Next season will mark ten years since Barnsley FC’s historic FA Cup scalps against Liverpool and Chelsea.
Kayode Odejayi celebrates scoring for Barnsley against Chelsea
Barnsley FC first won the FA Cup in 1912, with a victory over West Bromwich Albion, having been losing finalists in 1910. It would take almost a century for the Tykes to come close again, with a fairytale cup run which is now almost a decade ago, in the 2007-08 season.
Relegation-threatened in the Championship, Barnsley found joy in the world’s oldest football competition. Victories over Blackpool and Southend saw the Yorkshire outfit tied against Liverpool in the Fifth Round. The seven-time winners were humbled though, as Barnsley came back from 1-0 down to win the game 2-1.
Things didn’t get any easier in the Sixth Round, up against Chelsea, but the Tykes emerged victorious once more, and it is that giant killing that we focus on here, taking a look at the eleven players who started that day and what they are up to now.
Luke Steele
Luke Steele in goal for Barnsley
Luke Steele was initially drafted in by Barnsley due to Tony Warner being cup-tied, and he made his debut in the historic win over Liverpool, immediately endearing himself to supporters with a string of fantastic saves. He started once again in the win over Chelsea, and conceded once when Barnsley were eventually knocked out in the semi-finals to Cardiff. Aged 32, Steele is now first choice for Greek side Panathinaikos, who he joined in 2014.
Marciano Bruma
Attacking Dutch full-back Marciano Bruma spent two years at Oakwell as a youngster, and his best game was probably in that Quarter-Final win over Chelsea. The brother of former Chelsea and current Wolfsburg and Netherlands centre-back Jeffrey Bruma, Marciano now plays in the fifth tier of Dutch football for XerxesDZB.
Dennis Souza
Brazilian centre-back Dennis Souza was a regular at Oakwell during his two seasons with the club, making almost 80 league appearances. He arrived at Barnsley from Belgian club Charleroi, and left for Qatar in 2009. Now aged 37, the powerful defender is playing in the semi-professional top flight of football in Luxembourg for Wiltz.
Stephen Foster
Crewe Alexandra and Barnsley stalwart Stephen Foster played more than 200 league games for both the Railywaymen and the Tykes, but his career effectively ended in 2013, when he left Barnsley at the age of 32. Foster had a brief stint at Tranmere Rovers, where he played four games, and has been without a club ever since. Aged 36, it’s probably fair to say Foster has left the professional game.
Robert Kozluk
Barnsley vs Chelsea
Former England under-21 international Robert Kozluk was primarily a right-back, but was shifted to left-back for the arrival of Chelsea back in 2008. The ex-Derby County trainee spent the majority of his career with Sheffield United, but spent three seasons with Barnsley before returning to the Blades. Now a coach, Kozluk took on a role as first team coach at Ilkeston in 2013.
Bobby Hassell
Former Mansfield and Barnsley defender Bobby Hassell played just in front of the back four in Barnsley’s 1-0 win over Chelsea, arguably the highlight of his decade at Oakwell. Hassell spent a season in India with Bharat FC after leaving Barnsley, and is now the Tykes academy manager.
Martin Devaney
One-time Cheltenham and Barnsley winger Martin Devaney spent six years at Oakwell, scoring 15 goals in 159 games. Devaney was a crucial player in the victories over Liverpool and Chelsea, assisting two of Barnsley’s three goals in those games. Aged 37, Devaney now works as a coach for the club.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Lambeth-born former Jamaica international Jamal Campbell-Ryce was a pacy and dangerous winger capable of playing on either flank during his time with Barnsley. A solid lower league player who had stints with Bristol City and Sheffield United, Campbell-Ryce now plays for League Two side Barnet.
Brian Howard
Michael Ballack started for Chelsea vs Barnsley
Barnsley’s outstanding player during the 2007-08 season, the central midfielder made the PFA Championship Team of the Season alongside the likes of Kevin Phillips and Ryan Shawcross that year. Having scored 14 goals from midfield that season, aged 25, including a belter to win it in the last minute against Liverpool, it was thought Howard could make the step up to the Premier League.
Nine years on and things haven’t quite worked out like that. Aged 34, the midfielder had spells with Sheffield United, Reading and Portsmouth, but failed to shine. A move abroad to CSKA Sofia failed to breath new life into his career, and the Tykes FA Cup hero now plays for National League South strugglers Whitehawk.
Istvan Ferenczi
Former Hungary international Istvan Ferenczi found it a little harder to score in England than his native Hungary, bagging 11 goals in 53 games for Barnsley. A big, rugged target man, Ferenczi left Barnsley in 2008, and scored 39 goals in 24 games for Ferencvarosi the following season, winning the Minor Nations European Golden Boot. The 39-year-old played his last game in 2015 and is now assistant manager at Vasas.
Kayode Odejayi
Barnsley fans were as surprised as anyone else when Kayode Odejayi emerged as the goal scoring hero of their 1-0 win over Chelsea. The former Cheltenham Town forward was never prolific, scoring 5 goals in 81 games for the Tykes before departing for Colchester United. Another big, strong centre-forward, Odejayi is now playing in the National League North for Stockport County.
Barnsley Stadium – Oakwell
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