| Len Barber | |
| Fullname: | Leonard Barber |
| Birth Date: | 3 July 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Death Date: | February 1988 (age 58)[1] |
| Death Place: | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthclubs1: | Bury |
| Years1: | 1947–1955 |
| Clubs1: | Port Vale |
| Caps1: | 47 |
| Goals1: | 12 |
| Clubs2: | Northwich Victoria |
| Clubs3: | Wellington Town |
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.
Barber played for Bury before joining Port Vale in June 1947.[2] 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.[2] He played 14 games at the end of the 1950–51 season, scoring seven goals.[2] 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.[2] He played eight games in 1953–54, scoring two goals, as Freddie Steele's side won the Third Division North title.[2] 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.[2] He later signed for Wellington Town.[2]
Barber went on to run a pub called 'The Labour in Vain' in Milton, Staffordshire.[4]
Source:
| 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 | ||
Port Vale