THE Phil Parkinson era has pretty much seen it all when it comes to the knock-out competitions.

Wembley, Stamford Bridge, Villa Park, Premier League scalps, penalty shoot-outs... Forget City's cup being half-full, it's over-flowed on several occasions.

But there is one obscure landmark that has eluded him until now – a home tie in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

His eight games in charge in the much-derided JPT have all been on the road – usually, it seems, the A1 to Hartlepool.

Barnsley's visit will mark the competition's first appearance at Valley Parade since Parkinson's second day in the job four years ago.

But on that occasion he left it to Colin Cooper to sign off his caretaker stint by picking and leading the team that saw off Sheffield Wednesday on penalties.

The televised encounter had finished goalless and was more memorable for the fact that Owls chief Gary Megson showed his disdain for the rules by making all three substitutions in the first 17 minutes, including keeper Nicky Weaver after 90 seconds!

James Hanson is the only City survivor – and could feature again this evening if Parkinson decides to give him a run-out after being left out at Rochdale on Saturday.

But what happened to the rest of that team?

Goalkeeper Oscar Jansson was an inexperienced 21-year-old on Tottenham's books when he was loaned in by Peter Jackson.

Jansson signed off his brief three-game stay with a clean sheet before denying Liam Palmer and Chris Sedgwick from 12 yards.

After a spell with Shamrock Rovers, Jansson has been back in his native Sweden for the last three years playing for home-town club Orebro.

Young right back Liam Moore proved a hit during his half-season loan spell from Leicester. He has since established himself at Championship level and is currently with Bristol City until January.

Gentle giant Luke Oliver, City's player of the year that season, left Valley Parade for Forest Green Rovers after injury hit him hard. He's still in the National League, plying his trade with Aldershot.

Guy Branston, his 'shy and retiring' central defensive partner, made City the 16th stop of his 19-club career. His days were soon limited when Parkinson took over. Having hung up his boots at Plymouth, he is currently head of recruitment with Notts County.

Left back Robbie Threlfall was released by City the following summer and spent two years with Morecambe. He is not playing for a club and is thought to be involved in agency work with his brother David.

Right midfielder Chris Mitchell was one of Archie Christie's trumpeted captures from Scotland but struggled to make his mark in the English game.

City's JPT exit at Oldham that December proved to be his final appearance and he headed back north of the border at the end of the season. After three years with Queen of the South, he signed for Clyde in the summer.

Michael Flynn, who converted one of the successful penalties, was also released at the same time after making 104 appearances. He returned home to Newport and helped them return to the Football League.

After combining playing duties with academy coaching, he left the club at the end of last season. But he is back again as part of the new management staff following John Sheridan's appointment last week.

Ritchie Jones, another penalty scorer, left City on transfer deadline day in January 2013. Twelve months later he headed abroad for Canada and is currently enjoying his third season with FC Edmonton in the North American Soccer League.

Left winger Jack Compton was a popular figure among some City fans during a hit-and-miss stint at Valley Parade. He has been on his travels since his exit that season, playing for St Johnstone, Portsmouth, Colchester and Hartlepool before joining present club Yeovil.

Hanson's partner up front against Wednesday was a player whose impact was only felt long after he had moved on.

Mark Stewart was predicted to tear up League Two by Christie on his arrival from Falkirk. But he never scored a single goal during his injury-hit year in West Yorkshire.

City cut their losses in the January and loaned the striker to Hamilton. He made a permanent return to Scotland the following summer with Dundee.

But Falkirk still demanded compensation from the Bantams for developing Stewart as a youngster and the case eventually ended up being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

It was a costly business for City, who were ordered to shell out just over £150,000. Stewart is now in his second season with Raith Rovers and scored in their weekend win against Morton.

As for the substitutes, none of them are still in league football.

Ross Hannah, who also netted a penalty, plays for Chester FC after two-and-a-half seasons at Grimsby, winger Michael Bryan is with Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League and former City player of the year Luke O'Brien appears for Barnsley-based Shaw Lane Aquaforce in the Northern Premier.