How spirit of ‘ Mr Barnsley’ Rimmington lives on at Oakwell
JACK WALTON is one of many at Oakwell who will never forget the late, great Norman Rimmington.
The man affectionately known to Reds fans as ‘ Mr Barnsley’, following an association with the club spanning over seven decades , passed away at the age of 93 just over four years ago – but his spirit lives on.
Since his death, his beloved Reds have staged a Norman Rimmington Memorial Match each year to commemorate the Oakwell legend, who signed for the club as a goalkeeper in 1945, having previously worked as a fitter at North Gawber Colliery.
With no supporters present in Boxing Day’s memorial match against Huddersfield Town, players and staff took it upon themselves to remember ‘ Rimmo’, including Reds No 1 Walton.
A shirt with the name of the club stalwart was displayed on a seat in the home dug- out, with Walton poignantly touching the jersey ahead of the game.
One thing is for sure, Rimmington would have been proud of the way that Barnsley showed character amid fortitude in 2020 – although a quip or two would not have been far away if he was still holding court in the club’s laundry room.
On his memories of ‘ Rimmo’, Walton told The Yorkshire Post:
“To be fair, I still remember when I was 15 or 16 and Rimmo used to come in and be in there and sit in the laundry room.
“I would come in head to toe in mud and he would go: ‘ you have not done that much right, have you, because you are filthy. You should not have to dive. If you get your angles right, you would not have to dive’.
“I used to go in every morning and say hello. He was a lovely guy and we all know what he did for the club and the roles he had.
“It is nice that each year we can pay our respects and tributes to him and it was great that we could get a win for him.”
A group of largely young players who enjoy each other’s company and are getting the best out of each other, Barnsley face a stiff test of their mettle and progression this month.
After opening the new year at leaders Norwich, Valerien Ismael’s side also face Watford and Swansea, among others.
Following their exploits in a high- stakes situation at the end of 2019- 20 – which would have derived nods of approval from someone who did not give praise wantonly in Rimmington – don’t expect the Reds to be cowed.
Walton said: “The way we finished last season just reassured us that we had the quality to step up against all odds when everyone thought we were down and wrote us off.
“Everyone has taken confidence. We believe that we can compete in this league and are a good side individually and as a team, no matter what our ages are.
“We have used that to improve our mentality so that when we do go behind, we know we are still in a game and can bring it back, which we have proved.”
In the here and now, Barnsley have swapped a tense relegation fight for a flirtation with the top six, courtesy of some headturning form under Ismael.
December proved a redletter one for the club, with an outstanding haul of 18 points having justifiably ensured that the Frenchman is among four candidates for the Championship manager of the month award which will be announced on Friday morning.
Barnsley registered six victories in eight matches by a 2- 1 scoreline with four of them arriving after they came from behind in comeback wins against Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Huddersfield.
Ismael faces competition from his good friend Daniel Farke, Brentford head coach Thomas Farke and Preston boss Alex Neil.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough winger Duncan Watmore is among the four nominees for the Championship’s player of the month accolade.
Vying for the gong alongside him are Derby’s Krystian Bielik, Norwich winger Emi Buendia and Brentford’s Sergi Canos.