Graham Barnett
Encyclopedia
Graham Barnett is a former English
footballer who played as an inside-forward.
He began his career with Port Vale
in 1956, before he was sold on to Tranmere Rovers
four years later. In 1961 he signed with Halifax Town
, before he emigrated to Australia the following year so as to play for South Coast United
. After spells with Hakoan and Polonia he was appointed as manager of South Coast United. He later managed The Corinthians, before returning to the UK to work behind the scenes at Port Vale.
family, worked down the pit at age fifteen. Expected to follow suit, he instead impressed playing football at Canon Street School and Stoke Boys' Club, and won an amateur contract at Port Vale
in 1954.
He signed professionally for Port Vale in June 1956, and won a place in Freddie Steele
's first team after scoring eighteen goals in seventeen games for the reserves and also scoring twice past Middlesbrough
's Rolando Ugolini
in a friendly for the first team. He scored on his debut at inside-left in a 4–2 defeat at Millwall
on 13 December 1958. Manager Norman Low
described him as the 'supreme goal poacher' as he netted 20 goals in 22 appearances in what was left of the season. Despite this he did not get on with Low, and had many rows with his manager. He was the club's top scorer during the 1959–60 season
with 17 goals and grew a beard
which he shaved off once Vale were knocked out of the FA Cup
. After 57 appearances (49 in the league) and 37 goals (34 in the league) he was sold to Tranmere Rovers
for £5,000 in March 1960. Tranmere were heading for relegation into the Fourth Division
, but Barnett helped them to maintain their Third Division
by the end of the season. He later played for Halifax Town
, before emigrating to Australia
, where he played for South Coast United
, Hakoan and Polonia, before becoming a player-manager with South Coast United and later The Corinthians.
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...
footballer who played as an inside-forward.
He began his career with 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...
in 1956, before he was sold on 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...
four years later. In 1961 he signed with Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, before he emigrated to Australia the following year so as to play for South Coast United
South Coast United
South Coast United Soccer Club is an Australian football from the city of Wollongong.The club was founded in 1984 by Wollongong's Croatian Australian community...
. After spells with Hakoan and Polonia he was appointed as manager of South Coast United. He later managed The Corinthians, before returning to the UK to work behind the scenes at Port Vale.
Playing career
Barnett, from a miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
family, worked down the pit at age fifteen. Expected to follow suit, he instead impressed playing football at Canon Street School and Stoke Boys' Club, and won an amateur contract at 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...
in 1954.
He signed professionally for Port Vale in June 1956, and won a place in Freddie Steele
Freddie Steele (footballer)
Frederick Charles Steele was a footballer who played as a forward for Stoke City and was a former England international. He also had spells at Mansfield Town and Port Vale as a player-manager, leading Vale to a league title...
's first team after scoring eighteen goals in seventeen games for the reserves and also scoring twice past Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
's Rolando Ugolini
Rolando Ugolini
Rolando Ugolini is a former footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for a number of British clubs.Ugolini moved to Scotland at the age of three and grew up in Armadale, where he played for the local club, Armadale Thistle. He began his senior career with Celtic, before spending nine years with...
in a friendly for the first team. He scored on his debut at inside-left in a 4–2 defeat at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 13 December 1958. Manager Norman Low
Norman Low
Norman Harvey Low was a Scottish football player and manager. He was the son of Scottish international footballer, Wilf Low....
described him as the 'supreme goal poacher' as he netted 20 goals in 22 appearances in what was left of the season. Despite this he did not get on with Low, and had many rows with his manager. He was the club's top scorer during the 1959–60 season
1959–60 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1958–59 season was Port Vale's forty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their first season in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division. Progressing to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, there they set a Vale Park and club-record attendance of 49,768,...
with 17 goals and grew a beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
which he shaved off once Vale were knocked out of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. After 57 appearances (49 in the league) and 37 goals (34 in the league) he was sold 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...
for £5,000 in March 1960. Tranmere were heading for relegation into the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The 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...
, but Barnett helped them to maintain their Third Division
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...
by the end of the season. He later played for Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, before emigrating to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he played for South Coast United
South Coast United
South Coast United Soccer Club is an Australian football from the city of Wollongong.The club was founded in 1984 by Wollongong's Croatian Australian community...
, Hakoan and Polonia, before becoming a player-manager with South Coast United and later The Corinthians.