Chief reporter Jack Tolson takes a look back through the Chronicle archives to the day Barnsley clinched a place in the Premiership...

WILSON’S WONDERS

VICTORY at Oakwell last Saturday clinched Barnsley’s place in the top flight of English football for the first time in the club’s 110-year history - but the celebration party began even before the crucial derby clash with Bradford City kicked off.

Responding to an appeal to lift the players by their support, the fans, complete with banners, scarves, flags, balloons, painted faces, funny hats, Brazilian-style sombreros and the occasional old-fashioned rattle, with a backing band led by a booming, insistent drum-beat, created a wonderful atmosphere.

The first 45 minutes of football served up by the Reds emphasised the confidence that oozed from every nook and cranny of a sell-out Oakwell and it should have been over by half-time.

When it was not, and Bradford, fighting for their First Division lives, began to mount a spirited comeback, the mood gradually changed.

If there was not exactly a hush there was certainly a very much more subdued atmosphere as nerves in the stands and on the pitch as well began to jangle uncontrollably.

It was possible to cut the tension with a knife as it became apparent that the visitors were well capable of denying the Reds the win they needed to make certain of a place in the Premiership next season.

Throwing caution to the wind, Bradford boss Chris Kamara sent on a third striker Ole Sundgot, in place of midfielder Chris Wilder, and immediately the Reds found themselves under threat.

Manager Danny Wilson screamed from the sidelines for them to push up, but City would not let them.

There was 18 minutes from the end and City were unable to carve out another clear-cut opportunity but it was still a nerve-wracking finale until Barnsley’s own substitute, Clint Marcelle, weaved his way into a shooting position with three minutes remaining and steered the ball into the corner of the net.

Then the celebrations could really begin.

There was no way back for Bradford now.

WE’RE UP! NOW TICKET RUSH BEGINS

THE rush for season tickets for the Reds’ first-ever season in the Premiership has started

Excited fans were queuing outside the Oakwell ticket office as soon as it opened for business yesterday morning.

The top-priced tickets for the best seats will cost £250 - making them the cheapest in the Premiership.

Around 2,500 Barnsley fans - many of them in fancy dress - are expected to travel to Oxford on Sunday for the final match of the season.

But the Reds’ success on the pitched could mean a major headache for the police.

They have been told that despite the expected increase in gates at Oakwell, it is unlikely they will have more cash to pay for extra officers.

South Yorkshire’s Assistant Chief Constable, Tim Hollis, said it could be that officers would have to be taken off other duties to police Oakwell on matchdays.

“We have a budget for policing football matches and we have to stick to it - it’s not a bottomless pit,” he said.

“If we have to have extra officers on duty at Oakwell, they have to come from somewhere.

“That may mean taking them off traditional policing duties such as tackling burglaries but we are looking at alternatives.”