THE TWO women’s teams with Barnsley in their name are due to play on Wednesday for the first time ever.
Barnsley FC’s women’s side are due to host the League Cup game on the Oakwell showcase pitch – in the training ground – against Sheffield-based Barnsley Women’s FC. It is scheduled for a 7.45pm kick-off.
The Oakwell-based club were promoted into the National League Division One North – the fourth tier in England – last season, then their fellow Barnsley club moved to the Midlands League.
Jess Horsley, coach of the Oakwell club, said: “We have a league game on Sunday which we’re concentrating on but obviously the cup match is massive.
“The other Barnsley team moved leagues but I always had a feeling we would draw them in a cup.
“It’s a very exciting local derby.
“Hopefully the fact that it’s two Barnsley teams playing each other will get the attention of people who don’t usually come to watch us.
“I know a lot of people want to come and watch the game.
“We’ve signed a few players from them so that adds to it as well.
“Hopefully the stress and anxiety of the game won’t get the better of any of our players.
“None of us have experienced a game which is so local and means as much so it will be a good learning experience.
“As a fan of the men’s team, it’s an awful feeling when you watch them lose a big derby against Sheffield Wednesday for example. But when they win, it’s a great feeling.
“If we can have a good performance, and especially if we win, it will be a massive boost and give us confidence and belief for the rest of the season.”
Barnsley Women’s FC, who play their home games at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield but want to return to Barnsley in the future, are managed by Dan O’Hearne. He said: “It’s a massive game for town and the two clubs.
“Some players left us to go to Barnsley so that is interesting.
“The League Cup is not top of our priorities but we will go there to try to win.
“Derbies are cut and thrust. I imagine it will be 100-mile-an-hour at first then it’s whoever turns up on the night.”
Horsley admits having two sides called Barnsley is confusing for some people within the game.
She said: “There is massive confusion. I spoke to the referee for that game the other day and he didn’t know there were two Barnsley teams.
“It is hard because you don’t really want two teams competing for the best players in the same area. They play in Sheffield now so they have a bit of a different catchment area for players.
“It’s good for the junior players because there is lot of opportunity for girls in the town to play football and that’s what we all want.”
Barnsley FC women started with a 2-2 draw at home to Fylde on Sunday.
After Freya Walton’s 35-yard lob was cancelled out by another long-range strike, Ruby Jex-Oldfield put the hosts ahead in the 83rd minute only for Barnsley to concede a minute later.
Horsley said: “It was a disappointing first half. We could have done better and the girls knew that. In the second half they picked their game up, we changed things and it started to work.
“It is disappointing to take lead twice and concede equalisers.
“The second equaliser was really poor on our part. We have to work on game management and not panic.
“But I said to the girls that a point is a success. Last season Fylde were two leagues above so it’s a massive point.
“We are still gelling and we will possibly add some more signings. There is more to come but the first game gave us a realisation of the tempo and speed and endurance of players in this league.
“It won’t be a walk in the park like it was the league below in terms of fitness. We have to step our game up.”
Meanwhile, Barnsley WFC drew 1-1 at Boldmere St Michaels who are managed by former Wolves midfielder Karl Henry. Rosie Axten put the Reds in front but the hosts levelled after an hour. O’Hearne said: “It was a tough start. I think Boldmere will be up there at the end of season so it’s a very good point. It was difficult, they had a lot of the ball but we ground it out.
“It’s hard to tell how we will do.
“We’re going into a new league snd ten players left this summer so we’ve had a complete rebuild. I definitely think we have enough quality to be in the top half but we’ll take it one game at a time and see how we go.”
On Sunday, Barnsley FC visit Durham Cestria and Barnsley WFC host Leafield Athletic in Sheffield.
