BARNSLEY fans have rallied together to raise more than £1,500 for a mural to be painted on the route to Oakwell - and they’re hoping it will boost the positivity around the club.

The mural of Barnsley legends Neil Redfearn and Clint Marcelle celebrating after reaching the Premier League would be painted on a wall on the Bala Street newsagents, if the £4,000 target is reached.

Fan group Tykes Union have launched the fundraiser in association with Eyup and Darn, Barnsley on Tour, Grimey Reds, Athersley Reds and Barnsley FC News and Now.

Club partner Parliament has designed the mural and scaffolding would be provided free of charge by the Lighting Elite Group.

It is 13-year-old Ethan Hadfield’s idea and the youngster has certainly had some backing from fans.

His dad, Nick, told the Chronicle: “Myself, Ethan and his two brothers have season tickets and the atmosphere at Oakwell wasn’t very good so he wanted to do something to make it better.

“He did a lot of research and then started Tykes Union.

“He’s been doing some fundraising to try and raise money for flags and things like that.

“We’ve got permission to do a mural on the top of Bala Street.

“Liverpool and other clubs have done things like that and he’s managed to get loads of people involved with it.

“It’s all self-funded so the money we raise goes straight back to the fanbase.”

More than £1,500 has been raised to date - much to the delight of the groups involved.

Nick added: “It’s really taken off.

“A lot of people are getting involved and supporting him which is good.

“The two people on the painting are going to be Neil Redfearn and Clint Marcelle when we got into the Premier League.

“It’d be great if once it’s done we could get them down to see it.”

Josh Simms, also of Tykes Union, says one of the main aims of the mural is to boost the atmosphere at Oakwell while promoting some more positivity around the club.

He said: “Obviously we know that things aren’t going well on the pitch at the minute, but the long-term aim is to get the atmosphere back on side.

“The idea of the union is to bring everyone together - young or old.

“We’ve not even been going a year and we’ve managed to get so much done.

“There’s plenty of projects that we have planned.

“Obviously there’s this mural which has only just been put up and we’ve hit £1,500.

“It’s going really well.

“Then we’ve got other projects like painting the electric boxes around the ground and then there’s space for other murals as well.

“It’s a small movement but it’s growing really well.”

To donate to the fundraiser, follow the link on the Barnsley Chronicle website.