MAEL de Gevigney accepted a yellow card this week for jumping into the Barnsley fans and is enjoying the larger crowds in the lower divisions of England than his native France.
The 24-year-old centre-back worked his way up from the French fourth tier into the second with Nimes before joining the Reds last summer and playing regularly.
Barnsley’s average attendance would make them the fifth best-supported team in the French second tier and the best in the third tier where many teams play in front of less than 1,000.
De Gevigney told the Chronicle: “When I came here, I searched on the internet for what the average crowd is in Barnsley and I was impressed.
“It is quite different here.
“Maybe some stadiums are smaller but the crowds are bigger and closer and the atmosphere is good.
“I always like it.
“It is new for me to have so many fans coming to away games.
“At my previous club there were a lot of fans too but there were internal problems and it wasn’t the best season.
“Here our fans give us a lot of strength with their support home and away.”
De Gevigney was given a yellow card for his celebration of Adam Phillips’ last-gasp winner over Leyton Orient on Saturday.
“I didn’t know the rules. I was on the barrier and the fan pulled me. I asked the ref: why did I get the yellow card? He told me it was because I jumped in the crowd.
“It wasn’t on purpose but that is the rule. I didn’t care. I was just so happy to win this game.”
De Gevigney is hoping to be the latest successful centre-back signing at Oakwell.
“I always thought I would get to a higher level. I am self-confident and know I am good. I was the captain of my team at the age of 19 in the fourth division. I am always working hard, now I am in this league and doing my best.”
He added: “I want to go as high as I can.
“I am doing my best in training and out of training. I don’t have one goal, just to be the best possible.”
De Gevigney adapted to English football earlier in the season and is now helping new American signing Donovan Pines who arrived in January.
“I am trying to help him. He speaks English so it is easier, but it is a huge change and not easy to adapt in the middle of the season.
“I am trying to do my best to help him, so is everyone who works for the club.
“I think he’s pretty happy here.”
On the promotion race, de Gevigney said: “It’s really tight. We’re focusing on each game then, at the end, we will see where we are but our goal is to achieve promotion and we know we have the players and staff to do it.
“I have been promoted and it’s the best feeling ever in football.
“I am enjoying win after win and we want to achieve this amazing thing which is promotion.”
