The 2008–09 season was the 121st season of play for the Barnsley Football Club. It saw the club participate in the Football League Championship.
Preparation for 2008–09
The first signing for the new season was announced on 25 June; Canadian international striker Iain Hume arrived in a £1.2 million switch from the relegated Leicester City, the club's first seven-figure signing since 1999. On 27 June, Barnsley signed Argentine defensive midfielder Hugo Colace from Newell's Old Boys and French left winger turned left-back Mounir El Haimour from Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax. On 2 July, a transfer was secured for experienced central defender Darren Moore of Derby County. The final pre-season transfer came on 8 August with a season-long loan deal for Maceo Rigters from Blackburn Rovers.
During the winter transfer window, on 26 January 2009, it was confirmed that Daniel Bogdanovic had signed for Barnsley for an undisclosed fee, signing a deal until 2010. Michael Mifsud also joined Barnsley on loan until the end of the season on 2 February 2009. On the same day as Andranik Teymourian and Adam Hammill joined fellow Malta teammate Daniel Bogdanovic at Oakwell.
Players in # Player Age (DOB) Position Previous club Fee 4Darren Moore34 (22 April 1974)DefenderDerbyFree5Hugo Colace24 (6 January 1984)Defensive MidfielderNewell's Old BoysFree7Iain Hume25 (30 October 1983)StrikerLeicester£1.2 m 8Miguel Mostto31 (11 January 1977)StrikerCoronel BolognesiLoan return11Mounir El Haimour29 (29 January 1980)MidfielderNeuchâtel XamaxFree17Luke Steele23 (24 September 1984)GoalkeeperWest BromFree27Gary Teale30 (21 July 1978)WingerDerbyLoan 29Maceo Rigters24 (22 January 1984)StrikerBlackburnLoan27Jamie Cureton33 (28 August 1975)StrikerNorwich CityLoan 10Daniel Bogdanovic28 (26 March 1980)StrikerLokomotiv SofiaUndisclosed27Michael Mifsud27 (17 April 1981)StrikerCoventry City F.C.Loan12Andranik Teymourian25 (6 March 1983)MidfielderFulhamLoan8Adam Hammill21 (25 January 1988)MidfielderLiverpoolLoan
Players out
Player Age (DOB) Position New Club Fee Paul Reid26 (18 February 1982)DefenderColchesterFreeSam Togwell23 (14 October 1984)MidfielderScunthorpeUndisclosedDwayne Mattis27 (31 July 1981)MidfielderWalsallFreeIstván Ferenczi (14 September 1977)StrikerFerencvaros£250,000Lewin Nyatanga20 (18 August 1988)DefenderDerby Loan endedDaniel Nardiello25 (22 October 1982)StrikerQPRLoan endedKim Christensen28 (8 May 1980)StrikerFC MidtjyllandFree
Review At the start of the 2008–09 season, Barnsley won only two of their first ten league matches and went five straight games without scoring a goal. The Reds clinched the loan signing of Derby winger Gary Teale for a month on 15 August, covering for the midfield injuries of Mounir El Haimour, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and the failure to gain international clearance for Hugo Colace.
The team received a boost the following month when Colace's work permit was finally granted, along with the return to fitness of both Heinz Muller and Anderson, who had been out injured for seven months. The club also made history in their away game at Ipswich Town on 30 September when they fielded striker Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who became the Football League's youngest ever player at 15 years and 45 days; surpassing a record which had stood since 1929.
The tykes achieved their second league win of the season as they managed to beat Doncaster Rovers 4–1 at Oakwell. However, the disappointing away form continued with a 3–0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The following Tuesday, the Reds defeated Sheffield Wednesday for the first time in eight years by prevailing 2–1. A 0–0 draw with Bristol City was next, the month ended with a 1–0 win over Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The Reds continued their momentum in October, with an away win. This time against Charlton. The next game, at home to Sheffield Utd was extremely controversial. The main issue of the game was an injury to Barnsley striker Iain Hume, who suffered a fractured skull and internal bleeding after being elbowed by Chris Morgan. Barnsley are considering whether to pursue legal action against Morgan for the challenge which may have ended Hume's life as well as his career.
Barnsley defeated Watford, again coming from behind to win, before losing late on to play off candidates Preston North End F.C. Despite this, on the live sky game, and almost blowing a 3–0 lead, Burnley were beaten at Oakwell. 3–2.
Competitions
Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
FA Cup
League Cup
Goalscorers League goals (cup goals)
Jamal Campbell-Ryce 8 Jon Macken 8 Daniel Bogdanovic 4 Iain Hume 4 Stephen Foster 3 Jamie Cureton* 2 Anderson de Silva 2 Michael Mifsud 2 Darren Moore 1 Simon Whaley* 1 Diego León 1 Kayode Odejayi 1 Miguel Mostto* 1 Brian Howard* 1 Own goals 2
(*) No longer with the club.
References