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News
‘GP crisis’ will not bring new practices
NO new GP practices will be built in Barnsley - despite an increase in the number of patients being registered at the town’s surgeries and medics claiming the situation is at a ‘crisis’ point.
The British Medical Association say GPs face unmanageable workloads in the face of a vast backlog of care caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The average number of patients each fully qualified GP is responsible for is 2,286 in Barnsley, figures show....
Coach’s pride in young team
A BOYS’ football team proved themselves unbeatable after claiming victory in 18 consecutive matches.
Pinfold Pumas’ under-sevens set-up, from Cudworth, are now in the final stages of their preparations for the Barnsley Junior U7s’ Supplementary Cup final this Sunday and players have high hopes.
Coach Ryan Brown told the Chronicle: “They’re absolutely ecstatic.
“We’ve been winning game after game - everyone is generally feeling optimistic.
“The
Pilot bird of prey project deemed a failure
A TRIAL set up to reverse declining numbers of a rare bird of prey has not achieved the success of similar schemes elsewhere in the country - and there are now no breeding pairs in Barnsley’s countryside.
Hen harrier numbers have shown continuous improvement in recent years, coinciding with the introduction of a government-led recovery plan for the species and the availability of the brood management trial two years later to alleviate conflict.
However, a...
Life-saving defib installed thanks to volunteers
A NEW defibrillator has been installed in Stairfoot thanks to the work of local volunteers.
The defibrillator - which is located at 23a Field Lane - was unveiled last Tuesday, after volunteers from the Victoria Almshouses and Field Lane Crafters worked with the Stairfoot Ward Alliance to get the equipment put in place.
It comes as part of a national push to get more accessible defibrillators in public, as the British Heart Foundation revealed that...
Man and woman charged with drug offences
A MAN and woman from Barnsley have been charged with drug offences following a warrant at a property in Darfield.
Last Wednesday a warrant was executed on Margaret Close by officers from the tasking team and Barnsley South Neighbourhood Policing Team.
During the warrant a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin were found.
Matthew Brookes, 43, is charged with production of crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to...
Barnsley FC
Reds contacted over pitch invasion incident
Barnsley FC are participating in an investigation into an incident involving one of their players during Tuesday night’s pitch invasion at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth fans ran onto the pitch after their team clinched promotion and the League One title with a 3-2 win over the Reds.
Footage appears to show a Barnsley player, thought to be defender Jamie McCart, being struck in the head as supporters rush past him. He is not thought to have...
Talking points from Portsmouth loss
Analysis of Barnsley's 3-2 loss at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
The Reds led through Devante Cole then John McAtee but the hosts scored twice late on to win the title and get promoted.
REDS GUTTED AMID POMPEY PARTY
WHILE overjoyed Portsmouth players and fans celebrated in a sea of blue on the barely-visible pitch, Neill Collins conducted his much less joyous post-match interview in a utility room between a washing machine and a laminator.
It...
'As frustrating as it comes'
Neill Collins says Barnsley’s late 3-2 loss at Portsmouth was ‘as frustrating as it comes.’
The Reds led twice through Devante Cole and John McAtee but Pompey scored an 85th-minute penalty then won it soon after and secure both promotion and the title.
Barnsley are still fifth, four points clear in the top six and need three from the last two games for the play-offs.
Collins said: “That is as frustrating as...
Reds stunned by two late Pompey goals in loss
Barnsley lost 3-2 at Portsmouth, having led 2-1 on 85 minutes, and still need three points from the last two games to secure a play-off place.
Devante Cole ended his goal drought with a fifth-minute opener but the hosts levelled almost instantly. John McAtee restored the lead after the break then conceded a penalty late on which was converted before an 89th-minute winner.
The Reds played well for the majority of the game...
Reds hope to spoil Pompey promotion party
Barnsley visit leaders Portsmouth tonight hoping to deny their hosts a promotion party and secure a place in League One's top six.
The Reds are fifth in League One, five points clear of the teams below the play-offs following a 2-2 home draw with Reading on Saturday.
They need three points from their last three games to be sure of the play-offs – having taken nine from nine – while two sides chasing them Oxford...
News
College launches Love Grace handbag appeal
BARNSLEY College are asking for donations of handbags and unused toiletries for the Love Grace charity.
The Love Grace handbag appeal remembers 21-year-old Grace Millane who was murdered in New Zealand and the campaign combines Grace’s love of handbags with a legacy in her name to end violence towards women.
The college are working with the Love Grace charity for another year, after collecting a record number of 500 handbags across the last three years,...
Robert in the swim again for charity
A SWIMMING instructor whose fundraising exploits raised thousands for charity is set to embark on his latest mission - alongside his daughter and colleagues.
Robert Blackburn, who teaches at the Metrodome, will take the plunge at Derwent Water in the Lake District alongside his daughter, Isabelle, and co-workers Nicole Perry, Emily Gamble, Maddie Barker and his friend, Steve Costing.
They also have the support from Emma and Mark Mallender, from Wombwell-based Triple M Vehicles, who...
Young Lincoln takes on fundraising challenge
THE family of a Darton youngster say they’re immensely proud of him after he used his initiative to donate food to the homeless and local foodbanks.
Lincoln Porter is only three years old but his mum, 34-year-old Emma Porter, said he’s always had an interest in picking up rubbish.
This week Lincoln decided to turn his hobby into a fundraising challenge - and he’s raised £120 which he used to buy food for local foodbanks...
Volunteers stride out for hospice
MORE than £7,000 has been raised for Barnsley Hospice thanks to over 60 volunteers who took part in walks last weekend.
On Saturday, the volunteers took on 10km, 20km or 30km walks around Barnsley to raise funds for the facility.
The event has already raised more than £7,000, with the total still rising.
A spokesperson said: “It was certainly a proud moment seeing so many orange T-shirts representing our wonderful hospice, and we are so...
Police appeal amid hunt for bikers
POLICE are appealing for information to help identify a large group of off-road bike riders who are alleged to have descended upon Barnsley, causing significant damage and anti-social behaviour.
Officers have released images as it is believed those photographed can assist us with enquiries.
Yesterday, just before 5pm, police received reports of around 15 off-road bikers around the Barnsley Road area of Cudworth causing damage to street furniture, obstructing drivers on the road,.
Sport
Wombwell Town beat Worsbrough 5-0
Wombwell Town beat fellow Barnsley club Worsbrough Bridge 5-0 on Tuesday but results elsewhere all-but ended their promotion chances from NCEL Division One.
The scorers were Edward Agnew, twice, Morgan James, Jordan Kershaw and Daniel Youel.
With three games left, Town can still reach 92 points with teams above them Wakefield and Parkgate needing one more win each to deny them a place in the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Penistone Church reserves are on the brink of the County Senior Premier..
Barnsley women Bethany and Amy into FA Cup final
BARNSLEY women Bethany England and Amy Turner are due to play in the FA Cup final next month after both playing 120 minutes in Tottenham Hotspur’s semi-final victory on Sunday.
Spurs fell behind in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but scored in the 83rd and 118th minutes.
They are now due to face Manchester United at Wembley on May 12.
Turner, from Carlton, used to play for Manchester United while England, from Kingstone, won the FA...
Imogen 3rd in Cleveland Classic
BARNSLEY teenager Imogen Wolff finished on the podium in the women’s race at The East Cleveland Classic in the North East.
Wolff, from Silkstone Common, was six seconds off top spot as she finished third.
She said: “I felt shocking, really really bad.
“My legs weren’t there. It was hard. But I am chuffed to win the sprint and kept my legs in the final moments. It was a good performance.
“It was much better...
Mixed weekend for Rowland
Oliver Rowland moved briefly into first place in the Formula E championship standings on Saturday with a first race win of the season but missed out on another when he ran out of battery on the final lap on Sunday.
The 30-year-old from Penistone finished second in the first race in Misano, Italy - moving up from fifth in qualifying - but was then moved up to first due to a disqualification. It was a...
Wombwell Town win 4-0
Wombwell Town won 4-0 at home to Harrogate Railway on Saturday in NCEL Division One.
Rikki Paylor, Owen Sykes, Gadhafi Kiwanuka and Rhys Plater scored.
Town are nine points and one place off the play-offs with four games to play.
Worsbrough Bridge lost 1-0 at home to Clay Cross Town on Saturday.
Athersley Rec lost 2-1 at home to Retford.
Nathan Perks opened the scoring.
In the County Senior League, Dodworth won 1-0 at Denaby...
News
Churches earn eco-friendly awards
TWO local churches have been awarded for the work done to make their parishes more environmentally-friendly.
All Saints’ Church in Darton and St John the Evangelist Church in Staincross - which are in the vicarage of Fr Tim Stevens - have been awarded the Bronze Eco-Church Award, the first level in a national scheme designed to help churches ‘respect God’s creation’.
The two churches have been putting in plenty of work to get the award,...
Council officers ‘not at fault’ in landlord wrangle
COUNCIL officers who took action against a negligent private landlord who axed a long-held tenancy agreement via text message - which resulted in a government probe taking place due to a counter claim against the local authority’s handling of the case - have been found not guilty of any wrongdoing by an inspector.
The unnamed tenant - said to have lived in the property for ‘some years’ - attended a pop-up stall organised by the...
Apprentice Ellie raises thousands at charity auction
A BARNSLEY College apprentice has been praised after raising more than £7,000 for a charity which supports children with cancer.
Ellie Sawyer, from the college, held a charity auction night on March 16.
The night had 2 comedians, performances, a raffle, and an auction.
Ellie organised and ran the event, making it a huge success, and raising a total of £7,131 for the charity PACT (Parents Association of Children with Tumours and Leukaemia).
She said:...
US chart-topper heading for Barnsley
A US Billboard chart-topper is set to visit Barnsley next weekend to premiere two new tracks.
New York blues rock singer-songwriter Sari Schorr will be headlining the Birdwell Venue on Saturday as part of her April UK tour.
Attendees will be some of the first people in the world to hear two tracks - Hometown Girl and Highway 69 - from her upcoming album, which is set for a worldwide release in the autumn.
Sari...
Life-saving nurse ‘a gift from God’ says grateful mum
AN ‘angel’ care home nurse who sprang into action when a ‘blue and lifeless’ two-year-old required urgent medical assistance has been hailed as a lifesaver.
Lainey Roberts has suffered with seizures in the past but on March 28, whilst with her grandma Catherine, she suffered a serious medical episode.
Catherine rushed Lainey across to Holly Tree Lodge, on Sceptone Grove, Shafton, as she knew someone would be able to help her stricken granddaughter who was...
Barnsley FC
OAKWELL ROUND-UP: Benson set-back, women in semi-final and u18s comeback
Some Barnsley FC-related stories following another busy weekend.
'LOADS TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT' SAYS BOSS
Neill Collins says there is ‘loads to be positive about’ and Barnsley are in a ‘great position’ going into the last three games of the League One season.
The Reds are fifth, five points clear in the top six and need three more points to reach the play-offs. They have collected nine from their last nine games. They visit leaders...
Talking points from Reading draw
Analysis of Barnsley's 2-2 home draw with Reading. The visitors took the lead twice but Adam Phillips and Fabio Jalo levelled.
JALO RESCUES REDS
A PLAYER who was less than a year old when Barnsley won the League One play-offs for the first time in 2006 took them one tentative, shaky step closer to finishing in the top six again this time.
Fabio Jalo has been talked about as a future superstar for a...
Reds remain confident with 3 points needed
Neill Collins says Barnsley will get at least the three points they need from three games to finish in the top six if they show the ‘attitude, character and intensity’ they displayed in a 2-2 home draw with Reading on Saturday.
The visitors took the lead twice but Adam Phillips then teenage substitute Fabio Jalo levelled.
The Reds are now five points clear in the top six and need three to make the play-offs, potentially...
Jalo rescues point
Teenage substitute Fabio Jalo’s first ever league goal rescued a point for Barnsley in a 2-2 draw at home to Reading.
The fifth-placed Reds are five points clear in the play-off places and need three points from last three games to make sure they are in the semi-finals.
The visitors took the lead but Adam Phillips levelled in first half. Reading scored a superb second with ten minutes left but the impressive Jalo...
Big game for both teams as Reading visit Oakwell
BARNSLEY could take a big step towards securing a place in the top six when they host Reading from 3pm.
The Royals are currently 17th, nine points and four places clear of the relegation zone.
They could mathematically secure their safety at Oakwell depending on other results.
The Royals have been docked six points throughout the season for failing to pay staff and their tax bills amid a financial crisis which has allegedly led to...
News
Children’s charity earns Royal approval
A CHILDREN’S charity which has been supporting Barnsley’s youngsters for more than 20 years were presented with their King’s Award last weekend.
The Exodus Project and their volunteers - based in Barnsley town centre - received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service back in November.
It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The group provide activity clubs and weekends away for children...
Accolade for life-saving police officers
TWO Barnsley police officers have been awarded for their bravery after they jumped into a canal to save a woman’s life.
Officers received a 999 call from a man stating that his daughter had got into trouble on a stretch of Royston Canal on Common Lane in August last year.
However, the phone call then ended but officers managed to get a description of the area.
PCs Ben Child and Adam Morton, based at Churchfield...
Solar farm plan at food manufacturer site
PLANS to create a solar farm at the base of one of Barnsley’s biggest employers have been approved by Barnsley Council.
The application was submitted to the council in September for the solar farm to be added to Premier Foods Bakery, on Fish Dam Lane in Carlton, which employs almost 700 people across the town.
The firm’s strategy seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by...
Karen finds peace through painting
A WOMAN with a mental health disorder which has caused her a lifetime of instability has finally found peace through painting.
Karen Kenworthy, of Carlton, suffers with borderline personality disorder (BPD) - a condition that results in impulsive behaviour, disturbed patterns of thinking and severe mood swings.
The 57-year-old spent most of her life dealing with these issues until in 2021 she finally received a diagnosis that explained her problems.
“My life’s been a rollercoaster
Charity brings week of culture to college
A NATIONAL charity brought a ‘week of culture’ to Barnsley College to offer students a variety of activities that expand their knowledge of other cultures, lifestyles and international issues.
Integrate UK delivered peer-education workshops at the college to inspire discussions on a range of difficult issues, such as female genital mutilation, honour-based abuse and forced marriage.
National dance workshop hosts Dance Days also attended the college, providing taster sessions for ch
Sport
Shaw Laners look to move up leagues after last day survival
BARNSLEY RUFC stayed in Yorkshire League Three on the final day of the season and are now looking to reach the top level of the county league system.
The Shaw Laners began the day in the relegation zone but just one point from safety and within three of the four teams above them.
They knew that a victory would almost certainly keep them in the division, while a draw or even a defeat with...
Barnsley AC clean sweep at 1st league race
THE FIRST leg of the South Yorkshire Road League took place in Elsecar.
First and second male finishers were Barnsley AC’s Kai Sunman and Gareth Cooke with times of 26-02 and 26-52 respectively.
The first and second women’s finishers were also from Barnsley AC with Ruby Sykes first in 29-10 and Naomi Drakeford second with 29-33.
Chris McNicholas was the first over60 man in a time of 31-34 while Gail Colville with 34-31 was the...
Church 2 wins from play-offs
PENISTONE Church will qualify for the play-offs if they win their final two matches of the NCEL Premier season after two victories this week.
Albion Sports, who are in the lowest play-of place in fifth, have finished their league games and posted 68 points.
Sixth-placed Church still have two to play and are on 62 so victories from their final two games would take them above Albion into fifth on goal difference.
On Wednesday, they came...
Dearne’s ground cleared for NCEL as title-chasers claim another win
DEARNE and District’s ground has passed an inspection for the Northern Counties East League and they have also taken a step closer to reaching it on the pitch.
The Goldthorpe club found out late last week that their Welfare Ground had been approved for the NCEL for next season, but they may still need to win their current division. With five games to play, they are 12 points clear at the top although second-placed Doncaster...
Ace winter for Barnsley juniors
BARNSLEY Tennis Club's junior teams have enjoyed a successful winter season.
The under 16s team are champions of their league. The under 14s A team finished as runners-up in Yorkshire League Division One and the B team came third in Division Two.
Vice-chairman John Gregson said: “A big shout-out for our junior teams and possibly not everybody knows how much young talent we have coming through. This is thanks to Alice Robson (club coach) and...