John Barker (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Barker was an English professional footballer who made 263 appearances in the Football League
playing as a left back
for Scunthorpe United.
, the son of former footballer Jeff Barker. He began his career in the youth system of Scunthorpe United, where his father was a member of the backroom staff, and made his debut in the Fourth Division
as a 17-year-old, in April 1966 away at Bournemouth
. He scored the equalising goal with a diving header against Sheffield Wednesday as Scunthorpe knocked the First Division club out of the 1970 FA Cup. Barker suffered concussion in the act of scoring, took no further part in the match, and was unaware until afterwards that he had scored a goal. He went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club before retiring from professional football at the early age of 27 to take up a post with the Forestry Commission
. He also played non-League football
for Scarborough
. Barker died in December 2004 at the age of 56.
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...
playing as a left back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Scunthorpe United.
Career
Barker was born in HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, the son of former footballer Jeff Barker. He began his career in the youth system of Scunthorpe United, where his father was a member of the backroom staff, and made his debut in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
as a 17-year-old, in April 1966 away at Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. He scored the equalising goal with a diving header against Sheffield Wednesday as Scunthorpe knocked the First Division club out of the 1970 FA Cup. Barker suffered concussion in the act of scoring, took no further part in the match, and was unaware until afterwards that he had scored a goal. He went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club before retiring from professional football at the early age of 27 to take up a post with the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
. He also played non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
for Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
. Barker died in December 2004 at the age of 56.