The new Championship season gets under way this weekend and fans up and down the country are confidently expecting great things from their team. Even Barnsley fans, who have watched Simon Davey’s men battle for their Championship safety for the past three years, are optimistic ahead of the big kick-off, but then looking at their pre-season performances it’s easy to see why. 

Eight wins and a draw with the multi-billionaires Manchester City have given the Tykes a huge boost ahead of Saturday’s opener with local rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Owen Scrimshaw, a member of the Barnsley FC Supporters Trust, is confident that the club will not be fighting the drop this season.

 “I always start the season optimistic and this season is no different,” said Owen. “I would expect us to be comfortably mid-table – that must be an absolute minimum. We cannot continue to flirt with relegation.”

 Now a lot of people don’t take any notice of pre-season results because they are primarily there to get the players’ fitness levels up to scratch and for the managers to try different things tactically. Last season Tottenham Hotspur looked immense in pre-season but when it got down to the nitty gritty they were awful and looked like relegation fodder. However, Owen has seen enough of Barnsley recently to believe that this could be a good season for the club.

 “I have been to a couple of pre-season games and Barnsley usually do not perform very well in these games so I usually say they do not count, but this year the winning mentality is what it is all about and I was well impressed with the way we dealt with Manchester City at the weekend. It gives renewed confidence.”

Barnsley were promoted to the Championship in 2006 but since then they have been forced to fight for their lives each season to keep their place in the league. However, like most teams, on their day they can be world beaters – just ask Liverpool and Chelsea! What they need is a bit more consistency and a few more additions to the squad.

Simon Davey has tried to improve his options with the arrival of ex-Aberdeen goalkeeper David Preece and former York forward Onome Sodje but Owen would like to see him raid the market again before the transfer window closes.

 “We still need at least one striker and a defender. I would expect a few signings this week. We are close to signing a few but the transfer market seems a very slow this year. The squad needs bolstering, but it should be good enough if we can keep injuries to a minimum.

 “Iain Hume is like a new signing after returning from the horrendous injury inflicted on him by Sheffield United’s Morgan. Hopefully he will fully recover and score the goals we expect. Luke Steele in goal is a cracking keeper, probably the best in our league. One other player who could make a massive impact this season is Jacob Butterfield – one of our youngsters and a quality midfield general in the making.”

The Championship is a notoriously hard league to get out of and this year it includes former Premier League giants Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, both Sheffield clubs, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Reading and West Brom to name but a few. Everyone can beat everyone and a string of wins can see you topping the league while a run of defeats can see you propping up the table. The bookies have Newcastle, West Brom and Middlesbrough as favourites for promotion but Owen just can’t see the north east sides making a swift return to the Premier League.

“The teams I expect to see fighting it out for promotion are West Bromwich Albion and possibly Leicester City. I do not expect Newcastle or Middlesbrough to shine and see mid-table as the best they can do.”

Barnsley, who have spent more seasons in the second tier of English football than any other club and are rated 150/1 to win the Championship this season, start the new campaign away to Sheffield Wednesday and Owen sees no reason why they can’t get the new campaign off to a winning start. And if they take their pre-season form into the new season then it could very well end up being a memorable season for the club.

         Calling all Barnsley fans. How confident are you of Barnsley’s chances of pushing on from fighting relegation this season? What do you make of Simon Davey’s squad? Would you like to see any new players arrive at the club? How excited are you about the new season? I’d love to hear from you.