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.

Len Barber
Personal information
Full name Leonard Barber[1]
Date of birth (1929-07-03)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

Career

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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. However, 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

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Barber went on to run a pub called 'The Labour in Vain' in Milton, Staffordshire.[4]

Career statistics

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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

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Port Vale

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Sherwin, Phil (2013). Men of Steele. Hanley, Staffordshire: Pass. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8.
  3. ^ a b "Mystery Sportsman: Vale striker whose four goals didn't count". The Sentinel. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Mystery sportsman: Goalkeeper kept a record 20 clean sheets for Stoke City". The Sentinel. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  5. ^ Len Barber at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)