Jack Barker
Encyclopedia
John William "Jack" Barker (27 February 1906 – 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
.
, near Conisbrough
, England, Barker was a centre half
who played youth football with Denaby Rovers in the Rawmarsh
League while working full time as a miner. His career nearly finished before it had barely started after he suffered a thigh injury at the pit following a roof collapse. He joined Midland League
side Denaby United
for one season, before he signed for Derby County
for £200 in May 1928. 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.
. Barker won his first cap against Wales
on 29 September 1934. 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.
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.
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.
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.
.
Barker died in 1982 just before his 76th birthday following a fight against cancer and a spinal problem.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played 327 league games for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
and won 11 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...
caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
. He later managed Derby County and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.
Derby County
Born in DenabyDenaby Main Colliery Village
Denaby Main is a village situated between Mexborough and Conisbrough in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It was built by the Denaby Main Colliery Company to house its workers and their families, and originally given the name Denaby Main Colliery Village, to...
, near Conisbrough
Conisbrough
Conisbrough is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is located roughly midway between Doncaster and Rotherham, and is built alongside the River Don at...
, England, Barker was a centre half
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played youth football with Denaby Rovers in the Rawmarsh
Rawmarsh
Rawmarsh is a large village in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England. It is two miles north of Rotherham. It has a population of 18,210. The village also forms part of the Sheffield Urban Area.-Etymology:...
League while working full time as a miner. His career nearly finished before it had barely started after he suffered a thigh injury at the pit following a roof collapse. He joined Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
side Denaby United
Denaby United F.C.
Denaby United F.C. are an English football club that originally folded in 2002 following eviction from their ground by the Denaby & Cadeby Miners' Welfare, but have since re-appeared in the Doncaster and District Senior League Division One for the 2011-12 season...
for one season, before he signed for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
for £200 in May 1928. He played in their great pre-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
team under George Jobey
George Jobey
George Jobey was an English football player and manager. He won the league championship as a player with his hometown club Newcastle United.-Career:...
when Derby were rarely outside the top six. Barker represented Derby in 327 league games but never won any silverware with the club.
England
However, his form earned Barker 11 caps for EnglandEngland 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...
. Barker won his first cap against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 29 September 1934. His second game was the infamous Battle of Highbury
Battle of Highbury
The "Battle of Highbury" was the name given to the football match between England and Italy that took place on 14 November 1934 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London...
in a hotly-contested and violent match against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. Over the next two years he played nine more times both in friendlies and the British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
. In his final game for England he was made captain against Wales on 17 October 1936.
Managerial career
After retiring from Derby County, Barker joined the Army Physical Training Corps before being appointed Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
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)
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
when he resigned in January 1947 after just eight months in charge. His reign was the shortest in City's history at the time.
He had a brief spell in charge of Irish club, Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
before he returned to Derby to work for Rolls-Royce. He moved to be trainer-coach at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 1948.
In November 1953, he returned to football management at Derby County to replace Stuart McMillan
Stuart McMillan (cricketer)
Stuart McMillan was an English cricketer and footballer and later became a manager. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Derbyshire. He was born in Leicester and died in Ashbourne...
. The club had lost its international players and in 1954–55
1954-55 in English football
The 1954–1955 season was the 75th season of competitive football in England, from August 1954 to May 1955:-Overview:* Chelsea win the League Championship for the first time.* Newcastle United win the FA Cup....
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 DerbyDerby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
.
Barker died in 1982 just before his 76th birthday following a fight against cancer and a spinal problem.