Chris Barker
Barker at Southend United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Christopher Andrew Barker[1]
Date of birth (1980-03-02)2 March 1980[2]
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Date of death 1 January 2020(2020-01-01) (aged 39)
Place of death Cardiff, Wales
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1997–1999 Alfreton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Barnsley 113 (3)
2002–2007 Cardiff City 162 (0)
2004 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
2006–2007 → Colchester United (loan) 38 (0)
2007–2008 Queens Park Rangers 25 (0)
2008–2010 Plymouth Argyle 54 (0)
2010 → Southend United (loan) 4 (0)
2010–2013 Southend United 113 (0)
2013–2016 Aldershot Town 87 (0)
2016 Hereford 5 (0)
2016–2017 Weston-super-Mare 15 (0)
Total 620 (3)
Managerial career
2015 Aldershot Town (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christopher Andrew Barker (2 March 1980 – 1 January 2020)[3] was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He represented Alfreton Town, Barnsley, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Colchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Plymouth Argyle, Southend United, Hereford FC and Weston Super Mare and he was player-manager of Aldershot Town for three months in 2015. His brother, Richie, is also a professional footballer.

Career

Barker was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.[2] He began his professional career at Barnsley in 1999, winning the club's young player of the year award in his first full season. After beating competition for his place from Mateo Corbo, Barker was again awarded the club's young player of the year award, becoming the first player to win the award on two occasions. After appearing in over 100 games for the club, on 12 July 2002, 22-year-old Barker joined Cardiff City in a deal which was thought to be worth an initial £500,000, with an extra £100,000 if Cardiff achieved promotion.[4]

After dropping down a division to sign for the club, Barker helped the team win promotion in his first year. He remained first-choice left back for the majority of the next few years, joining Stoke City on loan in August 2004 for three months only to be recalled after one,[5] and was voted the Cardiff City supporters' player of the season in 2004–05.[6] On 18 August 2006, Barker was signed on loan by Colchester United until January 2007.[7] This was later extended until the end of the season.[8] The move was not made permanent at the end of his loan spell, but he was regarded as a very popular and respected player with the fans at Layer Road. On 5 June 2007, Barker signed for Queens Park Rangers in a two-year deal, on a free transfer.[9]

He signed for Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle on an emergency loan deal on 9 August 2008, allowing him to make his debut later that day against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[10] The transfer was made permanent two days later, with Barker signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[11][12] On 5 August 2010, Barker joined Southend United on loan for one month after being told he was surplus to requirements by Argyle manager Peter Reid.[13][14] He signed a two-year contract with the club at the end of the month on a free transfer.[15] On 30 April 2011, Barker was voted Southend's player of the year for the 2010–11 season. Having been vice-captain during his first season with the club, he was appointed captain ahead of the new campaign after the departure of Craig Easton.[16] He scored his first goal for Southend as they were defeated by Crewe Alexandra in the 2011–12 League Two play-offs.[17]

Barker left Southend on 9 August 2013 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[18] He subsequently joined Aldershot Town the same day[19] and made his debut for the Conference side the following day in a 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town.[20]

In January 2015 Barker was appointed player-manager of Aldershot following the sacking of Andy Scott.[21]

In June 2016, Barker signed for Hereford as a player-coach. In October 2016, he joined National League South side Weston-super-Mare as player/assistant manager to boss Scott Bartlett.[22] Barker left Weston-super-Mare in July 2017.[23]

Death

On 1 January 2020, Barker was found dead at his home in the Cyncoed area of Cardiff at the age of 39.[3] The cause of his death was not immediately revealed, but it was not treated as suspicious.[24] It was later revealed that he had taken his own life.[25]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 1999–2000[26] First Division 290104010350
2000–01[27] First Division 400105000460
2001–02[28] First Division 443203000493
Total 113340120101303
Cardiff City 2002–03[29] Second Division 400501010470
2003–04[30] First Division 390002000410
2004–05[31] Championship 390203000440
2005–06[32] Championship 410103000450
2006–07[33] Championship 0000000000
Total 15908090101770
Stoke City (loan) 2004–05[34] Championship 4000000040
Colchester United (loan) 2006–07[35] Championship 380100000390
Queens Park Rangers 2007–08[36] Championship 250100000260
Plymouth Argyle 2008–09[37] Championship 400101000420
2009–10[38] Championship 140200000160
2010–11[39] League One 0000000000
Total 540301000580
Southend United (loan) 2010–11[40] League Two 4000201070
Southend United 2010–11[40] League Two 390000010400
2011–12[41] League Two 430400061531
2012–13[42] League Two 290401060400
Total 111080101311331
Aldershot Town 2013–14[43] Conference Premier 420000000420
2014–15[44] Conference Premier 320400000360
2015–16 Conference Premier 3000000030
Total 770400000810
Hereford 2016–17 Southern League Division One South & West 5000000050
Weston-super-Mare 2016–17 National League South 150000000150
Career Total 60532902501616754
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs and the Football League Trophy.

Honours

Player

Cardiff City

Southend United

Individual

References

General

  • Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.

Specific

  1. ↑ "Chris Barker". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Chris Barker – Football Stats – Soccer Base". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Chris Barker: Former Cardiff City defender dies aged 39". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Barker secures Cardiff move". BBC Sport. 12 July 2002. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Cardiff recall Barker". BBC Sport. 12 September 2004. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Forest continue chase of Barker". BBC Sport. 2 July 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Barker joins Colchester on loan". BBC Sport. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Barker extends stay at Colchester". BBC Sport. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "QPR sign Cardiff defender Barker". BBC Sport. 5 June 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Argyle sign QPR defender Barker". BBC Sport. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "Barker Signs". Plymouth Argyle FC. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  12. ↑ "Pilgrims bring in Barker". Sky Sports. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "Chris Barker and Adam Bouzid set for Southend deals". BBC Sport. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Barker set to leave Pilgrims". Sky Sports. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Southend sign Plymouth Argyle defender Chris Barker". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "Barker Handed Armband". Southend United FC. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  17. ↑ "Southend 2 – 2 Crewe". BBC Sport. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "Chris Barker leaves Blues". Southend United FC. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "Aldershot sign Emmanuel Oyeleke on loan and add three more". BBC Sport. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Grimsby 1–1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Chris Barker: Aldershot Town caretaker relaxed on full-time job". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Weston-super-Mare FC appoint former Hereford coach as Scott Bartlett's assistant". Weston Mercury. 20 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Weston-super-Mare assistant head coach departs The Woodspring Stadium". thewestonmercury.co.uk. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  24. ↑ "Chris Barker: Former Cardiff defender found dead aged 39". Sky News.
  25. ↑ Winterburn, Tony (2 January 2020). "Football World Stunned as Recently Professional British player commits Suicide at just 39". Euro Weekly News Spain.
  26. ↑ "Barnsley 1999/2000 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  27. ↑ "Barnsley 2000/2001 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  28. ↑ "Barnsley 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  29. ↑ "Cardiff 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  30. ↑ "Cardiff 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  31. ↑ "Cardiff 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  32. ↑ "Cardiff 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  33. ↑ "Cardiff 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  34. ↑ "Stoke 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  35. ↑ "Colchester 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  36. ↑ "QPR 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  37. ↑ "Plymouth 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  38. ↑ "Plymouth 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  39. ↑ "Plymouth 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  40. 1 2 "Southend 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  41. ↑ "Southend 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  42. ↑ "Southend 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  43. ↑ "Aldershot 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 August 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Chris Barker in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  45. ↑ "Cardiff seal promotion". BBC Sport. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  46. ↑ Tony Leighton (7 April 2013). "Trophy Final - match report". EFL. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  47. ↑ Brad Gray (2 January 2020). "Chris Barker: Former Southend United, Colchester United, Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers footballer dies aged 39". Essex Live. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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