SOUTH YORKSHIRE VITAL PLAY OFF DERBY

I have been glued to the telly this afternoon, hoping that my local FL club, Barnsley, might make some progress at the end of this season, by winning the League One Play Off Final against local South Yorkshire rivals, Sheffield Wednesday, at Wembley. 

Historically, Wednesday, The Owls, are more "powerful" than The Tykes, but there has been some levelling up, of course. By Wisdom and Courage........ The Owl is another story!

I have to admit I am "close" to Barnsley and I know one of the Barnsley ex-players and a coach, Martin Devaney, who shares the local Bannatynes Gym (and Spa) at Dodworth!

Below, the Barnsley FC badge, depicting a "glass blower" on the left (a local industry) and a miner on the right. The motto; Judge Us by Our Actions.

Josh Windass of Wednesday (yes his father's son!!) came on to score the winner, in a game that was 123 minutes "long". Barnsley were a man down after 49 minutes, following the sending off of Adam Phillips for a "violent" tackle and a crowd of 72,000 saw a nail biter. The Tykes, having been down to 10 men and seeing both goalkeepers carry out some heroics (see below), should have made the most of their chances but Wednesday scored the only goal, with not much time left on the clock.

Barnsley's Harry Isted made an extraordinary save to deny Sheffield Wednesday's Michael Smith in extra time during the League One play-off final.  

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12892681/absolutely-incredible-harry-isted-makes-unbelievable-stop-for-barnsley

“With six seconds of extra time to play, Josh Windass’s diving header spared Wednesday another penalty shootout and sent them into next season's Championship,” all this, 15 years and 5 days on from Dean Windass' Wembley heroics for Hull City, in another Play Off.

So, Sheffield Wednesday are heading back to the Championship following a two-year absence. Manager, Darren Moore, shared his love of the victory with the adoring public and the club's promotion to a higher level.