Len Barber
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonard Barber[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 July 1929[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Stoke-on-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | February 1988 (age 58)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bury | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1955 | Port Vale | 47 | (12) |
| Northwich Victoria | |||
| Wellington Town | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Leonard Barber (3 July 1929 – February 1988) was an English footballer who played as a forward for Port Vale in the Football League. He played a minor role in the club's Third Division North title winning campaign in 1953–54.
Playing career
Barber played for Bury before joining Port Vale in June 1947.[1] He made five Third Division South appearances for Gordon Hodgson's "Valiants" in 1949–50, and scored his first senior goal on 29 October, in a 3–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] He played 14 games at the end of the 1950–51 season, scoring seven goals.[1] He would have had a higher goal ratio if it wasn't for misfortune, as during a game against Crystal Palace on 9 April 1951 he managed to score four goals, but the game was abandoned after an hour's play due to excessive mud.[3] It was speculated that Barber's natural ability to play in thick mud would have earned him even more goals during that particular game.[3] He made 18 appearances in 1951–52, but only found the net twice.[1] He played eight games in 1953–54, scoring two goals, as Freddie Steele's side won the Third Division North title.[1] He featured twice in the Second Division in 1954–55, before he left Vale Park and was transferred to Cheshire County League side Northwich Victoria in July 1955.[1] He later signed for Wellington Town.[1]
Post-retirement
Barber went on to run a pub called 'The Labour in Vain' in Milton, Staffordshire.[4]
Statistics
Source:[5]
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Port Vale | 1949–50 | Third Division South | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 1950–51 | Third Division South | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | |
| 1951–52 | Third Division South | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| 1952–53 | Third Division North | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1953–54 | Third Division North | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1954–55 | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 47 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 12 | ||
Honours
- Port Vale
- Football League Third Division North champion: 1953–54
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 17. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Sherwin, Phil (2013). Men of Steele. Hanley, Staffordshire: Pass. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8.
- ^ a b "Mystery Sportsman: Vale striker whose four goals didn't count". The Sentinel. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ^ "Mystery sportsman: Goalkeeper kept a record 20 clean sheets for Stoke City". The Sentinel. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
- ^ Len Barber at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)