To those Reds fans who remember watching the exciting Barnsley side of the 80's, Ronnie Glavin needs no introduction.  However, for those of you that can't remember what was happening in the 80's or for those of you that weren't even born - then read on.

At the age of 18 Ronnie Glavin was a regular for Partick Thistle in the Scottish 2nd division and was also their captain for two years.  A year later in 1971 he won a second division title winners medal with Partick and a year later was in their team which won the Scottish FA Cup when they beat Celtic 4-1.

In 1974 Ronnie was transferred to Celtic and at the end of his first season he collected a second Championship medal, this time in the Premier division.  Another followed in 1977 when Celtic were crowned champions again.  In between he won the Scottish FA Cup again in 1975.

The highlight of Ronnie's career came when he represented Scotland in a 3-1 success over Denmark at Hampden Park in 1975.

Following injury in 1978 Ronnie was unable to break back into Celtic's first team and Alan Clarke the Barnsley Manager at the time made enquiries about the player.

With the probability of Celtic not offering him another contract, Ronnie travelled down to Barnsley knowing nothing of the club or the town and seemed little impressed of what he saw despite the enthusiasm shown by Clarke to sell the club to him.

It was clear that Ronnie had no intention of joining Barnsley at the time and looked certain to head back north, despite Clarke saying that he wanted him at the club.  Glavin reportedly asked for wages that were three times what he was earning at Celtic expecting for this to be dismissed out of hand so he could be swiftly on his way home.

However, when he sat down for a parting meal with the Barnsley Manager later that day, Clarke surprisingly agreed and gave Glavin a week to think it over.  £40,000 was the transfer fee set and Ronnie was on his way south.

By the time the new season got underway Glavin learned that Clarke hadn't seen him play and that he had been signed on the strength of reports from the club's assistant manager.

He was selected to play his first game on the left side of midfield, but his strengths were making runs from the centre of midfield and scoring goals.  Despite this, Clarke made him play out of position and Glavin looked an ordinary player.  In his next game he was selected in the same position and was asked to pick up Chesterfield's right back and to stop him.  By half-time he hadn't had a kick and decided to move into the middle for the second half and soon sent a shot just wide of goal.  When Clarke shouted at him from the dug out to move back onto the left, Ronnie was having none of it and was subsequently substituted.  Clarke summoned Glavin into his office on Monday morning and was told to play where he was instructed.  Glavin explained that he didn't mark right backs and said that he scored goals and Clarke should let the opposition worry about him.

Clarke dropped him for the next match but when selected for the following game at Blackburn wasn't given any specific instructions, so he played his usual game in the centre of midfield and scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory.  A Reds legend was born. He went on to score 23 goals and won the Supporters Player of the Year in his first season.

When Barnsley won promotion to the third and second divisions he was leading scorer on both occasions.  In total he scored; League 73, FA Cup 4 and League Cup 15 making him the Reds 4th all time goal scorer.

Glavin at his best was exciting, showing electrifying pace going forward and in a one on one with the goal keeper would come out on top almost every time and plant the ball in the back of the net to the Ponte roar!