Barnsley F.C. play in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
Their home ground, Oakwell Stadium is situated in Oakwell, just outside the town centre.
The club has had a mixed recent history.
In the late 1990s they had a brief spell in the Premier League, but were relegated after one season.
Subsequent seasons saw them relegated to the third tier of English football; they were promoted to the second tier in 2006, beating Swansea in the play off final.
They were relegated in the 2013–14 season.
After two seasons, Barnsley regained a place in the second tier, following a victory at Wembley in the 2016 Football League One play-off Final, and the winners of the 2016 Football League Trophy Final.
They were again relegated to the third tier at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Also in Barnsley, there is a women's football team  called Barnsley L.F.C., who currently play in the North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division.

Speedway racing was staged at a track near Barnsley at Lundwood.
The track entered a team in the Northern Leagues of 1929 and 1930.
Two time British Under-21 Championship rider Josh Bates hails from the town.
Greyhound racing was held at Dillington Park Stadium from 1934 -1990  and at the Dearne Athletic and Sports Stadium in Old Mill Lane, from 1934-1935.
A third venue at the Queen's Ground was refused three times by the Corporation in 1936.

Rugby league is played in the town, at a number of clubs, past and present.

Dodworth ARLFC played in the second division of the BARLA run Pennine League, playing through the winter.
They played at the Miners Welfare ground in Dodworth until deteriorating player participation forced the club to fold 5 games into the 2013/14 season.

The same fate befell Hoyland Vikings ARLFC, prompting talk of a merger.
This however failed to materialise leaving only one club to represent the town.

The only representation now comes from the Dearne Valley Bulldogs in nearby Bolton on Dearne.
Like Dodworth and Hoyland, they participate in the Pennine League.

Barnsley Broncos play in the RFL conference, which is a summer competition and runs from May to September.
Also based at the Miners Welfare, Barnsley Broncos were set up to play in the less intense summer season.

Shaw Lane is the home to many sports in town, cricket, rugby union, squash, bowls, football, athletics and archery are all played to a high standard and host many of the towns teams including Barnsley CC and Barnsley RUFC.
Peoples Sport in Barnsley is a project writing the history of participation in sport in Barnsley is in progress and is expected to be complete in 2015.

The town also has a high standard badminton league, with three separate tiers.

The town is home to Barnsley Harriers, a nationally recognised running club.

Ardsley Golf Club, Barnsley, (now defunct) first appeared in the 1930s.
The club disappeared at the onset of the Second World War.
Golf can still be played at Hillies in Wombwell and there is also a driving range at Staincross.

There are a number of cycling clubs in and around Barnsley, including Barnsley Road Club itself, the long-established Birdwell Wheelers and Team Cystic Fibrosis (a charity-focused team), together covering many different forms of cycle sport and leisure.
 There have also been various other initiatives set up to promote cycling in the town and district of Barnsley.
Barnsley F.C. play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. Their home ground, Oakwell Stadium is situated in Oakwell, just outside the town centre. The club has had a mixed recent history. In the late 1990s they had a brief spell in the Premier League, but were relegated after one season. Subsequent seasons saw them relegated to the third tier of English football; they were promoted to the second tier in 2006, beating Swansea in the play off final. They were relegated in the 2013–14 season. After two seasons, Barnsley regained a place in the second tier, following a victory at Wembley in the 2016 Football League One play-off Final, and the winners of the 2016 Football League Trophy Final. They were again relegated to the third tier at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Also in Barnsley, there is a women's football team  called Barnsley L.F.C., who currently play in the North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division.
Speedway racing was staged at a track near Barnsley at Lundwood. The track entered a team in the Northern Leagues of 1929 and 1930. Two time British Under-21 Championship rider Josh Bates hails from the town. Greyhound racing was held at Dillington Park Stadium from 1934 -1990  and at the Dearne Athletic and Sports Stadium in Old Mill Lane, from 1934-1935. A third venue at the Queen's Ground was refused three times by the Corporation in 1936.
Rugby league is played in the town, at a number of clubs, past and present.
Dodworth ARLFC played in the second division of the BARLA run Pennine League, playing through the winter. They played at the Miners Welfare ground in Dodworth until deteriorating player participation forced the club to fold 5 games into the 2013/14 season.
The same fate befell Hoyland Vikings ARLFC, prompting talk of a merger. This however failed to materialise leaving only one club to represent the town.
The only representation now comes from the Dearne Valley Bulldogs in nearby Bolton on Dearne. Like Dodworth and Hoyland, they participate in the Pennine League.
Barnsley Broncos play in the RFL conference, which is a summer competition and runs from May to September. Also based at the Miners Welfare, Barnsley Broncos were set up to play in the less intense summer season.
Shaw Lane is the home to many sports in town, cricket, rugby union, squash, bowls, football, athletics and archery are all played to a high standard and host many of the towns teams including Barnsley CC and Barnsley RUFC. Peoples Sport in Barnsley is a project writing the history of participation in sport in Barnsley is in progress and is expected to be complete in 2015.
The town also has a high standard badminton league, with three separate tiers.
The town is home to Barnsley Harriers, a nationally recognised running club.
Ardsley Golf Club, Barnsley, (now defunct) first appeared in the 1930s. The club disappeared at the onset of the Second World War. Golf can still be played at Hillies in Wombwell and there is also a driving range at Staincross.
There are a number of cycling clubs in and around Barnsley, including Barnsley Road Club itself, the long-established Birdwell Wheelers and Team Cystic Fibrosis (a charity-focused team), together covering many different forms of cycle sport and leisure.  There have also been various other initiatives set up to promote cycling in the town and district of Barnsley.
Barnsley