Kevin Bartlett (footballer, born 1962) explained

Kevin Bartlett
Fullname:Kevin Francis Bartlett
Birth Date:12 October 1962
Birth Place:Portsmouth, England
Height:[1]
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Portsmouth
Years1:1980–1982
Clubs1:Portsmouth
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:1982–1986
Clubs2:Fareham Town
Caps2:197
Goals2:93
Years3:1986–1989
Clubs3:Cardiff City
Caps3:82
Goals3:25
Years4:1989–1990
Clubs4:West Bromwich Albion
Caps4:37
Goals4:10
Years5:1990–1993
Clubs5:Notts County
Caps5:99
Goals5:32
Years6:1992
Clubs6:Port Vale (loan)
Caps6:5
Goals6:1
Years7:1992–1993
Clubs7:Cambridge United
Caps7:8
Goals7:1
Totalcaps:431
Totalgoals:162

Kevin Francis Bartlett (born 12 October 1962) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward.

He began his career at his hometown club Portsmouth in 1980 but dropped into non-League football with Fareham Town two years later. Signing with Cardiff City in September 1986, he helped the "Bluebirds" to the Welsh Cup and promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1987–88. He moved on to West Bromwich Albion in 1989 before joining Notts County a year later. He helped the "Magpies" to promotion out of the Second Division in 1991. Loaned out to Port Vale in 1992, he retired due to injury in 1993, not long after joining Cambridge United.

Career

Bartlett started his career with his hometown club Portsmouth but struggled to make an impact under Frank Burrows and played just Third Division games in 1980–81 and 1981–82 before he dropped into non-League football with Fareham Town.[2] He played 197 games in the Southern Football League for the "Creeksiders", scoring 98 goals.

After coming to the attention of former manager Frank Burrows, now in charge at Cardiff City, Bartlett signed for the club in September 1986. He made an impression straight away, scoring twice in a 4–0 win in the Welsh Cup over Taff's Well, followed by another two goals against Cambridge United in a 3–0 victory three days later. Despite his goals, Cardiff struggled in the bottom half of the Fourth Division in 1986–87. Their form soon turned though, with Bartlett forming a strong forward partnership with Jimmy Gilligan,[3] and promotion was achieved with a second-place finish in 1987–88; they also won the Welsh Cup during the campaign. After helping City to settle in the Third Division in 1988–89, he left the "Bluebirds" to sign for West Bromwich Albion, having scored 28 goals in 105 league and cup appearances for Cardiff. Club chairman Tony Clemo would later reveal that the sale of Bartlett had saved the club from filing for bankruptcy.[4]

He only remained at The Hawthorns for one season, scoring 10 goals in 37 Second Division games under Brian Talbot, before moving on to Notts County. He helped Neil Warnock's "Magpies" to win promotion into the top flight with a 3–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the play-off final at Wembley. However, County suffered relegation out of the First Division in 1991–92, in the last season before the creation of the Premier League. He joined John Rudge's Port Vale on loan at the start of the 1992–93 season, scoring one goal in five appearances at Vale Park, before returning to Meadow Lane.[5] He played a total of 99 league games for Notts County, scoring 32 goals. He moved on to Cambridge United, who suffered relegation out of the second tier in 1992–93 under Ian Atkins' stewardship. Bartlett retired a few months after joining the club due to injury.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth1980–81Third Division20000020
1981–82Third Division10000010
Total30000030
Cardiff City1986–87Fourth Division2344010284
1987–88Fourth Division371211504313
1988–89Third Division22931903410
Total82258315010528
West Bromwich Albion1988–89Second Division1730000173
1989–90Second Division2073130268
Total371031304311
Notts County1989–90Third Division1480061209
1990–91Second Division401341825216
1991–92First Division29720333410
1992–93First Division1650010175
Total99336118612340
Port Vale (loan)1992–93Second Division51000051
Cambridge United1992–93First Division81000081

Honours

Cardiff City

1988[6]

Notts County

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rollin . Jack . Rothmans football yearbook, 1995-96 . 1995 . Headline . 978-0-7472-7823-8 . 27 November 2022.
  2. Book: Mike Neasom, Mick Cooper & Doug Robinson . Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club. Milestone Publications . 1984. 0-903852-50-0.
  3. Web site: The 21 most devastating Cardiff City departures: The player sales that broke the fans' hearts . WalesOnline . 1 April 2015 . 8 June 2016.
  4. News: Burrows digs his heels in . The Guardian. London . Rees . Paul . 3 April 1999 . 8 June 2016.
  5. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 19. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  6. Book: Hayes, Dean . The Who's Who of Cardiff City . Breedon Books . 2006 . 19 . Derby . 1-85983-462-0.