After relegation from the Championship, Barnsley finished the 2014/15 campaign in 11th place in League One after suffering a hangover from their previous drop.

Ahead of the 2015/16 season, they had been able to stop the rot and consolidate in the third tier moving into further rebuilding and an expected tilt at promotion at the second attempt.

Lee Johnson would look to add to his playing staff to spearhead a forward charge up the league.

And one player who was added to much acclaim was confirmed on June 30, 2015.

Alfie Mawson was snapped up on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with the League One side from Brentford.

And his arrival prompted jubilant responses from many of the Tykes’ supporters

Having never played in the Championship or League One with the Bees, Mawson was looking to establish himself at a club after several loan moves before.

And he asserted himself almost immediately into Johnson’s first team.

Mawson made his Football League debut in the 3-1 defeat to Chesterfield on August 8, 2015, before scoring his first goal for the club three games later.

The defender notched his maiden league goal in the 3-2 win over Millwall at The Den.

Then, at 20-years-old he impressed immensely in a season that would see him score seven goals in 58 appearances.

But the stats would be just the surface of a stellar debut campaign.

Mawson was a rock in the side that would win the Football League Trophy in April 2016, beating Oxford United at Wembley 3-2.

Little over a month later, they would be back at the national stadium where the defender would be heroic in the 3-1 play-off final win over Millwall to cap off his debut season with a cup and promotion double.

That impressive year would cause clubs higher up the food chain to be alerted to a potential capture.

After just four games under his belt in the Championship, Mawson was targeted by Premier League Swansea City.

And on August 30, 2016, after just over a year at Oakwell, the former Brentford man was on the move again.

And the reaction to his departure was gifting him legendary status after a phenomenal solo season with the club.

Mawson would get an England U21 call-up while in the Premier League and feature regular during his time at the Welsh outfit.

The reaction to his signing by many of the Barnsley fans was quiet optimism that they had signed a solid player and that his performances exceeded all expectations.

From no league appearances to a Premier League move in a year highlighted the talent and potential Mawson had.

And it was enough to see many of the club’s fans consider him a hero at Oakwell during one of Barnsley's most successful seasons ever.