Barry Siddall
Encyclopedia
Barry Alfred Siddall is an English
former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had made 614 appearances to his name over a 21-year career in the Football League
, playing for numerous clubs.
in 1972. In four years with the Burnden Park
club he made 137 league appearances.
In 1976, he moved north-east to join Sunderland
. He made 167 league appearances for Jimmy Adamson
's men, with a loan spell at Darlington
during the 1980–81 season.
In August 1982, Siddall signed for Port Vale
, and went on to make 81 league appearances for them in two years. The first choice keeper in the 1982–83 season
, he was sidelined for three months after sustaining a knee injury in a 3–1 win at Bristol City
on 27 December 1982. Teammate and club legend Phil Sproson
named him as the club's best goalkeeper of the 1980s.
He handed in his notice in October 1983 following a contract dispute and was loaned to Sam Ellis
's Blackpool
. Despite only spending the one month at Bloomfield Road
, during his seven league games for the Seasiders, Blackpool were the victors in six of them, which assisted in their finishing sixth in Division Four. He was in goal for Vale against Blackpool in a 1–1 draw on 18 September 1984, but his return to Bloomfield Road was an unhappy one as he injured his ankle. He lost his place to Neville Southall
, but regained it in December 1984. Siddall was loaned out to rivals
Stoke City
in January 1985, the move was made permanent two months later.
In two years with the "Potters" he made twenty appearances in the league. He was also loaned out to Tranmere Rovers
and Manchester City
during his time at the Victoria Ground
.
In 1986, Siddall returned to Blackpool, this time on a permanent basis. Sam Ellis was still in charge of the Bloomfield Road
club, now a division higher, and Siddall went on to make 37 appearances during the 1986–87 season, as the club finished ninth in Division Three
.
He was also first-choice during 1987–88, making 38 appearances, but in 1988–89 he was dropped a couple of times in favour of his deputies, Gary Kelly
and Vince O'Keefe
. He still made 35 starts in the league, however, but was sold at the end of the season to Stockport County
.
Siddall went on to play for four more clubs in as many years: Hartlepool United
, Carlisle United
, Chester City
and Preston North End
.
Leaving the Football League
in 1993, he later played for Northwich Victoria
, Horwich R.M.I. and Burnley
before becoming a freelance goalkeeping coach.
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had made 614 appearances to his name over a 21-year career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, playing for numerous clubs.
Playing career
Siddall began his career with Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in 1972. In four years with the Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
club he made 137 league appearances.
In 1976, he moved north-east to join Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He made 167 league appearances for Jimmy Adamson
Jimmy Adamson
James "Jimmy" Adamson was an English professional footballer and football manager. He was born in Ashington, Northumberland...
's men, with a loan spell at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
during the 1980–81 season.
In August 1982, Siddall signed for Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, and went on to make 81 league appearances for them in two years. The first choice keeper in the 1982–83 season
1982–83 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1982–83 season was Port Vale's seventy-first season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points , which saw them win promotion in third place...
, he was sidelined for three months after sustaining a knee injury in a 3–1 win at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on 27 December 1982. Teammate and club legend Phil Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...
named him as the club's best goalkeeper of the 1980s.
He handed in his notice in October 1983 following a contract dispute and was loaned to Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
's Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. Despite only spending the one month at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, during his seven league games for the Seasiders, Blackpool were the victors in six of them, which assisted in their finishing sixth in Division Four. He was in goal for Vale against Blackpool in a 1–1 draw on 18 September 1984, but his return to Bloomfield Road was an unhappy one as he injured his ankle. He lost his place to Neville Southall
Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985...
, but regained it in December 1984. Siddall was loaned out to rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in January 1985, the move was made permanent two months later.
In two years with the "Potters" he made twenty appearances in the league. He was also loaned out to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
during his time at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
.
In 1986, Siddall returned to Blackpool, this time on a permanent basis. Sam Ellis was still in charge of the Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
club, now a division higher, and Siddall went on to make 37 appearances during the 1986–87 season, as the club finished ninth in Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
.
He was also first-choice during 1987–88, making 38 appearances, but in 1988–89 he was dropped a couple of times in favour of his deputies, Gary Kelly
Gary Kelly (footballer born 1966)
Gareth "Gary" Kelly is an Irish former professional football goalkeeper. He is the son of former Irish international goalkeeper Alan Kelly, Sr....
and Vince O'Keefe
Vince O'Keefe
James Vincent "Vince" O'Keefe is an English former professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for a number of Football League clubs between 1975 and 1993, making over 300 appearances.-Blackpool:...
. He still made 35 starts in the league, however, but was sold at the end of the season to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
.
Siddall went on to play for four more clubs in as many years: Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.
Leaving the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1993, he later played for Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, Horwich R.M.I. and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
before becoming a freelance goalkeeping coach.
Post-retirement
Upon retiring, Siddall worked for the Post Office in Kirkham, LancashireKirkham, Lancashire
Kirkham, or as it once was known, Kirkam-in-Amounderness is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England, midway between Blackpool and Preston and adjacent to the smaller town of Wesham. It owes its existence to Carr Hill upon which it was built and which was the location...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
third place promotion winner: 1982–831982–83 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1982–83 season was Port Vale's seventy-first season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points , which saw them win promotion in third place...
External links
- Siddall's stats at Neil Brown's football player database