Barnsley FC are unlikely to play at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane for at least a year after their relegation out of the Championship earlier this month, but the town's top two non-league clubs and their supporters will be there on Tuesday.
Holders Shaw Lane AFC and and first-time finalists Penistone Church meet in the first ever all-Barnsley final of the 140-year-old Sheffield Senior FA Cup from 7.30pm.
Both clubs played this season at the highest level in their histories after promotion a year ago. The Ducks reached the first round of the FA Cup but failed to gain a sixth promotion in seven years into the National League North as they finished one point and one place outside the play-offs in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
Church play two divisions below in the NCEL Premier Division, in which they came seventh following a superb run since October which saw them lose just two of their last 32 matches in all competitions and none of their last 20 at home. Both clubs won Bramall Lane finals last season with Shaw Lane beating Frickley Athletic in the Sheffield Cup final while Penistone shocked Bridlington Town in their League Cup.
"It's going to be a celebration of Barnsley football and the success it has had in the last five years or so," said Church manager Ian Richards who has seen his club, Athersley Rec and Shaw Lane all progress through several leagues in recent seasons.
"It's brilliant for the town. But we're not going there just for the occasion, we want to win and we believe that we can. We'll go there full of confidence knowing that we are very good in one-off games and finals. Shaw Lane are an outstanding team and we are underdogs but there are areas I think we can exploit.
"I think we will defend better than Frickley did in their semi-final, I think our attackers will cause them problems and I think we will be a set piece threat. It has already been our best season, and a cup win would make it even better. The standard of football we have played has been much higher than last season."
Shaw Lane manager Chris Willcock added: "We're the holders of the cup. We don't want to let it go. We have had the trophy in our cabinet for 12 months and we want it there for another 12 months. It's a great occasion and a great venue and I am expecting a really good advert for Barnsley non-league football.
"Penistone will be tough opposition. On paper, we will be the favourites but any team that gets to a cup final is there on merit and Penistone have been on a fantastic run in league and cup. I used to manage their captain Brett Lovell at Stocksbridge and I know they have a lot of good players."
The Ducks' application to become AFC Barnsley from next season has been denied by the FA, following an objection from Barnsley FC. They will keep their name for next season despite leaving Shaw Lane a year ago to groundshare with Athersley Rec. Willcock admits it is unusual for a club to be named after a ground they don't play at and to not be allowed to use the town's name. But he shares the owner and chairman Craig Wood's ambition to get the Ducks into the National League, formerly the Conference.
"It is a strange one when I am explaining the club to players I am trying to sign for next season. I've not been at a club like this before and I am having to be flexible and it's a big learning curve. But I am enjoying it. My strategy is to have a longevity at the club, with a good academy at Shaw Lane and under 16s and under 19s as well as reserves. There's loads of scope for development. Hopefully in the future we will be allowed to have Barnsley in our name and we can work with Barnsley FC to develop their young players on loan.
"I am ambitious and so is the chairman. We want to take the club as high as possible in non-league football. The club has had great success in the last seven years and I just want to continue that."
Penistone boss Ian Richards and brother Duncan, who is his assistant, are making a name for the themselves in non-league football with their achievements on a limited budget. They have been compared to the Cowley brothers, Danny and Nicky, who worked their way through several divisions before becoming full-time managers with Lincoln City who made the League Two play-offs this season.
The Richards brothers are currently teachers, as were the Cowleys before moving into professional football which is something the Penistone pair want to do. Ian said: "I would love to be a full-time manager at a higher level one day. But I am 38, I have a well-paid job and a young family and I love being at my hometown club, so there's no rush. If the right club approached me at the right time, I would consider it. But I am already making plans for next season with Penistone so it's not really on my mind."
