This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer affects one in nine men.

Top-flight flyer: Ashley Ward excelled in the Premiership. Photo courtesy of Action Images

 

Here blogger Dan Williams, of barneysleftpeg.wordpress.com, selects Barnsley's five best No9s… and one to forget! 

5. Paul Wilkinson (1996-97)
If anything will earn you Barnsley immortality, it's scoring goals that help earn promotion to the Premier League. Signed by Danny Wilson from Middlesbrough in 1996, 'Wilko' only played 55 games for the Reds, but his 11 goals and an almost telepathic partnership with John Hendrie cemented his place as a fan favourite. His opener in the 2-0 promotion-clinching victory over Bradford City will go down in Barnsley history as one of the most important ever scored on the hallowed Oakwell turf.

4. Neil Shipperley (1999-2001)
It's probably fair to say that 'Shipps' wasn't the daintiest of players, but he was a hero in the eyes of many a Barnsley fan. Signed by Dave Bassett for £750,000 from Nottingham Forest in 1999 in an attempt to gain promotion back to the top flight, Shipperley's hold-up play was second to none, and his finishing was up there with the best too. Thanks to his 25-yard strike away at Birmingham in the play-off semi-final, and the partnership he struck up with Bruce Dyer, his place in this list was never in doubt.

3. Trevor Aylott (1979-82 & 1986)
Barnsley fans have always enjoyed seeing a big, bustling centre-forward leading the line, and few did it better than Trevor Aylott. Tall and strong, the former Chelsea man bullied every defender put in his way during his time at the club. Notching 26 goals in 96 appearances, he might not be the most prolific striker to pull on the famous red jersey, but his ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play more than compensated for that, and his aerial prowess made him a constant threat. A bullet header against Manchester City in the League Cup in 1981 is testament to this, and sticks in the memory of every Barnsley fan lucky enough to have seen it.

2. Ashley Ward (1997-98)
With Barnsley struggling in their only season in the top flight, Danny Wilson splashed the cash on Derby County frontman Ashley Ward, and the rest, as they say, is history. Hard-working doesn't come close to Ward's contribution to the team. He was everything that you want in a striker. Strong and quick, he could hold the ball up well, bring others into the game, and was equally adept with his feet and head, scoring almost a goal every other game in his time in South Yorkshire. 'Wardy' would have run through walls for Barnsley FC, and it was devastating when he left the club for Blackburn Rovers after our relegation from the Premier League. If the Tykes sign another striker like Ward in my lifetime, I will be truly happy once again.

1. George Lillycrop (1907-13)
While the Titanic was going down, Barnsley were enjoying their most successful season of all time. After losing the 1910 FA Cup final, the Tykes went on to lift the trophy in 1912, with the goals of Lillycrop instrumental in getting his team to the final. His 25 goals in the 1909-10 season was a record that would last for more than 25 years, and to this day he remains one of only three players to score over 20 goals in more than one season for the club. Although shirt numbers weren't around back then, as Barnsley's only out-and-out striker, he would have almost certainly worn the No9. A total of 104 goals in 224 games is an incredible record for anyone, and although it was Harry Tuffnell who stole the headlines by scoring the winner in the Cup final against West Brom, Lillycrop will go down as arguably Barnsley's finest frontman of all time.

And the worst…
Dave Regis (1996-97)
Poor Dave Regis. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't really much of a footballer, and struggled with even the most basic of tasks. Despite only playing 16 games for the Reds, he left a lasting impression on the Oakwell faithful. Not only did it hurt that he came into the club in place of fans' favourite Andy Rammell, he once missed an open goal from a single yard out when he kicked the post instead of the ball. He did score one goal, against West Brom, but was subbed almost immediately afterwards, and it was described as an "embarrassment" for the opposition goalkeeper. Poor Dave Regis.

Follow Dan on Twitter @DaninFrance