Barnsley FC legend meets first team players ahead of final match of the season

BARNSLEY FC legend John McCann received a surprise visit from two of the clubs top players ahead of their Championship survival match.

Striker Kieffer Moore and defender Adam Jackson dropped into Deangate Care Home Barnsley to meet John just days before their fixture with Derby County.

John made 118 appearances for The Reds between 1955 and 1959, scoring 17 goals from his position as a left winger.

Now aged 84, John imparted his match-playing wisdom on Kieffer and Adam, as well as discussed Barnsley in the old days, his team mates and the manager at the time.

John was eventually sold to Bristol City for £12,000 in 1959 – a lot for a football player in the late 50s – where he made 30 appearances over one season.

He then moved to Huddersfield Town for two years and, in 1962, to Derby County, who face The Reds for their final match of the season on Sunday, 6^th May.

John played 55 games for The Rams before closing out his career at Darlington and Chesterfield, retiring from professional football in 1966.

John moved into Deangate Care Home in 2012 and still keeps up with Barnsley’s results.

He said: “I really enjoyed meeting Kieffer and Adam and discussing the old days.

“I wished them luck for their match on Sunday. I’ve played for both teams in the past but I’ll be rooting for The Reds.”

Julia Chambers, home manager at Deangate Care Home, on Towngate, Mapplewell, said: “We were delighted to get a visit from the Barnsley players.

“They seemed genuinely interested in John’s career and talked about the club today.

“Everyone at the home wishes them luck for this weekend.”