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Barnsley ended the 1914/15 season in third place in the 2nd division table, three points clear of Arsenal. War was declared just as the season got underway but the Football League went ahead with the new campaign. Barnsley ended the season in tremendous fashion, beating Stockport 2-1 away, Hull 1-0 at Oakwell and Leeds 2-0 away with goals from Fletcher and Tufnell.
At the end of the campaign the Football League decided to suspend the league competition in favour of a war-time geographical competition. The League Management Committee in their ultimate wisdom decided to extend the 1st division to 22 teams on the resumption of the new season in 1919. They promoted Preston and Derby who occupied the top two places, and after asking for nominations for the last place, awarded it to Arsenal who were given the nod after receiving 13 more votes than Barnsley.
In 1921-22 Barnsley missed out again on promotion, this time on goal difference when Stoke were promoted in 2nd place with a superior goal average of just one goal!
The season came to a dramatic end. In the final run-in Barnsley drew against the division high flyers Forest at Oakwell. Fletcher missed a penalty for Barnsley which would have given then the lead, but it was Forest who went in front before the interval but soon after Hine made no mistake with Barnsley's second penalty. The Reds then beat Hull 4-0 at Oakwell followed by a 3-0 victory at home to Notts County.
Barnsley's season was now complete which meant that Stoke needed to win their last match 3-0 at strugglers Bristol City who themselves needed to win to avoid relegation. The entire town of Barnsley was devastated when the result came through, Stoke won 3-0 and were promoted.
Thankfully in 1996/97 it was a different story. In their last home match of the season the Reds finally ended a 110 year wait for top
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