League One club Barnsley saw their team bus go up in flames on their return trip from a late win away at Exeter City on Saturday.
Substitute John McAtee – on loan from Luton Town – came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in the 89th minute, but there was even later drama as the Yorkshire-based Tykes travelled back north.
Footage shared online showed Barnsley’s bus on fire at the side of the M5 just south of Cheltenham, and the club confirmed that the incident involved their coach, but that everyone was safely evacuated from the vehicle.
The club posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): ‘We can confirm that on the way back from our fixture against Exeter City this evening, our club coach suffered complications and subsequently caught fire.
‘All players and staff on board were evacuated safely. Everyone is in good health
We woul
d like to thank the emergency services for their swift response.
‘The Club will make no further comment at this time and is focused on ensuring the safe return of staff and players.’
posted: ‘The #M5 northbound is closed between J12 & J11 near #Gloucester #Cheltenham due to a coach fire within J11A.
‘Traffic is also currently held southbound between J11 & J11A while the fire is brought under control.’
The late win at St James Park made it back-to-back league victories for Barnsley, who sit third in League One, six points adrift of pace-setters Portsmouth.
With Barnsley’s fixture next weekend at home to Bolton Wanderers postponed due to international call-ups, the club have two weeks to prepare for their next fixture, another trip down south to face London-based Leyton Orient.We can confirm that on the way back from our fixture against Exeter City this evening, our club coach suffered complications and subsequently caught fire. All players and staff on board were evacuated safely. Everyone is in good health. We would like to thank the emergency…
