Joe Barratt
Encyclopedia
Josiah Barratt was an English
professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.
, Warwickshire
and played his early football with local side Nuneaton Town
. During the First World War he served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment
and was a guest player for Leicester Fosse, Birmingham
and Southampton
.
At the end of the war, he signed for Southampton in time for the first post-war season
. Playing on the right-wing, he only missed one game in Southampton's final season in the Southern League
as he provided the crosses for the forwards, Arthur Dominy
and Bill Rawlings
to score. In 1920 Southampton, along with most Southern League clubs, joined the inaugural Football League Third Division
. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints", "his creative, storming runs down the right flank were most effective as Saints made the successful transition between the Southern League and Division Three". Barratt had the unusual habit of always playing with a piece of straw in his mouth.
In March 1921, he was injured (to be replaced by Charlie Brown
) and was unable to help in the run-in to the end of the season
when Saints finished second, missing out on the only available promotion spot. For the following season, he reclaimed his place in the starting line-up from Brown and missed only a few games before he was suddenly transferred to Birmingham
in March. At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division South
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Fred Foxall
and Barratt moving to Birmingham in exchange for Jack Elkes
(a forward
) and George Getgood
(a half-back). In his three years at The Dell Barratt made 101 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals.
Barratt played in 26 consecutive First Division
games from his arrival at Birmingham until injury intervened in November 1922. He failed to regain a regular place, and in June 1923 joined Pontypridd for one season, during which he helped the club to the championship of the Welsh Football League
. He returned to the Football League
with Lincoln City
for two years, before spending 1926–27
with Bristol Rovers
. He then went back to his first club Nuneaton Town and also played for Coventry Colliery.
After the Second World War he joined Coventry City
as a youth team coach. He died in Coventry
in April 1968, aged 73.
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...
professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.
Playing career
Barratt was born in BulkingtonBulkington
Bulkington is a large village and former parish in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, UK. In the 2001 census it had a population of 6,303. It is located around north-east of Coventry, just east of the towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth and south-west of Hinckley...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and played his early football with local side Nuneaton Town
Nuneaton Borough A.F.C.
Nuneaton Town Football Club is an English football club from the town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The team compete in the Conference North. This is the 2nd level of Non League Football. In the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference North division, but due to a liquidation they were demoted...
. During the First World War he served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment
Royal Berkshire Regiment
The Royal Berkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 49th Regiment of Foot and the 66th Regiment of Foot.The regiment was originally formed as The Princess Charlotte of Wales's , taking the...
and was a guest player for Leicester Fosse, 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 Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
At the end of the war, he signed for Southampton in time for the first post-war season
1919-20 in English football
The 1919–1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football in England, and the first following the end of World War I.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition...
. Playing on the right-wing, he only missed one game in Southampton's final season in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
as he provided the crosses for the forwards, Arthur Dominy
Arthur Dominy
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton....
and Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
to score. In 1920 Southampton, along with most Southern League clubs, joined the inaugural Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints", "his creative, storming runs down the right flank were most effective as Saints made the successful transition between the Southern League and Division Three". Barratt had the unusual habit of always playing with a piece of straw in his mouth.
In March 1921, he was injured (to be replaced by Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown (footballer)
Charles "Charlie" Brown was an English footballer who played at outside-right for Southampton and Queens Park Rangers in the 1920s.-Football career:...
) and was unable to help in the run-in to the end of the season
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...
when Saints finished second, missing out on the only available promotion spot. For the following season, he reclaimed his place in the starting line-up from Brown and missed only a few games before he was suddenly transferred to 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...
in March. At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Fred Foxall
Fred Foxall
Frederick Howard Foxall was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
and Barratt moving to Birmingham in exchange for Jack Elkes
Jack Elkes
Albert John "Jack" Elkes was an English professional footballer who played as an inside left for various clubs between the two world wars.-Playing career:...
(a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
) and George Getgood
George Getgood
George Getgood was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
(a half-back). In his three years at The Dell Barratt made 101 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals.
Barratt played in 26 consecutive First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
games from his arrival at Birmingham until injury intervened in November 1922. He failed to regain a regular place, and in June 1923 joined Pontypridd for one season, during which he helped the club to the championship of the Welsh Football League
Welsh Football League
The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first...
. He returned to 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...
with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
for two years, before spending 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:...
with Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. He then went back to his first club Nuneaton Town and also played for Coventry Colliery.
After the Second World War he joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as a youth team coach. He died in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in April 1968, aged 73.