Diddums

Had Sheffield United beaten Burnley at Wembley on Monday, Barnsley chairman Patrick Cryne would have been rubbing his hands together with glee, but then so too would Blades captain Chris Morgan and fellow ex-Tyke Brian Howard.

At the final whistle however it was Burnley who were celebrating a return to the top flight of football. For them it has taken 33 years. There were scenes of dejection at Wembley for the Sheffield United players, something which the two ex reds are all too familiar with.

Brian Howard was at Wembley just thirteen months earlier with the Tykes for an F.A. Cup Semi-Final defeat to Cardiff and Chris Morgan captained his hometown club under the twin towers in the Division 1 Play Off Final defeat to Ipswich Town in 2000.

Sometimes it brings a smile to the face to see your former heroes doing well, but these two are certainly an exception.

Brian Howard was an over-rated player at Barnsley and seemed to get a little bit too big for his boots by the end of the 07/08 campaign, talking of improved deals before the season had even ended. He started the following season poorly, knocking in only one goal in the opening two months of the season before plumping for a fatter wage packet at local rivals Sheffield United, incensing many Barnsley fans in the process.

Chris Morgan, like Brian Howard was a Player of the Year winner at Barnsley and also turned out for the club over 200 times including in their one year stint in the Premier League. However last November what respect Barnsley fans had for him was torn to shreds when he appeared to deliberately elbow Barnsley striker Iain Hume in the head, leaving the Canadian with internal bleeding and a fractured skull.

Hence, we have no sympathy with the red and white tears at Wembley. Come on down to Oakwell next season for a bit more stick!

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