JASON Thelwell says it has been a ‘privilege and an honour’ to be the voice of Barnsley FC over the last three decades - and he admits the ‘You Reds’ at his farewell game on Saturday will be his biggest yet.

The 55-year-old first stood in front of the crowd at Oakwell in 1991 as the Reds faced Grimsby Town.

He was the voice of the club as they won promotion to the Premier League, before leaving in 2003 to take up a role at Dearne FM.

But he returned a decade later and has been at the helm ever since.

He’s seen 37 Barnsley managers on the touchline at Oakwell - and his voice is synonymous with the football club.

But tomorrow’s match against Stockport will be his last.

He told the Chronicle: “I’ve got quite mixed feelings.

“I made the decision 12 months ago that this was going to be my last season and as you get closer to it you’re kind of like a rabbit in the headlights.

“But I always said that you know when the time is right, and I think it’s the right time to hand the mic over to somebody else.

“The amount of comments and emails I’ve had is really nice.

“You just think of it as you’re doing a little job but when you hear what the fans think of you, saying they’re going to miss my voice on a Saturday, you understand what different things mean to different people.”

Jason’s ‘You Reds’ rings around Oakwell every match day - and he admits tomorrow’s might be his best yet.

“It might be the loudest one I’ve done in 35 years,” he added.

“I’m going to make sure it’s the biggest and best one.

“That’s the legacy I’m going to leave.”

Jason says that some of his favourite moments at the club were the promotion to the Premier League and getting hit with the ball by David Beckham and, although this season hasn’t been the best, he’s still enjoyed it.

He said: “I think this season has been a bit of a flat one and I would have wished that I could have gone out on a high.

“But there’s always been those standout moments like the promotion to the Premier League and with David Beckham.

“Things like that, money can’t buy.

“I’m always remember those things about my time at Oakwell.”

He has some solid advice for whoever’s set to take his place.

“Keep calm under pressure.

“Sometimes things go wrong that are out of your control.

“Do your homework and preparation.”

A proud Barnsley fan, Jason will still be attending Oakwell in the stands - something he hasn’t been able to do for some time.

“I remember the day I walked in to Oakwell and asked where to apply for the job and the general manager at the time, Michael Spinks, said ‘are you interested’?

“I asked if I hand a tape in and he said no and to follow him onto the pitch at an empty stadium, thrust the microphone into my hand and said ‘show me what you can do lad’.

“And that was it - if you’d have said 35 years ago I’d still be doing it in 2026 I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I’m looking forward to sitting in the stands with a meat and potato pie, a pint of Madri and just being a fan.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to most.”