List of people from Barnsley

This is a list of people from Barnsley, a town in South Yorkshire, England. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname:

A

• John Arden (1930–2012), playwright
• Maggie Atkinson, the Children's Commissioner for England

B

• Alan Barton (1953–1995), singer
• Josh Bates (1996–), professional speedway rider
• Mark Beevers (1989–), footballer, Peterborough United, formerly Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers
• Mike Betts (1956–), retired professional footballer
• Dickie Bird (1933–), international cricket umpire
• Dai Bradley, actor, Billy Casper in Ken Loach's film Kes
• Joseph Bramah (1748–1814), inventor of flushing water closet, Bramah lock and the beer pump
• Pete Brown (1968–), beer writer and columnist
• Stan Burton (1912–1977), former Wolverhampton Wanderers player, played in 1939 FA Cup Final

C

• John Casken (1949-), composer
• Ed Clancy (1985–), professional cyclist
• Tom Clare (1999–), a footballer and television contestant on 2023 Love Island series nine.
• Jay Clayton (1990-), Musician and songwriter in the band Crywank
• Wilf Copping (1909–1980), footballer, played for England 20 times
• Mark Crossley (1969–), former Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield goalkeeper.
• Nick Crowe (1968–), artist

D

• Shaun Dooley, actor
• Scott Doonican, comedy folk-musician - lead vocalist/guitarist with The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican
• Kenny Doughty, actor
• John Duttine (1949–), actor

E

• Leonard Knight Elmhirst (1893–1974), philanthropist
• Air Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst (1895–1982), Commander-in-Chief Royal Indian Air Force, Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Guernsey
• Bethany England, (1994-), English footballer, 2019/2020 Player of the Year, plays for Chelsea in the FA WSL and England

F

• Joann Fletcher, Egyptologist
• Toby Foster, Radio Sheffield presenter, comedian and actor

G

• Brian Glover (1934–1997), actor
• Darren Gough (1970–), cricketer
• Brian Greenhoff (1953–2013), footballer, Manchester United and Leeds United
• Jimmy Greenhoff (1946–), footballer, Manchester United and Leeds United

H

• Alan Hill (footballer, born 1943) (1943-), footballer
• Charlie Hardcastle (1894–1960), boxer
• Joanne Harris (1964–), novelist, Chocolat
• Paul Heckingbottom (1977–), born in Barnsley, an English former footballer, played for Barnsley 2006–2008, and was the team manager from 2016–2018.
• Barry Hines (1939 - 2016), author of A Kestrel for a Knave, among other works.
• David Hirst (1967–), England international footballer, played for Barnsley before joining Sheffield Wednesday
• Stephanie Hirst (1976–), radio presenter, former host of hit40uk on commercial radio throughout the UK
• Geoff Horsfield (1973–), professional footballer turned coach
• Alan Hydes (1947-), International table tennis player and 4 times Commonwealth gold medal winner
• Dorothy Hyman (1941–), sprinter

I

• Graham Ibbeson, sculptor, artist, responsible for statue outside NUM Head Offices, Barnsley, and Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe

J

• Ashley Jackson, artist
• Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson (1855–1929), GCB, FRS, first Sea Lord, 1915–1916; pioneer of ship to ship wireless technology
• Milly Johnson (1964–), author
• Mark Jones (1933–1958), one of the eight Manchester United players killed in the Munich air disaster

K

• Katherine Kelly (1980–present), actress, played Becky Granger in ITV soap opera Coronation Street
• James Kitchenman (1825-1909), carpet manufacturer

L

• Ethel Lang (1900–2015), supercentenarian
• Davey Lawrence (1985–), ice hockey netminder playing for the Sheffield Steelers
• Joseph Locke (1805–1860), civil engineer
• Stephen Lodge (1952–), former Premier League referee; retired from top-flight officiating at the end of the 2000–01 season

M

• Danny Malin, (1980–), Internet celebrity and food reviewer
• Baron Mason of Barnsley (1924–2015), former Northern Ireland Secretary
• John Mayock (1970–), former 1500m runner, member of Team GB, 3000m gold medallist at the 1998 European Athletics Indoor Championships
• Mick McCarthy (1959–), footballer, manager of Ipswich Town F.C. and Republic of Ireland national football team (1996–2002, 2018–)
• Paul McCue (1958–), author and military historian
• David McLintock (1930–2003), philologist and German translator
• Ian McMillan (1956–), the Bard of Barnsley
• CJ de Mooi, former panellist on quiz show Eggheads
• Chris Morgan (1977–), ex-professional football player; formerly played for the town's football club; now a coach at Sheffield United
• Martyn Moxon (1960–), cricketer who played for Yorkshire and played in 10 test matches for England
• Jenni Murray (1950–), journalist and broadcaster, current presenter of Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4

N

• Sam Nixon (1986–), came 3rd on Pop Idol 2003; singer and television co-host
• Victoria Nixon, model and writer

O

• Richard O'Dwyer, university student, creator of TV Shack; in the process of extradition to the US on charges of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and criminal infringement of copyright
• Craig Oldham (born 1985), designer
• Julie O'Neill, novelist. Born in Staincross in 1971.

P

• Jon Parkin (1981–), professional footballer, playing for York City F.C.; nicknamed 'The Beast'
• Michael Parkinson (1935–2023), talk show host, journalist and television presenter

R

• William Rayner (1929-2006), novelist
• Stan Richards (1930–2005), actor
• Danny Rose (1993–), football player for Northampton Town, previously played for Barnsley, Bury and Mansfield Town.
• Kate Rusby (1973–), folk singer
• Oliver Rowland (1992-), racecar driver

S

• Mary Sadler, Lady Sadler (1852–1931), heiress and hostess
• Arthur Scargill (1938–), leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, 1981-2000; founded the Socialist Labour Party in 1996, currently the party's leader
• Harry Leslie Smith (1923–2018), author of Harry's Last Stand (2014), and autobiographical works.
• Danielle Steers (1991–) English stage actress and singer-songwriter
• John Stones, (1994–), English footballer, currently plays for Manchester City and England national football team.

T

• James Hudson Taylor (1832–1905), Protestant Christian missionary to China; founder of the China Inland Mission (now OMF International)
• Tommy Taylor (1932–1958), professional footballer, one of the 'Busby Babes' (or Manchester United under the management of Matt Busby) who was killed in the Munich air disaster

W

• Obadiah Walker (1616–1699), academic and Master of University College, Oxford from 1676 to 1688
• Charlie Williams (1928–2006), ex-professional footballer and stand-up comedian
• David Williams (born 1948), cricketer
• Harry Worth (1917–1989), actor, comedian and ventriloquist
• Celia Wray (1872-1954), architect and suffragette
• Sarah Walker (born 1965/66), music broadcaster, musician and writer

References