Percy Barton
Encyclopedia
Percival Harry "Percy" Barton (19 August 1895 – October 1961) was an English professional footballer who played as a left half
. He played for Birmingham
both before and after the First World War, making 349 appearances in all competitions, and helped them to the championship of the Second Division
in 1920–21
.
where he attended Montague Road School. He worked as a butcher's boy on leaving school, and played football for a local team, Sultan F.C. One of his Sultan team-mates, Richard Gibson
, had gone on to play professionally for Birmingham
, and Gibson recommended Barton to the club.
Barton signed for Birmingham in January 1914 at the age of 18, went straight into the first team, and missed only two league games in a season and a half before the Football League
was suspended for the duration of the war.
He was a hard-working player, whose combative style did not always find favour with referees, resulting in him being sent off three times. He won seven caps for England
between 1921 and 1924. Towards the end of his Birmingham career he played in positions other than his customary left-half; in the 1926–27
season he was used at left-back
and later still he played centre-half or filled in occasionally on the right.
After leaving Birmingham he spent four seasons with Stourbridge
in the Birmingham & District League.
Barton died in October 1961 at the age of 66.
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
. He played for Birmingham
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...
both before and after the First World War, making 349 appearances in all competitions, and helped them to the championship of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1920–21
1920-21 in English football
The 1920–21 season was the 46th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League Third Division is introduced, expanding the League's operational radius south of Birmingham...
.
Career
Barton was born in Edmonton, LondonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
where he attended Montague Road School. He worked as a butcher's boy on leaving school, and played football for a local team, Sultan F.C. One of his Sultan team-mates, Richard Gibson
Richard Gibson (footballer)
Richard Samuel Gibson was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 120 appearances and scored 19 goals in all competitions for Birmingham over a ten year career, and helped them to the championship of the Football League Second Division in 1920–21...
, had gone on to play professionally for Birmingham
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...
, and Gibson recommended Barton to the club.
Barton signed for Birmingham in January 1914 at the age of 18, went straight into the first team, and missed only two league games in a season and a half before 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...
was suspended for the duration of the war.
He was a hard-working player, whose combative style did not always find favour with referees, resulting in him being sent off three times. He won seven caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
between 1921 and 1924. Towards the end of his Birmingham career he played in positions other than his customary left-half; in the 1926–27
1926-27 in English football
The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
season he was used at left-back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and later still he played centre-half or filled in occasionally on the right.
After leaving Birmingham he spent four seasons with Stourbridge
Stourbridge F.C.
Stourbridge Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Stourbridge, West Midlands. The club currently plays in the Southern League Premier Division.-Early years:The club was founded in 1876 and was originally known as Stourbridge Standard...
in the Birmingham & District League.
Barton died in October 1961 at the age of 66.