EFL badge - Link to home

Barnsley and Shrewsbury Town will go head-to-head for the first time since 1989 when the two clubs meet in Sky Bet League 1 this weekend.

It seems a remarkably long time for two established Football League clubs to avoid each other, so what has kept them apart?

Starting with that 1988/89 campaign, Barnsley achieved the double over the Shrews in the Old Division Two, in a season which saw Shrewsbury relegated and Barnsley finish seventh. The champions of that division? Chelsea.

The Tykes continued to spend their time in the second tier until 1997/98, when they embarked on their first and only Premier League campaign.

In 2001/02, Barnsley were relegated to what is now League 1, but were promoted four years later via the Play-Offs. They remained in the Championship until 2013/14, and are now making their second attempt at bouncing back.

INTERVIEW: Manager looking forward to facing former club @bfc_official on Saturday: http://t.co/aVRnGTFEmJ#Saloppic.twitter.com/I3wj1I3MWx

— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsweb) September 3, 2015

As for the Shrews, they have had a mixed bag of emotions since that season. Following the relegation, the Shropshire side had to wait until 1993/94 until achieving promotion once more.

In the season that Barnsley reached the top division, Shrewsbury were relegated again and, in 2003/04, found themselves in the Conference for the first time.

They returned to The Football League at the first time of asking and, after eight years in League 2, achieved promotion to League 1. But when the Tykes dropped down from the Championship, Shrewsbury suffered the same fate, going back to League 2.

Now, 27 seasons on, the pair finally meet again, and the Shrews will hope their luck at Oakwell has changed – they have won just once in 19 visits to Barnsley, in 1971/72.

To see if Shrewsbury can double their win tally against the Tykes, follow our goal updates on Twitter via @SkyBetLeague1.

Read more: Sky Bet League 1 weekend preview