Some Barnsley FC-related stories as the Reds' first team have a rare weekend off.
ALKER NETS FOUR IN 8-0 WIN
Barnsley under 18s won 8-0 at home to Peterborough United on Saturday.
An own goal was followed by four goals from Luke Alker then one by Ziggy Kozluk - son of former Red Rob - and two from Jonathan Bland.
It was a fourth successive win - with the last game of 2023 being a 5-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur - which took them to within two points of leaders Birmingham City.
They visit local rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday then Coventry City in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.
Barnsley under 21s are due to visit Fleetwood Town tomorrow from 1pm.
BLAND LATEST YOUNGSTER TO SIGN PRO DEAL
Under 18s captain Jonathan Bland signed his first professional contract until 2026.
It follows Portugal youth international Fabio Jalo’s new deal announced last week.
The Reds are hoping to secure the futures of other star players in their academy in the near future.
Bland, an 18-year-old midfielder from Shrewsbury, who joined the Reds aged 16 after being released by West Bromwich Albion, was a key player in the under 18s’ double-winning campaign last season.
The Wales youth international has also played regularly for the Reds under 21s and made his first team debut in the EFL Trophy against Manchester City under 21s in October.
Goalkeeper Kieren Flavell, who has been in the academy since he was eight, has signed until the end of the season with a further one-year option. He has come back from two serious knee injuries.
REDS 10 OFF TWO WITH 2 GAMES IN HAND AFTER POMPEY LOSS
Barnsley were not in action this weekend but some of their fellow League One high-flyers were.
Leaders Portsmouth were beaten 2-1 at lowly Cheltenham Town. That meant they stayed ten points ahead of sixth-placed Barnsley who now have two games in hand.
The only other top seven side to play were fourth-placed Derby County who won 3-1 at bottom club Fleetwood Town.
Barnsley’s next opponents Bristol Rovers, who visit Oakwell on Saturday, drew 1-1 at Championship Norwich in the FA Cup.
Carlisle, who visit Oakwell on Tuesday January 16, are second-bottom and six points from safety after a 2-1 loss at fellow strugglers Exeter.
MINUTE’S APPLAUSE FOR EX-RED DURING CARLISLE GAME
THERE will be a minute’s applause in the 59th minute at Oakwell next Tuesday in honour of former Barnsley and Carlisle United player Dave Wilkes.
Wilkes was from Worsbrough and started his career with the Reds as a midfielder in the early 1980s, playing 17 games.
He went on to play in Hong Kong as well as for Frickley and Bridlington before finishing his career at Carlisle United where he then spent several decades as youth team coach and academy manager, bringing through the likes of Matt Jansen and Rory Delap
He died in June last year at the age of 59.
