Playing career

Barlow joined Burslem 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 January 1895, making his debut in a 2–0 win at Rotherham Town

Rotherham Town F.C.

Rotherham Town Football Club was the name of two English football clubs from Rotherham, Yorkshire. The first briefly played in the Football League, while the second became part of another Football League club, Rotherham United, who are still members of the League today...

 on 7 September 1895. After being a regular during the 1895–96 season

1895–96 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the Football League. Another poor season struggling at the wrong end of the table, this time they failed to gain re-election; two seasons in the Midlands League followed, and despite a finish of 7th and then 5th...

 he suffered a breakdown

Mental breakdown

Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...

 in September 1896 and was sent to a convalescent home

Sanatorium

A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...

. His recovery was a slow one, and so the club arranged a benefit match for him in April 1897 and released him from his contract at the end of the 1896–97 season.