Fred Barber
Encyclopedia
Frederick Barber is an English
former goalkeeper
who is currently the goalkeeping coach with Bolton Wanderers
and with Northern Ireland
.
, making his debut for them back in the 1982-1983 season. Thereafter he became the Quakers first choice goalkeeper for three seasons before moving to Everton
as cover for the Welsh goalkeeper Neville Southall
in April 1986.
Spending just six months at Goodison Park
with the then English champions, he moved to Walsall
for a fee of £100,000. He replaced Mark Prudhoe in the Saddlers goal for the win against Rotherham United in October 1986, and kept his place in the first team for the majority of that campaign. Despite eccentricites such as donning a mask when entering the field of player, Barber was a hugely popular figure amongst Walsall fans, and he played a crucial role in the club's Division Three play-off final replay victory in the 1987-88 season over Bristol City. Indeed, after the two-legged final had ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw, Barber saved two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout which determined who would have home advantage in the replay. Walsall took advantage of this home advantage, and Barber kept a clean sheet as Walsall romped home to a 4-0 victory.
who snapped him up on a permanent basis in the summer of 1991. After temporary spells with Chesterfield
and Colchester United
it was Luton Town
that signed him in the summer of 1994. However, he did not make an appearance for the Hatters due to the emergence of young goalkeeper Kelvin Davis
so was on the move again. Peterborough took him back to their club for a five-game loan spell to cover for injuries, with Ipswich Town
(November 1995) and Blackpool (December 1995) doing likewise. Birmingham City
eventually secured his permanent registration in January 1996, but he was to play just two games for the Blues when covering for old Peterborough team-mate Bennett and the Dutchman Bart Griemink
, before an injury forced his premature retirement from the full-time game.
and Burnley as well as one final fling as a player with Kidderminster Harriers
in 1997.
Nearly six years after his retirement he contemplated a playing comeback with Bolton as they had been short on goalkeeping cover mid-way through the 2001-2002 season. Steve Banks
had been ruled out with a broken finger, thus leaving Finnish international Jussi Jääskeläinen
as the club's only recognised goalkeeper.
Barber offered to sign a playing registration which enabled him to sit on the substitutes bench in case of an emergency, but his request was politely turned down by the Bolton manager Sam Allardyce who was willing to take the risk until Banks resumed his fitness. This was a decision which came back to haunt Allardyce, as Jaaskelainen was sent off in the next game against Newcastle United
, meaning that the Trotters midfielder Bo Hansen
was required to go in the goal for most of the match.
appointed his former England team-mate Joe Corrigan
as Albion's full time goalkeeper coach. Robson felt that Barber's lengthy involvement with Bolton would hinder the coaching of Albion's goalkeepers, this giving Barber the chance to spend more time with the members of the Wanderers squad.
Outside of day to day training, Barber and fellow goalkeeper coach Malcolm Webster
run a goalkeeping school for young and budding footballers. He also continues his freelance work for other clubs when his Bolton commitments allow, with Rochdale F.C. just one of the clubs to benefit from his expertise as a leading coach in his field.
Barber and Glynn Snodin
were announced as the coaching staff to support Nigel Worthington
upon his appointment as the manager of Northern Ireland
on 2007-06-01.
In November 2007 speculation was rife that Barber would rejoin his friend Sam Allardyce as goalkeeping coach at Newcastle United following the departure of Terry Gennoe
due to injury but Barber remained loyal to Bolton and signed a new contract. Instead the position was filled by Paul Barron
.
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 goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who is currently the goalkeeping coach with Bolton Wanderers
Bolton 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....
and with Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Local club
He began his playing career with local club DarlingtonDarlington 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...
, making his debut for them back in the 1982-1983 season. Thereafter he became the Quakers first choice goalkeeper for three seasons before moving to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as cover for the Welsh goalkeeper 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...
in April 1986.
Spending just six months at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
with the then English champions, he moved to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
for a fee of £100,000. He replaced Mark Prudhoe in the Saddlers goal for the win against Rotherham United in October 1986, and kept his place in the first team for the majority of that campaign. Despite eccentricites such as donning a mask when entering the field of player, Barber was a hugely popular figure amongst Walsall fans, and he played a crucial role in the club's Division Three play-off final replay victory in the 1987-88 season over Bristol City. Indeed, after the two-legged final had ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw, Barber saved two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout which determined who would have home advantage in the replay. Walsall took advantage of this home advantage, and Barber kept a clean sheet as Walsall romped home to a 4-0 victory.
On loan
The purchase of Ron Green in 1989 saw Barber lose his foothold as the number one custodian at Walsall and he spent time out on loan with Peterborough United, Chester City (twice) and Blackpool over the next two years. Indeed it was PeterboroughPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
who snapped him up on a permanent basis in the summer of 1991. After temporary spells with Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
it was Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
that signed him in the summer of 1994. However, he did not make an appearance for the Hatters due to the emergence of young goalkeeper Kelvin Davis
Kelvin Davis
Kelvin Geoffrey Davis is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for newly-promoted Championship club Southampton. Born in Bedford, Davis began his career with Luton Town as a youth player in 1991 and remained there until 1999. Davis later played for Wimbledon, Ipswich Town and...
so was on the move again. Peterborough took him back to their club for a five-game loan spell to cover for injuries, with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
(November 1995) and Blackpool (December 1995) doing likewise. Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
eventually secured his permanent registration in January 1996, but he was to play just two games for the Blues when covering for old Peterborough team-mate Bennett and the Dutchman Bart Griemink
Bart Griemink
Bart Griemink is a former Dutch professional football goalkeeper.He has played in the Football League with Birmingham City, Barnsley, Peterborough United, Swindon Town and Southend United. He then played for Boston Town in the United Counties League for two seasons.-External links:*...
, before an injury forced his premature retirement from the full-time game.
Bolton
In the summer of 1996 he was appointed as a part-time goalkeeper coach with Bolton, in a role which was to be made permanent a few years later. Initially, he also combined his role at the Wanderers with part time spells at West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Burnley as well as one final fling as a player with Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in 1997.
Nearly six years after his retirement he contemplated a playing comeback with Bolton as they had been short on goalkeeping cover mid-way through the 2001-2002 season. Steve Banks
Steve Banks
Steven "Steve" Banks is an English footballer playing as goalkeeper and is also goalkeeping coach for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United.-Early career:...
had been ruled out with a broken finger, thus leaving Finnish international Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen is a Finnish football goalkeeper, who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:Jääskeläinen was born in Mikkeli, and made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996, he moved to VPS Vaasa where...
as the club's only recognised goalkeeper.
Barber offered to sign a playing registration which enabled him to sit on the substitutes bench in case of an emergency, but his request was politely turned down by the Bolton manager Sam Allardyce who was willing to take the risk until Banks resumed his fitness. This was a decision which came back to haunt Allardyce, as Jaaskelainen was sent off in the next game against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, meaning that the Trotters midfielder Bo Hansen
Bo Hansen
Bo Jannik Nyby Hansen is a Danish former football player in the striker position. He scored 52 goals in 143 games for Danish club Brøndby IF and 16 goals in 119 games for English club Bolton Wanderers. Hansen has played one game for the Denmark national football team.-Biography:Hansen started his...
was required to go in the goal for most of the match.
Albion
In the winter of 2004, Barber ended his remaining commitments with West Bromwich Albion as their manager Bryan RobsonBryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
appointed his former England team-mate Joe Corrigan
Joe Corrigan
Joseph Thomas Corrigan , is a former football goalkeeper who played for Manchester City and England.-Career:...
as Albion's full time goalkeeper coach. Robson felt that Barber's lengthy involvement with Bolton would hinder the coaching of Albion's goalkeepers, this giving Barber the chance to spend more time with the members of the Wanderers squad.
Outside of day to day training, Barber and fellow goalkeeper coach Malcolm Webster
Malcolm Webster
Malcolm Webster is an English former professional footballer who made 449 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Arsenal, Fulham, Southend United and Cambridge United. He was assistant manager to Chris Turner at Cambridge United between 1986 and 1988 before taking a break...
run a goalkeeping school for young and budding footballers. He also continues his freelance work for other clubs when his Bolton commitments allow, with Rochdale F.C. just one of the clubs to benefit from his expertise as a leading coach in his field.
Barber and Glynn Snodin
Glynn Snodin
Glynn Snodin is a former professional footballer who was recently an assistant manager at Leeds United...
were announced as the coaching staff to support Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He was manager of the Northern Ireland national team from 2007 until after their final Euro 2012 qualifying campaign match against Italy in October 2011.As a player, he was a left full back and occasional left...
upon his appointment as the manager of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 2007-06-01.
In November 2007 speculation was rife that Barber would rejoin his friend Sam Allardyce as goalkeeping coach at Newcastle United following the departure of Terry Gennoe
Terry Gennoe
Terry Gennoe is a former footballer and is currently the first team goalkeeping coach at Aston Villa. -Playing career:...
due to injury but Barber remained loyal to Bolton and signed a new contract. Instead the position was filled by Paul Barron
Paul Barron
Paul George Barron is an English former football goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
.
Honours
DarlingtonDarlington 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...
- 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: 1984–851984-85 in English footballThe 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...