‘Our beautiful life in the beautiful game’
A personal full time match report after my Dad Glen Oxley passed away peacefully from prostate cancer, written about our life in
#football
, delivered in person at my Dad's funeral.
RIP Dad, my hero x
Say hello to our twin baby boys 👶🏻👶🏻
Edward James Oxley (6lb 3oz) (right)
Joseph Thomas Oxley (5lb 1oz) (left)
They arrived a minute apart just before 8.45pm on Saturday 10 October at Jessop’s in Sheffield.
Mum and boys are doing really well, Dad can’t stop smiling 😊
How does Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore like to celebrate, asked
@robstaton
last night?
Jelly snakes was the answer 🐍
More than happy to oblige after a famous night, never seen a man look so happy 😊
#SWFC
|
@footballheaven
Not really sure what to say, which is unusual given what I do for a living, but today my Dad Glen passed away peacefully at Ashgate Hospice.
Extremely grateful to have said goodbye in person & very lucky to have superb friends & family to help us deal with his incalculable loss.
Extremely sad news this morning about the passing of Bob Jackson, the founding father of the football phone-in. He was 88yo.
Bob launched 'Praise or Grumble'.
It's a genuine honour to follow in his footsteps at
@BBCSheffield
.
Condolences to Bob's extended family and friends.
After 13yrs+ proudly supporting
@syptweet
, I’m honoured to have an incredible opportunity to follow my dream. Next Monday I start full time with
@footballheaven
team
@BBCSheffield
. As a local lad & a fan of the show, it will be an absolute privilege. I can’t wait to get started.
💙 “It’s been very, very emotional”
📹 The man of the night Drew Talbot (
@DroobyT
) after over 9,000 fans attend his testimonial between former clubs Chesterfield & Sheffield Wednesday.
#Spireites
|
#SWFC
|
@footballheaven
I covered
#rufc
just 2 days after my Dad died this summer. Paul Warne walked up to the commentary point and gave me a big hug, he didn’t say much, or have to, having lost his old man this year. Some people just get it, I’ll never forget that.
#WMHD2019
#WorldMentalHeathDay
"People get obsessed with what people earn. I don't see why that doesn't give you problems in depression or lack of self esteem."
On
#WorldMentalHealthDay
Rotherham boss Paul Warne talks about how far the game has come, and how far is left to go.
Sheffield United cannot be promoted on Monday evening when Luton host Middlesbrough after their results tonight 🙅🏻♂️
But the Blades now know a win against West Brom next Wednesday will confirm their return to the Premier League 🆙
#sufc
|
#twitterblades
@footballheaven
🏃🏻♂️ So I’ve had to pause my
@prostateunited
runs until further notice as I’m in hospital.
😞 Quite emotional, as I explain below, including being in the same ward as my dad who died from prostate cancer 🖤💙
Any donations for
@ProstateUK
would be great 👉🏻
Football.
Incredible to think just 24 days ago, Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday beat Michael Duff’s Barnsley at Wembley to secure promotion to the Championship.
Now both the Owls & Reds are without a boss, in the same week.
#SWFC
|
#BarnsleyFC
@footballheaven
Not expecting anything official from
#BarnsleyFC
tonight but I understand reports suggesting the club has parted company with head coach Markus Schopp are true.
The Reds are 13 without a win and have lost their last 7 league games.
@footballheaven
@BBCSheffield
WWWWWWWWWW
Doncaster’s form as they win 4-1 at Colchester to record a 10th-straight win & go 5th in League Two.
Rovers were 22nd in February & fearing the drop.
Simply bonkers.
The biggest story in football right now.
The Sal is calling! 🍻
#DRFC
|
@footballheaven
Is Chris Wilder satisfied with the explanations of the ghost goal at Villa Park?
"Not at all."
"I am absolutely 100% certain, if we were a more powerful football club in the Premier League... I think there’d have been a lot more made of that."
@footballheaven
#twitterblades
#sufc
boss Slavisa Jokanovic says the club’s “board must do what they promised me before I coming here and refresh the squad. That’s it. This is simple like I cannot explain it in a different way. They must do it (the board). I am confident they will do it.”
@footballheaven
🗣 “Absolutely buzzing for him”
🎥 George Baldock 🇬🇷 on supporting Iliman Ndiaye’s Senegal 🇸🇳 at Qatar 2022 🇶🇦 after scoring the winner in South Wales 🏴 to send Sheffield United 🏴 top of the Championship 🔝
Full interview via
@footballheaven
📻
#sufc
|
#twitterblades
🗣️ “Hecky and Stuart McCall!”
🎥 Joyous scenes at the full time whistle at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United beat Spurs to make the FA Cup quarter finals for a 3rd time in 4 seasons 🏆
Iliman Ndiaye’s wonder goal wins it 🇸🇳
#sufc
|
#twitterblades
@footballheaven
#swfc
maybe relegated this season due to a 6-point deduction for breaching spending rules that had nothing to do with the Owls manager(s), players or fans... just one example of many.
Why should the “big six” be any different when it comes to punishments for the ESL breakaway?
A handful of owners try to tear our game apart and may well try to do so again, and we’re just told to ‘calm down and move on’. Huge admirer of Klopp but he’s spectacularly tone deaf here. Without the fans of our beautiful game it would be much uglier today.
🗣️ “It’s going to be some bloody goal of the season award do!”
🎥 Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Will Vaulks on his stunning strike at Adams Park to seal a 1-0 win vs Wycombe Wanderers ⚽️
Vaulks says he might gloat, just a little… and rightly so 🚀
#swfc
|
@footballheaven
“I made my debut with my brother and he was in the stands today. The family is just so proud. In the family group chat, my auntie was crying. It’s mental. This is what I’ve dreamed of since I was going to the games at 7yo.”
19yo
#sufc
defender Kyron Gordon.
@footballheaven
Awful night for South Yorkshire football with the passing of two local legends.
Between them, Eric Winstanley at
#BarnsleyFC
& Len Badger at
#sufc
played over a 1,000 games for their hometown clubs.
Condolences to Eric & Len’s family & friends.
@footballheaven
@BBCSheffield
The 22nd of January, my Dad’s birthday. He would have been 67yo today, which is still no age.
You know that thing you’re waiting for? Maybe do it now.
My Dad worked hard all his life & barely got his retirement.
My tribute for his funeral.
My hero.
🗣 “I’ve had no contact at all”
🎥 Rotherham boss Paul Warne on reports linking him with the vacant Huddersfield Town job.
The Millers drew 0-0 at Middlesbrough tonight to go into the international break 8th in the Championship.
#rufc
|
#htafc
|
@footballheaven
Just spoken with
#swfc
caretaker boss Lee Bullen who is out in Germany. Bullen says he could potentially become the new Owls manager and thinks he'd be ready to step up, if offered the manager's role. Calls it an honour to be in charge. Full interview online asap.
@footballheaven
CW said 2-0 win at
#efc
was worst
#sufc
have played all season in possession, poor decisions on ball, but Blades boss delighted with defensive organisation, solidity & discipline. Called fans reception at the end absolutely ridiculous.
@footballheaven
I'm told there's no change at
#swfc
regarding Steve Bruce. The club hasn't received an approach from
#nufc
. Bruce took the Owls training today at Middlewood and has been around the club.
@footballheaven
I make no apologies for repeatedly sharing this photo.
It’s 3️⃣ years to the day since
@OfficialRUFC
lost 1-0 at Portman Road.
The significant fact of the day… my final dad ‘n’ lad radio trip with my old man.
Eternally grateful to
@IpswichTown
for making the day possible.
I’ve been to many, many games at Oakwell since I first became the
@BarnsleyFC
reporter for
@BBCSheffield
in 2008, today was different.
There was a real vibe on the pitch, off the pitch & in the dugout, which is remarkable given the apathy & anger of last season. Great to see.
I cannot begin to tell you how proud we are as a family that my Dad & former
@HallamFC1860
player Glen Oxley now has a memorial plaque at the WORLD’S OLDEST FOOTBALL GROUND, Sandygate.
A HUGE thank you to everyone at
@HallamFC1860
for making this happen 🙌🏻
Barnsley’s John Stones & Sheffield’s Kyle Walker are Champions League winners 🏆
What outstanding careers they’ve had since coming through the ranks with the Reds & Blades.
Congratulations lads, Kings of Europe 👑
@footballheaven
@BBCSheffield
#BarnsleyFC
#SUFC
New EFL fixtures out.
📆 Saturday 9 November at 3pm
Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley v Rotherham
Now that would be quite an afternoon, although I suspect the authorities may have something to say about it!
#BarnsleyFC
#RUFC
#SUFC
#SWFC
@footballheaven
Per sources, I’m told a deal is in place for Canadian international Liam Millar to join Sheffield United after the Copa America.
The 24yo former Liverpool youth spent last season on loan at Preston from Swiss side FC Basel.
#SUFC
|
#twitterblades
@footballheaven
1️⃣5️⃣ years ago today, I travelled to South Wales as a nervous 21yo just out of
@sheffielduni
for my 1st match as a BBC football reporter.
Now I’m about to start my 16th season with the
@footballheaven
team & my 3rd full time at
@BBCSheffield
.
Proud & privileged doesn’t cut it.
A thank you message at the end of
@prostateunited
, particularly for my wife
@gemmalou
💙🖤
Over 150km ran in 30 days raising money for
@ProstateUK
Feeling proud, feeling emotional, thinking about my Dad and missing him horrendously.
Season number 2️⃣1️⃣ in local radio, number 1️⃣7️⃣ with
@BBCSheffield
starts with
#BarnsleyFC
in Cardiff, the first of 3️⃣ live games over 8️⃣ bumper hours in
@footballheaven
from 2pm.
The
@EFL
is back, let the games begin!
See you in South Wales 🏴
I ❤️ this photo but I can’t believe this is a year ago 💔
Saturday 12 January 2019, the last time my Dad would come on a
@BBCSheffield
road trip with me.
@IpswichTown
&
@OfficialRUFC
were superb in making it such a special day for us both.
My hero, I miss him so much.
I’m at Portman Road tonight for
#itfc
against
#rufc
in League 1.
The last time I was here was January 2019, with my Dad; our last “dad ‘n’ lad” trip before he passed 6mths later (as per my profile photo).
@ProstateUK
scarf in his place tonight for DAB comms in
@footballheaven
So it seems Sheffield Wednesday would have won 2-0 today had the club not shown a replay of George Byers “goal” so swiftly on the big screen.
I wonder if that process will change now.
Certainly a disallowed goal & a situation to discuss on
@footballheaven
this Monday.
So
#BarnsleyFC
can secure a Championship playoff place with 2 games still to play, just 9 months after avoiding relegation to League 1 with the final kick of last season.
Remarkable progress.
Huge Yorkshire derby win tonight, especially after the disappointment of St Andrew’s.
My Dad Glen finished his long playing career with Old Edwardians, in his late 50s. He loved playing football.
Tonight I presented
@footballheaven
in my Dad’s shirt, and dedicated the show to him, on the eve of what would have been his 66th birthday.
🎧
Happy 40th to me 🥳❤️🏴
Superb end to a brilliant day with the family, amazing to watch & celebrate victory with my mum & sister.
My old man would have loved it all.
Take a bow, Ollie Watkins. Stunning finish. What a way to win a game.
To Sunday, and Spain. Let’s go.
As I said to Daniel Stendel in a post-match interview early this season... Das ist wunderbar! 🇩🇪
Delighted for
#BarnsleyFC
returning to the Championship at the first attempt.
What a remarkable job Stendel & his staff have done in their first season at (undefeated) Oakwell.
🎥 Full time scenes at Oakwell as Barnsley record a famous 4-2 win and complete a South Yorkshire derby double against Sheffield Wednesday.
Watters & Kitching with late goals for the Reds after Gregory had equalised for the Owls.
#BarnsleyFC
|
#SWFC
@footballheaven
From Will Grigg’s on fire 🔥 to the greatest team the world has ever seen 🔴
A flavour of the celebrations on the Priestfield pitch as
#rufc
players & staff celebrate promotion to the Championship.
@footballheaven
|
@BBCSheffield
Six months ago I was “never doing a half marathon” 🏃🏻♂️
Really proud to represent
@BBCSheffield
and complete my first half in Sheffield in 1hr 56mins 💪🏻
Brilliant event, crowds were fantastic.
Thanks to my dad Glen &
@rooth_ben
for the inspiration 👊🏻
😅 “Training’s been excellent, gaffer”
👀 That awkward moment when your new boss hears you talking about them 😂
📹 Sheffield Wednesday midfielder George Byers on Xisco’s preseason programme after making his return to action at Chesterfield 🔵🦉
#SWFC
|
@footballheaven
⚔️ Great to meet & interview new Sheff Utd midfielder Anis Slimane 🇹🇳 for the latest edition of Blades Heaven - out now wherever you get your podcasts 📱💻
📹👇🏻 Anis was tracking United’s promotion push from the start of 2023 ahead of a potential move!
Congratulations to
@valerien_ismael
&
@BarnsleyFC
Reading’s draw against Swansea means the Reds will compete in the Championship playoffs for a place in the Premier League.
Not bad for a team who were seconds away from relegation to League 1 just 9 months ago.
@footballheaven
Huge congratulations to Rotherham United in completing their Championship survival mission 🙌🏻
What a journey it’s been over 6️⃣ yo-yo seasons… well the 🪀 has finally stopped spinning for the Millers.
Amazing to share another fantastic
#rufc
experience with 👑
@ronniemoore53
Absolutely, bang on Mr Wilder. People simply wouldn’t say ‘Manchester’.
Saying ‘Sheffield’ is disrespectful to the Blades, the Owls, and arguably more importantly, to the world’s OLDEST football club
@sheffieldfc
Re tonight’s topic on
@footballheaven
, I’ve never understood fans leaving football games early, or fans leaving any event early for that matter. Why bother going at all if you’re not going to stay until the end? It’s an individuals choice, and rightly so, but I don’t get it.
It’s been an incredible day celebrating my boys’ 2nd birthdays 🥳 but it’s also
#WorldMentalHealthDay
and I wanted to share how my day started, collecting the anxiety meds that help me to function as a key part of my mental-health toolbox.
Kindness starts with yourself 👊🏻
We’ve just passed the
#sufc
team bus going onto the Sheffield Parkway. Stopped at traffic lights, we could hear the singing from inside our car. Driver had a big smirk on his face. Expect a fun scene at Bramall Lane when they arrive!
@footballheaven
Great ‘Praise’ tonight
@BBCSheffield
from Mick the Owl for his son Matthew & nephew Adrian. They were 2 of an impressive 3,578
#swfc
fans at Ewood Park and walked 6 miles to the ground after their car broke down. That’s commitment, especially for a 4-2 defeat. Well done gents 👏🏻
Chesterfield’s trip to Watford is much more interesting than most of these games, as is Gillingham at home against Sheffield United.
I’m sure the Spireites & Gills would also be much more grateful for the £85k live TV payment.
#Spireites
|
@footballheaven
Fantastic to have Chris Basham as part of our commentary team at Deepdale tonight for Sheffield United against PNE.
Great that Bash is feeling better 💪🏻
#SUFC
|
@footballheaven
🗣️ “I’m loads better than I was. I’m feeling a lot more positive in myself”
⚔️ Former Sheffield United defender Chris Basham on his road to recovery as he’s part of our commentary team tonight at Deepdale.
#SUFC
|
@BBCSheffield
One of the best pieces of radio you will ever hear 👇🏻
This is what football means.
Raw emotion from Tom the Spireite about his beloved Chesterfield, from the heart after a heartbreaking playoff final defeat.
@BBCSport
@BBCMOTD
I implore you to listen.
🔙 He’s back at Oakwell after a 7-year absence.
🏆🏆 Double trophy winning former captain Conor Hourihane returns to Barnsley as player/coach before assuming a full first-team coaching role in 2026.
#BarnsleyFC
|
@footballheaven
Still can’t make sense of this, even though I heard it live driving back from Bolton and have listened a few times!
Another slice of audio gold served by the original football phone-in Praise or Grumble.
Well handled
@robstaton
😅
Informed that Steve Bruce is at
#swfc
training ground this morning as he continues to be linked with the vacant
#nufc
manager’s role. I’ve just checked and there still hasn’t been a formal approach from Newcastle.
@footballheaven
Current scene at a drenched Hillsborough with a pitch inspection due at 5.30pm ahead of
#swfc
ahead of Accrington Stanley.
I think it’s fair to say there is a doubt about the game.
@footballheaven
@BBCSheffield
Co-hosted an event I’ve wanted to host since its inception (
@footballheaven
Managers’ Special) and scored 2 goals in a 6-5 win for
@kagfc
after our opposition agreed to swap to a later kick off time.
Not a bad Monday evening, it’s as if someone was looking down on me tonight...
#sufc
boss Chris Wilder says Lys Mousset, John Fleck, Rhian Brewster, John Egan and Enda Stevens all have a chance of playing against West Ham on Sunday after various injury issues; will make a late call & give them all every opportunity to be involved.
@footballheaven
Business done at Oakwell this transfer window. All late bids rejected. Pinnock, Moore, Cavare, Thiam all remain
#BarnsleyFC
players. Daniel Stendel will be a happy head coach after keeping them all in red.
@footballheaven
#sufc
manager Chris Wilder has agreed a new 3yr contract with the club, effective immediately, after guiding the Blades from League 1 to the Premier League.
@footballheaven
First I commentated as 4,500 fans returned to support
#BarnsleyFC
in the Championship playoffs.
Then I played in a Staff v Media game & scored a penalty at the away end, while
@IanOllie7
helped babysit our twin boys.
All at Oakwell in the last 24hrs.
Special, surreal times 😊
Keep walking, keep talking, keep doing whatever you need to do to keep yourself mentally and physically in shape 👊🏻
No shame, no stigma, just action.
Posting my latest pharmacy trip for the people I know that need to see that this is normal.
#mentalhealth
#TimetoTalk
A fourth January 22nd without my dad Glen 😢
He would have been 68 today.
A special man taken from us far too soon, who never got to meet our little legends Ed & Joe.
Extremely grateful for the years we had, immeasurably gutted about the years we’ve lost.
💙
@ProstateUK
🖤
As others have reported, understand Jayden Bogle’s medical is taking place today ahead of his proposed move from Sheffield United to Leeds United.
Will speak to Chris Wilder about it later at the SMH Group Stadium.
#SUFC
|
@footballheaven
Brilliant to see the
@Lionesses
win
#WEURO2022
with
@robstaton
who has done a superb job capturing the day for
@footballheaven
👏🏻
Big 🙌🏻 to the
@BBCSheffield
sports team & the wider station for a fantastic collective effort in covering the tournament 📻🏆
Football is home 🏡
Sheffield United are now under a transfer embargo for default of payments due to another club (Regulation 52.2.3), according to the EFL’s Embargo Reporting Service.
#sufc
|
#twitterblades
@footballheaven
Best Local Station of the Year at the radio ‘Oscars’ (
@radioacademy
) is
@BBCSheffield
🏆
Wow, what an incredible achievement for a wonderful group of people who care passionately about South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire 👏🏻
Ridiculously proud to work with my local station 😊
#sufc
boss Slavisa Jokanovic says:
“If we don’t do (signings) we are not enough serious for the job.”
“Before I arrive here we are talking about the strategy of the club and we need to follow our strategy.”
@footballheaven
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder confirms Ivo Grbić & Sam Curtis are set to be announced as Blades players.
Wilder has also confirmed Ismaila Coulibaly is leaving the club on loan.
Interview to follow via
@footballheaven
.
#SUFC
|
#twitterblades
Brilliant moment on the drive to Cardiff.
#BarnsleyFC
fan sees the
@BBCSheffield
car around Monmouth, hangs out the passenger window and screams “UUUUREDZ” at the top of his voice with two clenched fists.
Away days are special days, especially after 17 months.
@footballheaven
Huge thanks to former
#BarnsleyFC
&
#SWFC
striker turned psychotherapist Sam Winnall after joining us for our latest
#TimeToTalkDay
special on
@footballheaven
👊🏻
Must-listen for Reds & Owls fans after his switch between the 2 clubs.
🎧 Full hour here 👉
It’s fair to say Ed & Joe weren’t thrilled with the first half of
#swfc
against Millwall earlier, or was it my commentary that was sending them to sleep 😂
Leaving these 2 with mum today was tough but it was great to be back with the
@footballheaven
team on
@BBCSheffield
📻
In memory of the mightiest oak of a man, tiny acorns will grow 🌳
Visited my Dad’s memorial tree today at the Longshaw Estate on the first anniversary of his passing.
Miss him terribly, today and every day. My hero, gone but never forgotten x
Incredibly grateful for so many precious moments with our new extended family but my paternity leave is over and today I’m back behind the mic on
@footballheaven
for full commentary of
#swfc
v Millwall on AM & DAB from 3pm on
@BBCSheffield
.
Let’s get this show on the road 😊
Liam Lindsay says the
#BarnsleyFC
players had a squad meeting this week without the coaching team before a meeting with them; positive, senior players led the way, good to hear everyone’s point of view; shows level of maturity for young group.
@footballheaven
One of the best games I’ve had the privilege to call for
@BBCSheffield
🎙️
The Blades are heading back to Wembley after beating Blackburn 3-2 in the FA Cup quarter finals 🏆
🎥🎧 from Paul Heckingbottom, Tommy Doyle & Wes Foderingham available now via
@footballheaven
📻
👏🏻 Well played Barnsley; the town, the club, the fans, the rising boxing star.
🥊 Sensational to watch
@CallumSimpson9
beat Zak Chelli from ringside to become British & Commonwealth champion.
📹 The roar when Callum first steps in the ring, wow. What an atmosphere.
#sufc
boss Slavisa Jokanovic says he cannot be satisfied with this game (0-0 at Luton) and with the start to the season; team played without quality, without energy; we didn’t create anything; if anyone deserved to win it was Luton; clearly we need to improve.
@footballheaven
So this May (19-23), I’m going to walk 120+ miles over 5 days between the top 25 men’s and women’s football clubs in the
@footballheaven
area.
Why? To raise awareness about
#mentalhealth
and raise money for local Mind charities.
More details & links to follow soon but... 1/3
🔴
#rufc
are in the
@PapaJohnsTrophy
final 🔴
The Millers beat Hartlepool on penalties after drawing 2-2 after 90 mins.
🎥 WATCH here as Paul Warne describes what it means to be heading back to Wembley, and for those who went to Crewe 🏟
@footballheaven
|
@BBCSheffield
Re sellout at Lane, CW says fans have to bring their “A Game” to the table. Players & staff will be at maximum, fans have to do same. Misplaced pass can’t be met with a moan & a groan. Every right to opinion but need them. Players deserve backing & full support.
@footballheaven
I’m hearing about Barnsley interest in former loan goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, one to keep an eye on for Reds fans.
The 28yo ex Sheffield Wednesday stopper played a key role in helping Derby County win promotion to the Championship last season.
#BarnsleyFC
|
@footballheaven
📸 This is Football Heaven 📸
That’s 1️⃣8️⃣ seasons completed for
@BBCSheffield
and 2022/23 may just top the lot, for many reasons.
Memories that will last a lifetime.
Unbelievably proud to be a member of the
@footballheaven
team.
To everyone involved, thank you 🙏🏻👊🏻