Umpire joins countdown to opening of ‘magnificent’ social history museum

Arthur Bower, Barnsley FC historian, with the rattle he first took to a game in 1949

“Experience Barnsley”, at Barnsley town hall, tells the history of the town from Neolithic times right up to the present day.

Exhibits refer to everything from the miners’ strike to the proud history of Barnsley FC.

Mr Bird, who donated a cricket ball as well as a bust of himself, said: “I donated this ball from the West Indies versus Australia World Cup final I umpired in 1975 at Lords.

“It’s one of my most memorable matches and was a tremendous occasion. Umpiring a World Cup final was the pinnacle of my sporting career.”

Arthur Bower, club historian at Barnsley FC, said the town hall is “a magnificent building and now it has a museum to match.”

He said: “People have given all sorts of things as donations and it’s superb to see the town’s history laid out like this.”

Barnsley Council leader Sir Stephen Houghton said the museum “looks absolutely fantastic” and added: “Eight years ago we didn’t have a penny to spend. We eventually got funding in place and now we can ensure Experience Barnsley serves to carry our history into the future.”

Experience Barnsley opens to the public on Thursday, June 27.