An opportunity to provide the Oakwell faithful with some positivity to take in to the festive season .

There was a time when the final home game before Xmas would be shifted to Friday night so as to maintain harmony within families as hapless men folk would be expected to trudge around shops carrying large boxes of presents on the traditionally busiest shopping day of the year .

The Salvation army would be in attendance playing Christmas carols and the players would emerge from the tunnel and kick plastic football's in to the crowd that were fought over by young kids , Santa had indeed come early !! .

Brian Joicey would score a couple and Hartlepools United and their thug defenders would be sent back up the A1 with 3-0 at the back of them .

Nostalgia isn't what it was .