Chris Barker facts for kids
Barker at Southend United in 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Andrew Barker | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England | ||
| Date of death | 1 January 2020 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| 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 (born March 2, 1980 – died January 1, 2020) was an English professional footballer. He played as a defender for many teams. These included Barnsley, Cardiff City, and Southend United. He also spent three months as a player-manager for Aldershot Town in 2015. His brother, Richie, is also a professional footballer.
Contents
Chris Barker's Football Journey
Chris Barker was born in Sheffield, England. He started his professional football career at Barnsley in 1999. He quickly became a key player for the team.
Early Success at Barnsley
In his first full season, Chris won the club's Young Player of the Year award. He won this award again the next year. This made him the first player to win it twice! He played over 100 games for Barnsley.
Joining Cardiff City
On July 12, 2002, Chris, then 22, moved to Cardiff City. The deal was worth about £500,000. He helped Cardiff City get promoted to a higher league in his first year. For several years, he was the main left-back for the team. Fans even voted him Cardiff City's Player of the Season in 2004–05.
Loan Spells and New Teams
Chris also played on loan for other clubs. He joined Stoke City in 2004 for a short time. Later, in 2006, he went on loan to Colchester United. Fans at Colchester really liked and respected him.
In 2007, Chris signed with Queens Park Rangers. He then moved to Plymouth Argyle in 2008.
Becoming a Southend United Star
On August 5, 2010, Chris joined Southend United on a loan. He later signed a full contract with them. He became a very important player for Southend. In 2011, he was voted Southend's Player of the Year. He even became the team's captain! Chris scored his first goal for Southend during the 2011–12 play-offs.
Time at Aldershot Town and Player-Manager Role
Chris left Southend in 2013 and joined Aldershot Town. He made his debut for them right away. In January 2015, Chris took on a new role. He became the player-manager for Aldershot. This meant he played for the team and also helped manage it.
Later Career and Coaching
In June 2016, Chris signed with Hereford as a player-coach. He then moved to Weston-super-Mare in October 2016. There, he was a player and assistant manager. He left Weston-super-Mare in July 2017.
Remembering Chris Barker
Chris Barker sadly passed away on January 1, 2020, when he was 39 years old. He will be remembered for his contributions to football and the many teams he played for.
Career Highlights and Awards
Player Honours
- Cardiff City
- Second Division play-offs: 2002–03 (They won promotion!)
- Southend United
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 2012–13 (They reached the final!)
Individual Awards
- Cardiff City Player of the Year: 2004–05
- Southend United Player of the Year: 2010–11
