Lifelong Barnsley FC fan becomes club's oldest mascot at 90

  • Watch Martin Fisher's report on Joan Desbro's big day at Oakwell.

A lifelong Barnsley fan has made history by becoming the club's oldest ever matchday mascot at 90. Joan Desbro, from Cudworth, led the team out for their League One clash with Charlton Athletic at Oakwell on Saturday, 16 December. A jubilant Joan, who watched her team claim a point in a 1-1 draw, described the moment as "something to remember forever". Joan has been supporting the Tykes since 1937, when she started going to games with her father aged just five.

Joan has been going to games at Oakwell since 1937. Credit: ITV News

Her son, Bryan Huscroft, is also a fan. He said: "She's never lost that passion. It's just got stronger and stronger."

As well as walking out onto the pitch alongside right-back Jordan Williams before kick-off, the club presented Joan with flowers in the changing rooms, where she had chance to meet the players. She was even given a Barnsley away shirt reading "Desbro 90" on the back by forward Devante Cole. In an interview with ITV Calendar, Joan said: "It felt absolutely marvellous. I've gone to Oakwell that many years. I never ever thought that would happen and as I said on Saturday I was always good when we got promotion.

"I never ran on the pitch! So that was the first time I'd been on the pitch and that was an absolute pleasure."She added: "I've a brick in the wall at Oakwell that says, 'Red Till Dead', and that's true!"

  • Joan Desbro chats to presenters Ian White and Sally Simpson

Former Huddersfield Town and Bradford City striker Jon Stead - now Barnsley's assistant coach - said: "This is what football and football clubs are all about.

"They're about the people and the people that support it over the years, and, you know, to have Joan here, the oldest mascot, at 90 years of age, is just, it's an honour for us actually."

Chris Ridyard, Barnsley player liaison coordinator, said: "She's actually made everybody's day at Oakwell. We were so happy to welcome her. She put a smile on everybody's face."That's what Barnsley's about really. It's about the fans and the people and Joan personifies Barnsley, you know. Loyalty, how kind she is and what a wonderful person she is."Joan described the whole day as "a dream come true" and said: "Everybody's just been so lovely and I think that's what Barnsley Football Club is all about."

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