Ken Barrett (English footballer)

Ken Barrett
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Brian Barrett
Date of birth (1938-05-05)5 May 1938
Place of birth Bromsgrove, England
Date of death 7 June 2015(2015-06-07) (aged 77)
Playing position Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Stoke Works
1958–1959 Aston Villa 5 (3)
1959–1963 Lincoln City 17 (4)
1963-1968 Stourbridge
Total 22 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Ken Barrett (5 May 1938 – 7 June 2015) was an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Lincoln City.[1]

Career

Barrett was spotted by former Aston Villa player Frank Shell as a 15-year-old playing for Stoke Works and invited for a trial for the club which led to him, in 1953, becoming a part-time professional whilst also working as an apprentice press toolmaker at the Longbridge plant.[2] He worked his way up through the ranks at Villa Park, being signed as a professional by Eric Houghton and then making a sparkling debut by scoring both goals in the 2-1 home victory over Newcastle United on 4 October 1958. He followed that by scoring again in his second match, the 4-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion on 11 October 1985.[3] In what would turn out to be his fifth and final appearance for the club, a 2-1 defeat at Luton Town on 1 November 1958, Barrett was informed of his selection by being awoken at his Bromsgrove home by a Police Officer and informed "Don’t be alarmed son but you need to get your backside up to Villa Park, you’re playing for Villa today at Luton, so you’d better get a move on!"[4] Following the dimissal of Houghton as manager in November 1958,[5] Barrett failed to make an appearance for his successor, Joe Mercer, and was released at the end of the 1958-59 season.[3]

He joined Lincoln City in June 1959, debuting in the 2-1 away defeat to Swansea Town on 22 August 1959. After a second appearance he was dropped to the reserves and a call up for his National Service meant it would be 1961 before he appeared for the first team again.[6] His national service saw him in the army and he was initially posted to Blandford Camp, appearing for Weymouth when army commitments allowed,[6] and then Arborfield Garrison before being made a Physical Training Instructor and posted to Aldershot Garrison. He represented the army football team throughout his service, appearing alongside Jim Baxter.[2] Following the completion of his service, he returned to Lincoln City's first team in September 1961 and the 1961-62 season would prove him most productive as he appeared 14 times in the Football League, scoring four times, as well as making one Football League Cup appearance.[6] However, he only managed two appearances the following season which culminated in his release.

He linked up with Stourbridge for the 1963-64 season and in five seasons for the club scored 74 goals in around 200 games before retiring.[7]

Later life

He spent the majority of his life residing in Bromsgrove before moving to Droitwich in his later years.[8] He worked as bookmaker, running the Barrett and Husband shop in Aston Fields.[8] A keen golfer, he was nicknamed the ‘Greyhound’ at his local course due to the speed at which he completed his rounds,[2] he was also generous with his time to charities including attending regular Aston Villa Former Players Association golf days.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "KEN BARRETT". Neil Brown. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Exclusive Interview - Ken Barrett". The Villa Times, Issue 6. April 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Villa say farewell to Ken Barrett". Aston Villa F.C. Official Website. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Aston Villa blog: RIP the player once awoken by the police and told he was in the team". Birmingham Mail. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Obituary: Eric Houghton". The Independent. 3 May 1996. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ken Barrett: 1938-2015". Lincoln City F.C. Official Website. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ken Barrett". Stourbridge F.C. Official Website. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Bromsgrove born footballer dies at the age of 77". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
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