Jack Barker

John William "Jack" Barker (27 February 1906[1] – 20 January 1982) was an English footballer who played 327 league games for Derby County and won 11 England caps. He later managed Derby County and Bradford City.

For the Australian rules footballer, see Jack Barker (Australian rules footballer).

Jack Barker
Personal information
Full name John William Barker
Date of birth (1906-02-27)27 February 1906[1]
Place of birth Denaby, England
Date of death 20 January 1982(1982-01-20) (aged 75)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Denaby Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Denaby United
1928–1939 Derby County 327 (2)
National team
1934–1936 England 11 (0)
Teams managed
1946–1947 Bradford City
1947-48 Dundalk
1953–1955 Derby County
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Derby County

Born in Denaby, near Conisbrough, England,[2][3] Barker was a centre half who played youth football with Denaby Rovers in the Rawmarsh League while working full-time as a miner.[4] His career nearly finished before it had barely started after he suffered a thigh injury at the pit[5] following a roof collapse.[4] He joined Midland League side Denaby United for one season, before he signed for Derby County for £200 in May 1928.[4] He played in their great pre-war team under George Jobey when Derby were rarely outside the top six. Barker represented Derby in 327 league games but never won any silverware with the club.[5]

England

However, his form earned Barker 11 caps for England. Barker won his first cap against Wales on 29 September 1934.[3] His second game was the infamous Battle of Highbury in a hotly contested and violent match against Italy. Over the next two years he played nine more times both in friendlies and the British Home Championship. In his final game for England he was made captain against Wales on 17 October 1936.[3]

Managerial career

After retiring from Derby County, Barker joined the Army Physical Training Corps before being appointed Bradford City manager in May 1946 taking charge of the team's first season following World War Two. He was steering City to a high position in Division Three (North) when he resigned in January 1947 after just eight months in charge. His reign was the shortest in City's history at the time.[5]

He had a brief spell in charge of Irish club, Dundalk before he returned to Derby to work for Rolls-Royce. He moved to be trainer-coach at Oldham Athletic in 1948.[5]

In November 1953, he returned to football management at Derby County to replace Stuart McMillan. The club had lost its international players and in 1954–55 the side were relegated to Division Three (North) for the first time in its history.

After football

Barker resigned to go back to work in Derby, as a fitter's mate at the Carriage and Wagon railway works in Derby.[5]

Barker died in 1982 just before his 76th birthday following a fight against cancer and a spinal problem.[5]

References
  1. Most records show the date of birth incorrectly as 1907; see talk page for copy of birth certificate showing correct date of birth
  2. "John Barker". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  3. "John Barker". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  4. Betts, Graham (2006). England: Player by player. Green Umbrella Publishing. pp. 25–26. ISBN 1-905009-63-1.
  5. Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books. p. 70. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
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