It's coming home...
The match ball from the 1912 FA Cup final, the only time Barnsley won the cup, will be brought back to town to take pride of place in the new Experience Barnsley museum.
Barnsley's footballing heritage will be united for the first time when the £4.3m visitor attraction opens at the Town Hall on June 27.
Until now, many of the proud footballing objects have been in private collections or at other museums across the country.
Among the memorabilia going on show is an England shirt worn by Tommy Taylor, the Barnsley-born Manchester United player who was killed in the Munich air crash in 1958.
Taylor scored an incredible 16 goals in just 19 England appearances and his England shirt still bears the grass stains. It has been brought back to Barnsley on loan with the support of the National Football Museum.
The Manchester United FC Museum has also loaned objects that belonged to Mark Jones, another of the Busby Babes who hailed from the town.
Arthur Bower, Barnsley FC's official historian, has donated a rattle he used as a schoolboy and is delighted the club's history is being brought alive under one roof.
"I'm thrilled to see Barnsley Football Club's history being celebrated," said 79-year-old Arthur.
"This rattle used to belong to my uncle and was used in the Second World War during the air raids as a warning that someone had left a light on. It makes a tremendous sound.
"I took it to Oakwell a few times as a lad but can clearly remember when it made its debut – it was during the Barnsley versus Blackpool FA Cup third round match in 1949.
"It was the first all ticket game so I remember it clearly. I don't think it helped much though because we lost 1-0."
Terry Sykes, chair of the museum steering group, added: "Experience Barnsley will be great fun for the whole family. Whether you're interested in football, fashion, our industrial story or how our stone-age ancestors lived, there will be something for everyone.
"It really is a museum for the people by the people."
