Patrick Cryne: The club's greatest ever benefactor
Written by Mark Stokes on Friday 14th August 2009

Patrick Cryne pictured with Bobby Hassell at the 2009 Player of the Year Dinner.

Barry Taylor has spoken of his admiration for the Club's owner Patrick Cryne, the influence he has had and whether the East Stand should be named after him.

Putting aside the issues Barry Taylor has faced regarding the FA Council election he said, "More importantly for Barnsley FC, I would like to talk about the greatest benefactor that Barnsley FC has ever seen. I have never worked with a more inspirational person than Patrick Cryne. He is quiet, but his strategy and ideas are first class.

The impact he has around the club is tremendous. He never seeks any lime light and prefers to stay in the background. The present regime is a very happy regime; everybody knows their position and everyone is allowed a view. Patrick doesn't blame or nor does he panic.

Decisions are made by the board without one person domineering. The Club is virtually debt free thanks to Patrick. We are on the lookout and investing in new players whenever possible.

Patrick and I are two Barnsley lads who are only interested in Barnsley FC. I am from Dodworth and Patrick is from Wombwell so you can't get more local than that. Don Rowing is a naturalised Barnsley person and runs the operational side very successfully at Barnsley FC.

It is felt that there is no need for the cult of Chairman rules, we don't think in this scenario it is necessary. We all three care from the heart. We have no sold more Season tickets than last year, a strategy clearly laid down by Patrick. Patrick's personality and mine are as opposite as you can get, but most of our days are spent thinking and worrying about Barnsley FC.

I have been trying to persuade Patrick to name the East Stand the Patrick Cryne Stand. He keeps resisting because it's not his style. Fans in Barnsley should write and insist that this should be done because without him we would not have a club.

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