In a candid interview, during our run-up to next Tuesday's Hillsborough fixture, Ronnie Glavin speaks passionately about just-what-it-takes to makes a difference in a South Yorkshire Derby...
Speaking exclusively to the club's official site, Ponty End "God", Ronnie Glavin remembered: "I was disappointed to be left on the bench for the game at Hillsborough. I loved playing there and had always really, really enjoyed the games in Sheffield.
"I had had a little injury a couple of weeks before and I was still finding my way back. I was still very, very disappointed to be left out. We had been a thorn in the Sheffield club's side for a couple of years and they were always some of my favourite games to play in. They are big games. I was disappointed sitting in the dug out but I was a senior professional then and I knew I had to stay focussed. I was desperate to get on.
"All the way through the second I half I was sat there shouting 'Isn't it about time Glavin went on?' but Norman (Hunter) just kept telling me to bide my time. Eventually I got the chance to come on and I knew what I had to do to make an impact in games. I wanted to make things happen and that game was set up for me and Wednesday gave me a lot of room to play. Within five minutes of being on the pitch I had one saved and then had a header tipped over from the corner that followed. I could have had two already and felt really on song.
"Five minutes later the opportunity came my way after the Sheffield Wednesday defence opened up and could not catch me. I hit it well and the keeper never got anywhere near it".
He added: "We had a great team back then. We went to places like Hillsborough, Bramall Lane, Leeds United, Fulham, Newcastle, Chelsea, Bolton and Blackburn and won matches. Those are tough places to go and play but we were very, very good away from home and had a great rapport with the travelling fans.
"I do not know why the team has not won a league game at Hillsborough since then but derby matches are all about passion, desire and commitment. The form book goes right out of the window in these matches and you have to have that commitment if you are going to get anything.
"Back then Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United were terrified of us and we really looked forward to going there. We were a real handful for them and we loved that".
Ronnie Glavin moved to Barnsley from Celtic in 1979 and went on to make 198 first team appearances, netting 92, goals in a five year spell with the Club. He left in 1984 to join Portuguese side Belenenses but returned to Oakwell a year later, adding another seven games to his Barnsley tally.
Speaking exclusively to the club's official site, Ponty End "God", Ronnie Glavin remembered: "I was disappointed to be left on the bench for the game at Hillsborough. I loved playing there and had always really, really enjoyed the games in Sheffield.
"I had had a little injury a couple of weeks before and I was still finding my way back. I was still very, very disappointed to be left out. We had been a thorn in the Sheffield club's side for a couple of years and they were always some of my favourite games to play in. They are big games. I was disappointed sitting in the dug out but I was a senior professional then and I knew I had to stay focussed. I was desperate to get on.
"All the way through the second I half I was sat there shouting 'Isn't it about time Glavin went on?' but Norman (Hunter) just kept telling me to bide my time. Eventually I got the chance to come on and I knew what I had to do to make an impact in games. I wanted to make things happen and that game was set up for me and Wednesday gave me a lot of room to play. Within five minutes of being on the pitch I had one saved and then had a header tipped over from the corner that followed. I could have had two already and felt really on song.
"Five minutes later the opportunity came my way after the Sheffield Wednesday defence opened up and could not catch me. I hit it well and the keeper never got anywhere near it".
He added: "We had a great team back then. We went to places like Hillsborough, Bramall Lane, Leeds United, Fulham, Newcastle, Chelsea, Bolton and Blackburn and won matches. Those are tough places to go and play but we were very, very good away from home and had a great rapport with the travelling fans.
"I do not know why the team has not won a league game at Hillsborough since then but derby matches are all about passion, desire and commitment. The form book goes right out of the window in these matches and you have to have that commitment if you are going to get anything.
"Back then Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United were terrified of us and we really looked forward to going there. We were a real handful for them and we loved that".
Ronnie Glavin moved to Barnsley from Celtic in 1979 and went on to make 198 first team appearances, netting 92, goals in a five year spell with the Club. He left in 1984 to join Portuguese side Belenenses but returned to Oakwell a year later, adding another seven games to his Barnsley tally.
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