LEO FARRELL has been at Barnsley for a decade and was delighted to net his first senior goal for the club.
The 20-year-old striker, from Halifax, turned in a Reyes Cleary cross in the 96th minute to secure a point in a 2-2 draw with Bradford City at Oakwell.
Farrell told the Chronicle: “This is my tenth year at the club now. I’ve sort of had it drilled into me what the town’s about and what the fans expect.
“That’s definitely helped me.”
On his goal, he said: “My eyes sort of shut. I don’t know if it’s because I got wiped out but I heard the crowd erupt and I thought I must have found the back of the net.
“So it was amazing. I think when Reyes gets in that position, he always wants to slide it across the six-yard box. So it’s just about getting myself in the right position to sort of prod it in.
“Mum and dad and my agent were in the stands. I’ve seen them at the end.
“My mum messaged me as well saying she was nearly in tears when it went in. So it’s always a nice feeling.
“I think I’ve got a few mates that support Bradford as well so I will get some messages from them.”
Farrell was recalled in March from a loan at National League promotion-chasers Scunthorpe for whom he had scored four in seven. He said: “I think there’s pros and cons to everything. Obviously, I was in very good momentum. I was scoring a lot, playing a lot of minutes and I was really enjoying my time.
“They’re pushing for play-offs with a chance to play at Wembley, but I think when your parent club wants you back and there’s a chance to get more minutes higher up, that’s going to be beneficial for my progress as a young lad.”
Farrell has come off the bench ten times in all competitions for Barnsley but now wants his first start.
“That’s 100 per cent what I’m looking at doing. I’m just looking at each game, building up my minutes more and more, and hopefully get my first start from the club.”
Farrell was part of the under 18s team who won the league and play-off double in 2023, along with Jono Bland and Vimal Yoganathan who are regulars in the first team midfield now.
“We saw a picture of me and Blandy which was three years ago since we won the league and we were just saying it was good times and then look at us now. Blandy’s played 30-odd games this season in League One and I’ve just scored my first League One goal. So it’s all positive, really.”
Yoganathan got sent off after seven minutes against Bradford. Farrell said: “I think Vimal’s one of those players where he’s always on the front foot, he’s looking to win the ball.
“And I think sometimes it goes wrong, sometimes it works out, and he’ll definitely bounce back from it. He’s a good kid.”
Although he stands at well over six foot, Farrell is not a typical targetman striker. He said: “I can get hold of the ball, I can run the channels, I’ll find myself in the six-yard box. I wouldn’t say I’m a ‘stand there and hit him’ player. I run off the back of defenders. So, a bit of everything, really.”
