CAMERON McGeehan loved his time at Barnsley but is returning with Northampton Town hoping to inflict on them something he never experienced at Oakwell – a defeat in League One.
The 29-year-old midfielder was with the Reds from 2017 to 2020, playing 68 times and scoring nine goals. McGeehan, who signed from Luton, was a key part of the side which was promoted to the Championship in 2019 without losing at home.
McGeehan told the Chronicle: “It will be nice to go back up and play at Oakwell again. It will be my first time back.
“I only have good memories of my time there. I learned a lot and they really pushed my career on. They gave me a chance to play in the Championship after I broke my leg.
“They are great people. The season we got promoted was obviously good. The fans were always really good for me.
“It’s a club that is always changing players so there aren’t many there that I know.
“It will be good to see some familiar faces.
“Marc Roberts was leaving when I arrived but he was really friendly and helped me get settled. You don’t forget things like that.
“Aiden Marsh was around the squad but really young.”
McGeehan partnered Alex Mowatt for the majority of the 2018/19 season in which the Reds finished second in League One with 91 points. He said: “It would have to be one of the best seasons of my career. We had a really good team and some of the boys have done really well since. We had a good manager as well in (Daniel) Stendel.”
Asked for his highlight with the Reds, McGeehan said: “I scored against Luton early on (in the promotion season) in quite a big game. We beat them on TV when they were top. It was a good game.
“All of that season was great.
“Then we beat Fulham at home in the Championship, on the opening day, which is another good memory.”
McGeehan was never a regular for the Reds in the Championship, being loaned out to League One clubs Scunthorpe in 2018 and Portsmouth in 2020.
“I played a bit but, after Stendel got sacked, I don’t know if it was (Gerhard) Struber or the ownership who didn’t quite fancy me. When I left I had another year on my contract and, if I had stayed and played under (Valerien) Ismael, I think that would have been a really good fit for me. That is one regret I have, because that team obviously did really well. But that’s football. It’s just a journey.”
McGeehan then spent three years at Barnsley’s then sister club Oostende in Belgium before returning to England with Colchester last season then moving up a division to Northampton this summer.
“Belgium was a great experience and I loved it. I was very fortunate the guys who owned Barnsley gave me that chance and Gauthier Ganaye (former Reds chief executive) sorted it out for me.
“Last year I wanted to come home and get my career going again after a few injuries. I found it hard to get someone to take a chance on me at the level wanted to play at so I had to prove myself at very bottom then work my way back up again.”
McGeehan scored the Cobblers’ winner against Exeter City on Saturday.
“Barnsley lost one and won one which is similar to us. We have a good team with a lot of experienced players. We’ve got that first win under our belts and we’re coming to Barnsley with confidence. I had a good time there but I am going back to win.”
