Shaw Lane AFC have applied to the Football Association to change their club's name to AFC Barnsley.
The Ducks have wanted to change their name since summer this year when they moved from Barnsley Rugby Union Club's Shaw Lane base, where they had been tenants, and agreed a groundshare deal at Sheerien Park with Athersley Rec.
They are now expecting to be called AFC Barnsley from the 2017/18 season unless there are any objections from the FA or from Barnsley FC, who have also been informed of the namechange. The Oakwell club's solicitors previously objected to the non-league club's plan to become Barnsley Town, saying that there would be confusion as Reds fans refer to their club as 'town' or 'tarn.'
The application had to be submitted before the end of the month. AFC Barnsley was previously used as a name for a breakaway club formed during Barnsley FC's financial troubles in the early 2000s. They played in the Sheffield County Senior League and Central Midlands League before folding.
Shaw Lane owner Craig Wood, who also runs plumbing business Aquaforce, had to drop the name of his company from the club's name last year due to FA rules. He now wants to go forward as AFC Barnsley with the ultimate goal of reaching the National League, formerly the Conference, which is two promotions away.
Wood told the Chronicle: "We wanted to have the word Barnsley in the name because we are proud to be from this town and, with where we are in the football pyramid, it felt right to let people know where we are from.
"The Shaw Lane name got a lot of attention after we got to the FA Cup first round this season and played on BT Sport but we don't play at Shaw Lane anymore and we want people to know who we are.
"We thought about Barnsley United or Barnsley Borough and some other names but none of them sounded right. "AFC Barnsley just feels right.
"The original name of the club was Aquaforce Football Club so being called AFC keeps that going. We're certainly not trying to muscle in on Barnsley FC's territory.
"We have kept them informed of our plans to change the name and we hope we can have a good relationship with them. There are AFC Mansfield (formed in 2012) and Mansfield Town, so we feel we can do the same with AFC Barnsley and Barnsley FC."
Shaw Lane are hoping to reach the National League North, formerly the Conference North, this season and secure a sixth promotion in seven years since joining the Saturday football league structure from the Barnsley Sunday League in 2011. The Ducks were one of the few teams to play this week as they hosted mid-table Witton Albion who, after 12-goal top-scorer Paul Clayton put the hosts ahead in the 80th minute, levelled in the 88th.
That result means that Shaw Lane moved into second above Grantham Town who suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Buxton in the only other match which avoided being called off. The Ducks are now a point clear of third-placed Grantham, who have played three games more than the Barnsley club, and two points behind leaders Altrincham who they have a game in hand on. Shaw Lane are due to visit Hednesford Town tomorrow before hosting Grantham for a Boxing Day clash on Tuesday.
The Ducks are managed by Paul Quinn, who took over in November after Craig Elliott moved to Boston United. Owner Wood said: "Paul is doing really well. He has brought his own ways to the club with more attention to detail. "Training is more intense and regular and he uses video footage to prepare for the opposition. "There is a sports science element as well and the lads are monitoring their own fitness."
Barnsley Chronicle
