Football in Barnsley has always been full of passion, drama, and a fair bit of bad luck. And so it was on this day in 1895, when Barnsley St Peter’s—soon to be just ‘Barnsley’—took on Liverpool in the FA Cup First Round at Oakwell. The game was a momentous occasion, drawing a record attendance of 5,000 eager spectators and raking in the princely sum of £140 in receipts.
The Road to the First Round
For a club that was still finding its feet, reaching the First Round Proper was no small feat. St Peter’s had already dispatched Grantham Rovers (3–1), Leeds (8–0), Mexborough (1–0 after a replay), and Worksop Town (3–1) to earn their place against Liverpool, a club rapidly making a name for itself. The town was buzzing with excitement, and Oakwell was about to witness a classic cup tie.
The Weather and The Line-up Shake-up
If Barnsley folk have one thing in common, it’s their ability to deal with whatever the weather throws at them. And throw it did. In the days leading up to the match, Oakwell was buried under eight inches of snow. Thanks to some hard graft from local workers, the pitch was made playable—though the surface was still a mixed bag of frozen patches and soft, thawing mud. Perfect conditions for a good old-fashioned scrap.
The Saints had to reshuffle their squad due to injuries. Tom Smith was out, meaning Cutts stepped in at right-wing, Thompson moved to inside left, and Vost took over at centre forward. Alec Black, the St Peter’s captain, won the toss and chose to kick downhill—because if you’ve got the slope, you may as well use it.
The Match Begins
From the off, Liverpool were on the front foot. Their forwards weaved their way into dangerous positions, but Barnsley’s defence, marshalled by Tom Nixon and Keech, held firm. The Saints had their moments too—a few corners, a half-chance for Partridge—but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. After 35 minutes, Duncan McVean scored a scrappy goal, the ball trickling over Greaves’ foot as he tried to clear. A goalkeeping blunder? Perhaps. A lucky break for Liverpool? Certainly.
Half-time: Barnsley St Peter’s 0-1 Liverpool.
Second Half and Late Drama
The second half saw more chances, more near-misses, and a fair bit of frantic defending. Greaves redeemed himself with a fine save from Bradshaw, while Keech headed clear under pressure. At the other end, Cutts squandered two decent chances before finally making amends with a dramatic equaliser just 10 minutes from time. Oakwell erupted. Could the Saints pull off a giant-killing?
Full-time: Barnsley St Peter’s 1-1 Liverpool.
Controversy Strikes: Extra Time and A Protest
Here’s where things got messy. The Barnsley officials weren’t keen on playing extra time and protested to the referee. Under FA rules, both teams had to agree to additional play. Whether the referee missed the memo or ignored it, he decided the match would continue. After a tight first period, Liverpool eventually found the winner—Ross slotting home what can only be described as a soft goal. The Saints were out, but the drama wasn’t over yet.
Final score (AET): Barnsley St Peter’s 1-2 Liverpool.
Barnsley St Peter’s: Greaves, Coupe and Nixon, Keech, Hey and Black, Cutts, Bairstow, Vost, Thompson and Partridge.
Liverpool: McQueen, Curran and D McLean, McCartney, McQue and J McLean, McVean, Ross, Bradshaw, Hannah and Drummond.
The Fallout
Barnsley St Peter’s officially protested the result, arguing that extra time had been enforced unfairly. The FA agreed, and a replay was ordered—though this time it would be at Anfield. Nine days later, Liverpool made no mistake, romping to a 4-0 victory in front of 4,000 fans. The Saints' FA Cup adventure was over, but they had made their mark.
Legacy
This match was a pivotal moment in Barnsley’s early history. Just months later, they joined the Midland League, a stepping stone to greater things. Within a decade, they would become an established Football League side, and the rest, as they say, is history.
So, spare a thought for the hardy souls who battled through snow and controversy on that fateful day in 1895. Football in Barnsley has never been easy—but it’s never been boring either.
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