.
“It’s a big decision.”
IT’S A GEM OF A FIND FOR TWO PENSIONERS
TWO pensioners have been reunited with a bag of jewellery stolen from their house more than eight years ago.
Farmer Alex Brooke unearthed it while picking litter at the entrance to Squirrel Hall Farm in Kexborough.
“I spotted a bag below a holly bush,” he said.
“It had got buried over the years but there was a bit of plastic showing so I pulled it and the jewellery and coins dropped out.
“I thought it looked valuable and telephoned the police.”
Officers discovered it had been taken in a raid in Kexborough on New Year’s Eve, 1999.
The total haul was about £4,000.
The occupants, Barbara and James Hazeldine, were tracked down to their new home near Tadcaster.
Barbara said: “It was a real shock.
“We had forgotten all about it and thought it was long gone.”
PUPILS TRY FOR WORLD RECORD BID
FOOTBALL whizz Bethany England caught a football behind her neck as she took part in a ‘keepy-uppy’ world-record attempt
Kingstone pupil Bethany was one of 27 at the school who joined the record bid on Tuesday in aid of BBC’s Sport Relief.
Youngsters across the country were also trying to keep a football in the air for a minimum of ten seconds.
And yesterday the organisers, Likeaballs and Sport Relief, were celebrating as it was confirmed the record had been smashed, with 634 youngsters managing the feat to eclipse the existing record of 429.
Kingstone School’s Emma Tighe said: “It was brilliant.
“We had five attempts to break the record and on the fifth attempt 26 of our pupils made it.
“There was a really good spirit.”
