Ken Barrett (English footballer)

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