From the freshly mown Wimbledon grass to the roar of engines at Silverstone, and the greatest show on earth in Paris – 2024 has seen a spectacular summer of sport so far – and Barnsley has certainly played its part!
For Gareth Southgate and his team, it wasn’t to be, but just look how far they have come since being dumped out of the competition by Iceland just eight years ago.
That journey to the cusp of glory was only possible through determination, unity, and the Barnsley Beckenbauer John Stones’ rock-solid defending!
Whilst the England men’s team fell just short, there are so many other dazzling success stories this summer so far.
At Wimbledon there was glory on home soil for Alfie Hewitt in the gentlemen’s wheelchair singles and doubles, as well as Barnsley-born Calvin Betton coaching the gentlemen’s doubles champions.
At Silverstone, an emotional Lewis Hamilton stormed to a record-breaking ninth victory, snatching the lead and defending it with his life.
At Edgbaston, Ben Stokes was the hero once again, as he hit England’s fastest ever test fifty to wrap up the test series versus the West Indies 3-0.
Meanwhile, the Olympics is in full swing. The Parisians put on an amazing opening ceremony that has set the tone for the Games.
For Team GB, it certainly has been a fantastic time, with an incredible number of medals won so far! We certainly started as we meant to go on, with a silver medal in the women’s time trial, followed by a bronze in the women’s diving giving Team GB their best opening day for 44 years!
There have been some incredible Team GB success stories since then too, including Tom Pidcock, who won the men’s mountain bike final despite suffering a puncture during the race, and the amazing Keely Hodgkinson winning gold in the women’s 800m.
It has also been amazing to see Barnsley’s own Becky Moody compete in the games, and I know I speak for us all when I say we are incredibly proud of her performance in the dressage team grand prix, where she took home a bronze.
Away from the streets of Paris, Barnsley’s Eleanor Baker was the first woman to cross the York 10k finishing line, clocking a seriously impressive time of 34:31 – a new personal best.
She’s certainly one to watch out for come LA 2028! On the same weekend, our very own Callum Simpson swept to a British and Commonwealth title victory at in front of 7,000 loud and proud local fans at Oakwell, beating Zak Chelli by unanimous decision. Huge congratulations, Callum!
If that wasn’t enough Barnsley sporting action for you, Barnsley FC are back too. The champions of the NERWFL Premier Division, Barnsley FC Women, also return to action on their own turf against AFC Fylde on August 18.
Meanwhile, Darrell Clarke’s men, after losing out in the play-offs for a second successive season must hope to go one better this year, as they begin their campaign at home against a newly promoted Mansfield Town this evening.
Let’s pack out Oakwell again and show the league we mean business!
