Dave Barnett (footballer) explained

Dave Barnett
Fullname:David Kwame Barnett[1]
Birth Date:1967 4, df=y[2]
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Height:[3]
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1983–1985
Youthclubs1:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:1985–1986
Years2:1986–1987
Clubs2:Alvechurch
Years3:1987–1988
Clubs3:Windsor & Eton
Years4:1988–1989
Clubs4:Colchester United
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:1989
Clubs5:Edmonton Brick Men
Caps5:18
Goals5:2
Years6:1989–1990
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:1990
Clubs7:Walsall
Caps7:5
Goals7:0
Years8:1990–1992
Caps8:39
Goals8:4
Years9:1992–1994
Clubs9:Barnet
Caps9:59
Goals9:3
Years10:1993
Clubs10:Birmingham City (loan)
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Years11:1994–1997
Clubs11:Birmingham City
Caps11:44
Goals11:0
Years12:1997–1998
Caps12:21
Goals12:1
Years13:1998
Clubs13:Port Vale (loan)
Caps13:9
Goals13:1
Years14:1998–1999
Clubs14:Port Vale
Caps14:27
Goals14:0
Years15:1999–2000
Clubs15:Lincoln City
Caps15:22
Goals15:3
Years16:2000
Clubs16:Forest Green Rovers (loan)
Caps16:3
Goals16:0
Years17:2001
Clubs17:Halesowen Town
Years18:2002
Clubs18:Moor Green
Caps18:5
Goals18:0
Years19:2009–2010
Clubs19:Romulus
Totalcaps:274
Totalgoals:14
Manageryears1:2010–2015
Managerclubs1:Romulus

David Kwame Barnett (born 16 April 1967) is an English former football player and coach who played as a defender in the Football League for Colchester United, Walsall, Barnet, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Lincoln City. He also represented Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Premier League and Edmonton Brick Men in the Canadian Soccer League. He made more than 200 appearances for nearly 20 clubs during his career. He later coached non-League Romulus.

Playing career

Born in Birmingham, Barnett began his youth career at Wolverhampton Wanderers but was released without making an appearance. He then joined non-league sides Boldmere St. Michaels and then Alvechurch[4] before being picked up by Windsor & Eton. From here, he was signed by Colchester United manager Roger Brown on 27 August 1988.[5] He was sent off on his professional debut in the opening-day fixture of the 1988–89 season, becoming only the second U's player after Nigel Crouch to be dismissed on their maiden appearance for the club.[6] [7] After serving his suspension, Barnett was again sent off in only his seventh league game during a 2–1 home defeat to Scunthorpe United on 8 October 1988.[8]

His disciplinary record earned him the nickname "Psycho" with the Colchester fans. His time at the club came to an abrupt end on 24 February 1989 when manager Jock Wallace watched him commit an off the ball indiscretion during a reserve team game.[6] [5] After his Colchester exit, Barnett moved to Canada to play for Canadian Soccer League club Edmonton Brick Men where he played alongside Justin Fashanu. He scored two goals in 18 appearances. Barnett returned to England in October 1989 to sign for West Bromwich Albion on a non-contract basis. However, he failed to make a first-team appearance for the Baggies. He then moved to Walsall for the early part of the 1990–91 season before returning to non-league football with Kidderminster Harriers. Here, he made 39 Conference appearances and helped the club to Wembley for the 1991 FA Trophy final, in which they finished runners-up to Wycombe Wanderers.[6]

Barnett was signed by Barry Fry at Barnet for a £17,000 fee in February 1992. He aided the club to promotion from the Third Division in 1992–93. As the Bee's struggled in the higher tier, Barnett was loaned to his hometown club Birmingham City in December 1993 where he played twice, before returning to Barnet who were subsequently relegated.[6] While at Underhill, Barnett made 59 league appearances and scored three goals.[9]

Birmingham City eventually signed Barnett permanently in February 1994, once again teaming up with Barry Fry, who had been appointed manager at St Andrew's. Signing for £150,000, the club were relegated to the Second Division in 1994, but Barnett helped the club gain immediate promotion back to the First Division as a virtual ever-present feature of the first-team.[6] He also made another Wembley appearance, this time in the 1995 Football League Trophy final, which City won 1–0 over Carlisle United with a golden goal from Paul Tait.[10] However, he did not feature in the 1995–96 season and played just six games in 1996–97 under new manager Trevor Francis, and so left for Dunfermline Athletic in July 1997.[11]

Barnett featured 21 times for Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier Division during the 1997–98 season, scoring once to help Bert Paton's side retain their top-flight status. However, before the season was up, Barnett made a deadline day loan move to Port Vale, where he made nine appearances and scored one goal.[2] [6] During the close season, the move back to England was made permanent as he made 27 further appearances for Vale. His final professional transfer came following a successful trial spell at Lincoln City in the summer of 1999, where he made 22 league appearances and netted three times.[9] While with Lincoln, Barnett had a three-game loan spell in the Conference with Forest Green Rovers. Notified by Lincoln that he would be given a free transfer at the end of the 1999–2000 season, Barnett ended up with an injury before his release and in turn announced his retirement.[6]

International career

In 2000, Barnett was due to play international football for the Cayman Islands, but a Football Association veto blocked the efforts of nations such as the Cayman Islands acquiring English players.[6]

Coaching career

After finishing his professional playing career, Barnett joined the Birmingham City Academy as a part-time coach before joining Halesowen Town as first-team coach in March 2001. He then took up his Academy role at Birmingham in a full-time capacity.[6] Barnett would later turn out for Moor Green, where he made five appearances in 2002.[12]

Following his return from the United States in the summer of 2009, Barnett signed for Romulus in August[13] and was subsequently appointed first-team coach at the club in February 2010 after initially refusing to be involved in coaching at the club having obtained a UEFA 'A' Licence.[14] He agreed to continue his role at the club for the 2010–11 season,[15] however, his disciplinary issues continued after being given a six-match suspension and a £100 fine by the FA following four breaches of FA Rule E3 - language and/or behaviour amounting to improper conduct - following a match with Belper Town in November 2012.[16] He stepped down as manager in January after deciding to concentrate on activities outside football.[17]

Personal life

His son, Ty Barnett, is also a professional footballer.[18] [19]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[20]
ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United1988–89Fourth Division2004050290
Edmonton Brick Men1989Canadian Soccer League1820000182
West Bromwich Albion1989–90Second Division00000000
Walsall1990–91Fourth Division50002070
Barnet1991–92Fourth Division40001050
1992–93Third Division3621040412
1993–94Second Division1512060231
1994–95Second Division40000040
Total59330110733
Birmingham City1993–94First Division90000090
1994–95Second Division3105090450
1995–96First Division00000000
1996–97First Division60000060
Total4605090600
Dunfermline Athletic1997–98Scottish Premier Division2112030261
Port Vale1997–98First Division91000091
1998–99First Division2701000280
Total3611000371
Lincoln City1999–2000Third Division2233120274
Forest Green Rovers (loan)1999–2000Conference30000030
Career total!

Honours

Kidderminster Harriers

Birmingham City

1994–95

1994–95[21]

All honours referenced by:[6] [10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Players: Dave Barnett . Coludata.co.uk . 13 November 2016.
  2. Web site: Dave Barnett . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 13 November 2016.
  3. Book: Glenda . Rollin . Jack . Rollin . Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98 . 1997 . Headline . London . 978-0-7472-7738-5 . 415.
  4. Web site: Club History – Player History – Alvechurch Football Club . Alvechurch Football Club . 26 August 2013.
  5. Web site: Dave Barnett - Players - Colchester United . www.coludata.co.uk . 6 April 2019.
  6. Book: Whitehead . Jeff . Drury . Kevin . The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years . 2008 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-629-3 . 22, 23.
  7. Web site: Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 1–0 York City . Coludata.co.uk . 13 November 2016.
  8. Web site: Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 1–2 Scunthorpe United . Coludata.co.uk . 13 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Dave Barnett . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database . Neil Brown . 26 August 2013.
  10. News: Haylett. Trevor. Fry's delight as Carlisle succumb to sudden death. 25 February 2012. The Independent. 24 April 1995.
  11. Book: Matthews . Tony . Birmingham City: A Complete Record . 1995 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-010-9 . 70, 71.
  12. Web site: SoccerFacts UK Player Details – Season 2002–2002 – Dave Barnett . SoccerFacts UK . 1 May 2008.
  13. Web site: Roms turn to veteran Barnett . NonLeagueDaily.com . 26 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929162447/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=60010 . 29 September 2012.
  14. Web site: Barnett to coach at Roms . NonLeagueDaily.com . 26 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929162559/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=64603 . 29 September 2012.
  15. Web site: Roms delighted at league switch . NonLeagueDaily.com . 26 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929162605/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=66943 . 29 September 2012.
  16. Web site: Football Rules & Governance – Disciplinary updates – January 2013 – The FA . The FA . 26 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130605225407/http://www.thefa.com/News/governance/2013/jan/disciplinary-charges-hearings.aspx . 5 June 2013.
  17. Web site: Dave Barnett calls time after six years. pitchero.com. 18 February 2015.
  18. Web site: Birmingham Mail. Ex-Birmingham City defender: I would have loved to line up against Aston Villa . Gregg. Evans. 24 December 2023. 25 October 2017.
  19. Web site: 4 April 2019. This is the promising player Wolves have signed from Birmingham City. Brian. Dick. 24 December 2023.
  20. Web site: David Barnett Statistics on StatsCrew.com . www.statscrew.com . 24 March 2021 . en.
  21. News: Fry's delight as Carlisle succumb to sudden death . Trevor . Haylett . The Independent . 24 April 1995 . 29 April 2024.