A preview of Barnsley's four pre-season fixtures.
ALFRETON TOWN, AWAY, TODAY
The last time the Reds played at North Street, John Stones and Mido started for Keith Hill’s side who won in Derbyshire thanks to a Craig Davies brace.
Alfreton have since dropped down a level to the National League North and, like the Reds, they lost in the play-offs at the end of last season – on penalties to Boston in a quarter-final.
The first friendly of the summer is always an event, with hundreds of fans turning up to get a first glimpse of a new-look team, a new kit and usually – in Barnsley’s case – a new head coach.
Whereas last year Martin Devaney took charge at Worksop Town, before Neill Collins was appointed, this time he will be assistant to Darrell Clarke who will be back in familiar territory in the East Midlands – just a few miles from his hometown of Mansfield.
The opening pre-season game is often mainly about fitness, with plenty of substitutions, and a patchwork side of senior players and youth teamers.
That may well be the case in this game as well but, with just four pre-season fixtures, Clarke must look to quickly find his best side and give them time together in a competitive environment. We may also get a sense of who is not yet fully fit and which players are not in Clarke’s plans.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY, AWAY, JULY 20
Barnsley’s second friendly, a week after the first, will be a step up from playing a sixth tier side to a fourth tier opponent.
It is a testimonial for Sean McConville who has had more than ten years with Stanley – whereas Barnsley are unlikely to have anyone in their team who has been at the club for more than the last two years.
Stanley finished 17th in League Two last season after relegation and sacked long-serving manager John Coleman in March, replacing him with coach John Doolan.
It is likely to be a less stressful trip to Accrington than the last one on Boxing Day 2022 when the Reds conceded a controversial penalty levelled in a 1-1 draw while the journey back across the Pennines was perilous due to icy weather.
REAL MALLORCA, JULY 26
This match will come at the end of a week-long training camp at Loughborough Univeristy.
It is set to be a very different experience to the chaotic week in 2021 when many in the squad and staff began to doubt Markus Schopp’s coaching ability, accelerating an exodus behind the scenes before a disastrous relegation campaign.
This time Clarke will look to get plenty of good work done on and off the pitch during a week together.
It is a shame the game is behind-closed-doors, and even more of a shame for some that it is not on the island of Majorca.
It is unclear how strong a side the Spanish club will field but it is sure to be a different and tougher test than the previous friendlies.
Mallorca finished 15th in the Spanish top flight last season and lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties to Athletic Bilbao in April.
They are owned by legendary NBA basketball stars Steve Kerr and Steve Nash as well as ex-tennis player Andy Kohlberg.
They have several international players such as Cyle Larin who played for Canada against Argentina in the semi-final of the Copa America in midweek.
Mallorca’s goalkeeper is Predrag Rajkovic who was in goal for Serbia against England at the Euros last month.
DERBY COUNTY, HOME, JULY 31
Barnsley’s final friendly and the only one at home will take place on a Wednesday night, ten days before they start the League One season.
It will be less intense than Derby’s previous two trips to Oakwell, which were when they were vying for promotion from League One in February of this year and last.
The Rams beat the Reds to promotion last season then Conor Hourihane returned to Oakwell after captaining Derby.
Facing one of the best League One sides from last season should be a good final test for the Reds. It will also be the first time Clarke is in the home dugout for a match. He will surely look, by then, to be getting close to selecting his 11 for the league fixtures and giving them most of the game with fewer changes.
Oakwell will then become a boxing venue for Callum Simpson’s fight on August 3 before returning to football six days later when Mansfield Town visit in the first league game.
