Keith Barker

Keith Barker

Personal information
Date of birth	21 October 1986 (1986-10-21)
Place of birth	Accrington, England
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2007	Blackburn Rovers	0	(0)
2006	Cercle Brugge	?	(?)
2007	Rochdale	12	(0)
2007	St Patrick's Athletic	?	(3)
2008	Northwich Victoria	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Keith Barker (born 21 October 1986 in Accrington, Lancashire) is an English first-class cricketer who plays for Warwickshire. He is an all-rounder.

He previously played professional football, where he was a striker. He came through the academy of Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, from whom he was loaned to Rochdale and Cercle Brugge. He subsequently had short spells at St Patrick's Athletic and Northwich Victoria before moving into cricket.

Early life and football

Barker was born in Accrington to Caribbean parents. His father Keith senior played cricket for British Guiana and came over to Britain to be overseas professional for Lancashire league side Enfield Cricket Club in 1965. Barker's godfather is former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. Barker also played for Enfield and was offered a contract by Lancashire, but he decided to play football with Blackburn Rovers.

In the 2004–05 academy season, Barker scored 17 goals in 27 appearances, making him the under-18 top scorer, as Rovers won the national academy play-offs. He also scored four times in seven Premier Reserve League North appearances.^{[citation needed]} In 2005–06 he scored 4 times in 11 appearances for the reserves,^{[citation needed]} before being loaned to Belgian feeder club Cercle Brugge in January 2006. He never appeared for their first team.^{[citation needed]}

On 31 August 2006 Barker joined League Two side Rochdale on a three-month loan. He scored one goal for the club in 16 appearances, in a Football League Trophy tie with Crewe Alexandra which finished 1–1.

Barker joined Irish club St Patrick's Athletic in July 2007 after being released by Blackburn Rovers.^{[citation needed]} On 3 January 2008 Barker joined Conference National side Northwich Victoria on a free transfer. He made four appearances for the club, all as a substitute.

International career

Barker made one appearance for under 19s against Belgium on 9 February 2005 in a 1–1 draw.^{[citation needed]}

Cricket

Keith Barker

Personal information
Batting style	Left-handed
Bowling style	Left-arm medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2009 – present	Warwickshire
Career statistics
Competition	LA
Matches	23
Runs scored	221
Batting average	22.10
100s/50s	–/–
Top score	40
Balls bowled	776
Wickets	26
Bowling average	27.88
5 wickets in innings	–
10 wickets in match	–
Best bowling	4/33
Catches/stumpings	5/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 September 2010

Barker continued to play for Enfield, where he was spotted by former England coach David Lloyd, whose son also plays for the club. On Lloyd's recommendation he was watched by Warwickshire second team coach Keith Piper, and subsequently offered a trial. In August 2008 he was signed on a contract until 2010, after impressing in the second team.

On 19 April 2009 Barker made his List A debut for Warwickshire against Somerset at Edgbaston. Batting at number 8, he made 28 runs before being bowled by Peter Trego. He then took the wicket of James Hildreth, finishing with figures of 1-47 as Warwickshire lost by 8 wickets.

External links

• Keith Barker career stats at Soccerbase
• Rochdale Ex-files: Keith Barker