Yorkshireman Neil Warnock faces one of his former clubs when Barnsley visit Cardiff City Stadium for a Championship fixture this weekend.
Winger Warnock played for the Tykes 40 years ago, scoring 10 goals in 57 appearances.
This Saturday, Barnsley take on the Bluebirds in another crucial clash for Warnock’s men (3pm).
City are unbeaten in three matches, having earned five points from a possible nine, and are out to clinch a second successive home win after a 2-1 success against Wolves in midweek. That lifted them out of the relegation zone.
“I had two and a half seasons at Barnsley and enjoyed those times as much as I enjoyed it anywhere,” said Warnock. “We were in the Fourth Division, but played some good football. Barnsley finished sixth in 1976-77 and seventh the following season, just a few points off promotion each time.”
Former Spurs and Newcastle player Jim Iley was Barnsley’s manager and Warnock was signed to add experience to their young squad.
Graham Collier, Warnock’s best mate, also played for Barnsley, and the City boss says: “I scored one of my best goals for Barnsley, a header against Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
“Graham Collier took a corner and I came off the line and launched myself at it. I didn’t score may like that and it felt even better that it came against one of our fiercest rivals.”
He was coming towards the end of his playing days and when a rumour started that suggested he might be given a free transfer, Warnock came up with a plan.
“I thought if they released me I might not get another club,” he says in an autobiography ‘Made in Sheffield.’
“I went to see the manager, pretending I had not heard anything, and said I wanted to go part-time because I had the chance of a job in civvy street.
“I told him I’d play on for reduced wages and he asked for 24 hours to think about it.
“As far as I was concerned the arrangement kept me in the league and kept my career alive. The catch was, of course, that I had to find another job to supplement my football income.
“I had six months working for Combined Insurance Company of America, but didn’t really like it.
“I played in the first team for a lot of that season and then, just as I thought everything was coming to an end, York City came in for me.”
Warnock went on to play for York and then Crewe, finally ending his playing career in 1979 at the age of 30 and moving into coaching and management.
City will again be without defender Sol Bamba for the visit of Barnsley with Bruno Manga and captain Sean Morrison linking up at the heart of defence.
Warnock must also decide whether to recall experienced Rickie Lambert in attack or stick with 22-year-old Kenneth Zohore, who was outstanding during the second half against Wolves.
Cardiff will seek a personal hearing for Bamba after he was charged with threatening behaviour by the Football Association.
The charges follow an incident in Cardiff’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich when the Ivory Coast international was sent-off.
“We’re going to ask for a personal hearing,” said Warnock.
Bamba was suspended for two games because of the red card, but could face a longer spell on the sidelines.
The 31-year-old confronted the referee, the fourth official and Warnock as he reacted angrily to a Jonathan Douglas tackle.
Warnock accepts that the player’s action were unacceptable, but feels there are areas of the FA report which the club could contest
“We spoke to Sol yesterday and we looked at all the videos that the league have sent us and, while we agree his conduct wasn’t right, we do have certain discrepancies in the report we find so we will be looking at a personal hearing for that.”
Warnock confirmed Cardiff would look at taking internal disciplinary action against Bamba, but would not confirm when that might happen.