Eric Barber
Encyclopedia
Eric Barber is a former Irish professional footballer. He spent most of his career playing for Shelbourne in the League of Ireland
with whom he had three spells from 1958 to 1966, 1971–75 and 1978–80, managing them during the 1979–80 season.
in 1960 and 1963, beating Cork Hibernians 2–0 on both occasions. Barber scored in every round including the final in the 1960 cup win and in the 1962 cup final defeat to Shamrock Rovers. His goal in the 1960 final was a lob from almost forty yards.
In 1966, Barber signed for Birmingham City, but never became a regular. At the end of the 1966–67 season he was offered a chance to sign for Chicago Spurs
in the National Professional Soccer League
. After just two days in America
, Barber scored twice on his debut at Oakland Clippers
, and went on to finish third top scorer in the NPSL
. At the end of the season the franchise moved and became Kansas City Spurs
and Barber moved with them and finished second top scorer in the league that season.
Barber then moved on loan to Shamrock Rovers for the 1969-70 season as the Kansas City Spurs
ran into financial difficulty and scored two goals in 2–1 win against Schalke 04 in the Cup Winners' Cup http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/europeanresults.php. He made two appearances in Europe
and went on to be the club's top goalscorer that season.
Then Barber got the offer of moving to Vienna
to play for Wiener Sport-Club, but despite an impressive start with nearly a goal a game in his first eleven games, an injury and subsequent row about the treatment for it saw him eventually return to Dublin as Shels paid a IR£3,000 transfer fee for him in November 1971.
He played for Shels in their FAI Cup Final defeats in 1973 and 1975, being red-carded in the replay of the 1973 decider in Flower Lodge.
during his time with Shels in a World Cup
qualifier in Spain.
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
with whom he had three spells from 1958 to 1966, 1971–75 and 1978–80, managing them during the 1979–80 season.
Professional
During his time with Shels, Barber scored a club record 126 league goals. He was part of Shels FAI Youth Cup-winning side in 1959 and went on to win the league championship in 1962, and the FAI CupFAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
in 1960 and 1963, beating Cork Hibernians 2–0 on both occasions. Barber scored in every round including the final in the 1960 cup win and in the 1962 cup final defeat to Shamrock Rovers. His goal in the 1960 final was a lob from almost forty yards.
In 1966, Barber signed for Birmingham City, but never became a regular. At the end of the 1966–67 season he was offered a chance to sign for Chicago Spurs
Chicago Spurs
Chicago Spurs were an American professional soccer team based out of Chicago, Illinois that was a charter member of the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League in 1967. The owners of the franchise were Al Kaczmarek, William Cutler and Michael Butler...
in the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. After just two days in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Barber scored twice on his debut at Oakland Clippers
Oakland Clippers
The Oakland Clippers were a soccer team based out of Oakland, California that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . Their home field was Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum....
, and went on to finish third top scorer in the NPSL
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. At the end of the season the franchise moved and became Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
and Barber moved with them and finished second top scorer in the league that season.
Barber then moved on loan to Shamrock Rovers for the 1969-70 season as the Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
ran into financial difficulty and scored two goals in 2–1 win against Schalke 04 in the Cup Winners' Cup http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/europeanresults.php. He made two appearances in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and went on to be the club's top goalscorer that season.
Then Barber got the offer of moving to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to play for Wiener Sport-Club, but despite an impressive start with nearly a goal a game in his first eleven games, an injury and subsequent row about the treatment for it saw him eventually return to Dublin as Shels paid a IR£3,000 transfer fee for him in November 1971.
He played for Shels in their FAI Cup Final defeats in 1973 and 1975, being red-carded in the replay of the 1973 decider in Flower Lodge.
National team
Barber was capped once by the Republic of Ireland national football teamRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
during his time with Shels in a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifier in Spain.
Manager
He was Rovers' assistant manager in the 1978–79 season. Managed Shels the following season.Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- Shelbourne - 1961/62
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 2- Shelbourne - 1960 and 1963
Trivia
- At the end of 2010, Barber is the eleventh all time top scorer in the League of Ireland with 141 goals http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html.
- Barber was Shels top league scorer at the end of ten different seasons.
External links
- NPSL/NASL stats
- The Hoops by Paul Doolan and Robert Goggins (ISBN 0-7171-2121-6)