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Page Last Updated
22 September 2021
 
 

Robert Barker

Hertfordshire Rangers FC & Wanderers FC

1 appearance, 0 goals
0 goals against
one clean sheet


P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 F 0: A
0
50% successful

1872


captain:
none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  Robert Barker
  Despite Alcock's Annuals and newspaper reports calling this one RC Barker... there is no 'C'
Birth
Saturday, 19 June 1847 at The Rectory in Wouldham, Kent
  registered in Malling July-September 1847
"BARKER―June 19, at the Rectory, Wouldham, the lady of the Rev. Alleyne Barker, of a son." - The Kentish Gazette, Tuesday, 29 June 1847
Wouldham Rectory

According to the 1851 census, Robert is the middle child of five, to parents Alleyne Higgs and Marianne (née Burminister). His father is the Rector of Wouldham, so they all live at The Rectory in Wouldham [left]. They have five servants.

According to the 1861 census, Robert's family are now in Watford, his father now the Vicar of Rickmansworth.  All living in Church Street, Rickmansworth. Robert is not with them in the census.

According to the 1871 census, Robert is now living with the rest of his family in Church Street, Rickmansworth. His occupation is stated as a Civil Engineer.

 

According to the 1881 census, Robert is still in Church Street, and still a Civil Engineer. His mother had died in the previous ten years.

According to the 1891 census, Robert, still a Civil Engineer, is living with two of his older sisters, Fanny and Augusta, at Brierry Close, in Croxley Green, Rickmansworth.
  According to the 1901 census, Robert is boarding with the Quick's at 100 Warwick Street, in St George Hanover Square, London.
  According to the 1911 census, Robert is still boarding at 100 Warwick Street, although he is here on his own.... Still a Civil Engineer for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway.
Death Thursday, 11 November 1915, at Briery Close, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
aged 68 years 149 days registered in Watford October-December 1915
"BARKER.―Nov 11th, at his residence, Briery Close, Croxley Green, Robert Barker, son of the late Rev. Alleyne H, Barker, Vicar of Rickmansworth, aged 68 years. Deeply loved and mourned." - The Advertiser, Friday, 26 November 1915
Probate "BARKER Robert of the Briery Close Croxley Green Rickmansworth Hertfordshire died 11 November 1915 Probate London 11 January to Richard Tesdale Dewe esquire the reverend Charles Alleyne Hutchinson and the reverend Francis Ernest Hutchinson clerks.
Effects £19011 8s. 8d." [2019 equivalent: £1,666,095]
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) After leaving school, he joined Hertfordshire Rangers FC to concentrate on "soccer". He also made occasional appearances for Westminster School AFC and Wanderers FC.
Club honours None
Individual honours Middlesex FA, Kent FA
Height/Weight not known
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career

Player number One of eleven who became the first players (one) to appear for England. Generally regarded as the first player to play for England, as his is the first name on the teamsheet.
Position(s) Goalkeeper/Forward; described by Douglas Lamming as a utility player. First goalkeeper to appear.
Only match No. 1, 30 November 1872, Scotland 0 England 0, a friendly match at The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Hamilton Crescent, Partick, Glasgow, aged 25 years 164 days.
Individual honours Barker was one of the umpire's in the third unofficial international match between England and Scotland in February 1871, as well as England reserve.
Distinctions "Barker was chosen (to play in goal) because he was the biggest and slowest player in the England team and because his rugby experience and handling of the ball would come in useful"

Beyond England

A civil engineer by profession (MICE 1889), he was at different times Chief Assistant Engineer to the London, Chatham & Dover Railway and the South Eastern Railway. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.24.


The Numbers
parties Apps minutes Goals
Against
GA ave.min clean sheets clean sheet
ave.
captain
1 1 90
 (c.45 as gk)
0 0 0 min one 100% none
Barker was in goal for the first half of his first match.
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0 0 50 =0
His only match was a friendly match and at an away venue

Match History
 
 Clubs: Herts Rangers F.C. & Wanderers F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 23
3 25 February 1871 - England 1 Scotland 1, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr HD reserve
acted as an Umpire

Age 25
1 1 30 November 1872 - Scotland 0 England 0
The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Partick
Fr AD started in goal
cs: 45 min

ended as a forward.
swapped with Maynard
  

the first player to appear on an England teamsheet.
the oldest player & goalkeeper in England's first match.
the first player from Herts Rangers FC to represent England
one of the first players (one) from Wanderers FC to represent England
The first goalkeeper to appear for England

  

 
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