Opponents: Barnsley

Date: Sunday 29 September | Kick-off: 1.30pm

Capacity: 1888 | Post code for sat-nav: S71 1ET

With an opening date of 1888, Oakwell sits well within the top ten oldest stadiums in the EFL.

With the club having spent much of its existence in the lower echelons of the footballing pyramid, Oakwell’s past is largely unremarkable, but the dawning of the 1990s heralded a new era for the stadium.

Three of the four stands were revamped in line with the Taylor Report and all that remained of the original stadium was the West Stand. Yet the unique character of the venue was not condemned to the history books. The seldom-seen pylon floodlights are a permanent fixture to this day, and with just the rear of the West Stand protected from the elements, a shock could be in store for some first-time visitors.

Built and opened in conjunction with the founding of the football club itself, the vast area of land that surrounds the club’s home was once owned by The Tykes, but, in 2002, the club fell into administration and was saved by Barnsley Council, who purchased the stadium in order to free up cash for the club to pay creditors.

Moreover, the stadium does not simply consist of the main structure. Adjacent to the North Stand is a myriad of pitches for the club’s academy, including two with small stands, the larger of which can house over 2,000 supporters.

This will be the 58th fixture between the two clubs since the first league meeting in December 1934. Five of the eight most recent fixtures between the pair have ended in draws, with The Bees’ last victory at Oakwell coming in April 2004 when Stewart Talbot and Jay Tabb netted in a 2-0 Division Two win.

The club has received 902 tickets for the live Sky Sports game, with tickets priced as follows:

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Did you know?

Though it retains its old-fashioned feel, Oakwell set a precedent with two footballing firsts in recent years. In 1993, with the completion of their East Stand, The Tykes became the first club in Yorkshire to incorporate executive boxes into their stadium. Five years later, Barnsley became the first club with a purpose-built corner stand for disabled fans.

How to get there:

It is approximately 177 miles from Griffin Park to Oakwell by road and the most common route is using the M1 and A628. If you are traveling north on the motorway, leave the M1 at Junction 37 and take the A628 towards Barnsley. Stay on this road, following the signs, and you will see the ground on your right. There are car parks located at the ground but close to Oakwell is the Metrodome Leisure Centre where there is a car park for visiting supporters, called Queens Ground - the postcode for the away fans’ car park is S71 1AN.

Barnsley railway station is a five to ten-minute walk from the stadium and is served by trains running between Sheffield and Leeds.  East Midland trains depart from St Pancras and require a change at Sheffield while Virgin East Coach trains depart from Kings Cross with two changes in Wakefield. The usual super off-peak return ticket for the two-and-a-half to three-hour costs £76 for an adult and £38 for a child, however limited advance tickets are priced at £29 each way (£14.50 for children) at the time of writing.

Where to eat/drink:

For those looking to park at the nearby Metrodome Leisure Centre, one of the simplest options for a pre-match meal, drink or both can be found within the complex. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the stadium and remains a popular haunt for away fans. Previous recommendations suggest town centre drinking is not advised for travelling support, though the Joseph Bramah Wetherspoons is an option. The Dove Inn on Doncaster Road is a five-minute stroll from the ground and admits both home and away fans, but local working men’s clubs are more than welcoming. There’s Barnsley East Dene Working Men’s Club, where you can also park for a small fee, and the Harbour Hills Working Men’s Club on Vernon Street.