JORDAN Rhodes was a Barnsley fan as well as an academy player in the early 2000s and now, after scoring regularly against the Reds during an impressive career as a striker, he is living in the town while also ambassador for non-league club Penistone Church.
The 36-year-old has lived in the Penistone area with his family since 2018 and took up the role of Church’s club ambassador this summer.
Prolific striker Rhodes retired last year after a career which saw him net almost 250 goals, 123 of them being in the Championship, play in the Premier League and get 14 caps for Scotland.
He is now loans manager for Championship club Blackburn Rovers.
Jordan is the son of former Barnsley goalkeeper Andy Rhodes who returned to Oakwell as a coach, after a spell in Scotland. He was in the Reds’ youth teams in the early 2000s before Andy got a job at Ipswich Town and the family moved away.
Rhodes told the Chronicle: “I was a Barnsley fan once upon a time, when I was in the junior ranks from under nines from under 14s. I had a season ticket and used to go to pretty much every home game. Those were the days when Bruce Dyer, Mike Sheron and Rory Fallon were up front.
“I really enjoyed my time there.
“The facilities were ahead of their time.
“Being in a football family, you move around the country a lot and that’s why we left.
“I watched some of the Blackburn loan lads at Oakwell last season and it’s always a nice club to go back to.”
Rhodes played 15 times against Barnsley, netting eight goals and adding three assists for Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Blackpool.
“I remember playing against John Stones in his really early days.
“I really liked playing at Oakwell.
“It was a ground that divided opinion for players. It was windy and chilly in winter months and some lads didn’t have the best appetite for it.
“But I enjoyed that and knew what I was signing up for.”
Did he ever come close to re-joining the Reds?
“Unfortunately not. It would have been lovely to go full circle and put on the red jersey but it never really came up in conversations.”
Jordan’s two sons are involved in the Penistone Church junior system and he now has the official role with the Northern Counties East League club.
“It’s a place we call home after bouncing around for a few years.
“We heard good things about the club’s youth system so we got involved through that. It’s a really well-run, warm community club.
“They are doing well. They had 1,000 fans for a game towards the end of last season which is terrific.
“My role is a figurehead role mainly. My job at Blackburn and having a young family takes up a lot of time but I will do whatever I can to help – whether that’s coaching junior teams or joining in with first team training sessions.
“I can’t commit to playing. On the odd occasion it would be nice to pull the boots on.
“But I will be watching loan players for Blackburn most of the time when Penistone are playing.”
Jordan has an open mind as to what comes next in his career.
“I have done my coaching badges and never say never. You don’t know what is round the corner, whether it’s coaching, media, the role I have or something completely different – I am open to whatever life throws at me. Coaching isn’t at the forefront of my thinking at the moment.
“I am just enjoying the job I am doing right now.”
