Geoff Barnett (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Colin "Geoff" Barnett (born October 16, 1946 in Northwich
, Cheshire
) is an English
former footballer.
Barnett played as a goalkeeper and started out at Everton
in 1962, and there he gained schoolboy and U21 honours with England
. However, with the goalkeeping spot being dominated by Gordon West
and Andy Rankin
through most of the 1960s, Barnett could only be content with being their understudy, making just ten league appearances in seven seasons for the Toffees, all in his final three seasons. However, he did win a 1965 FA Youth Cup
with Everton.
In October 1969, Barnett was hurriedly signed for £35,000 by Arsenal
after their No. 1 goalkeeper Bob Wilson broke his arm early in the season, and Barnett made his debut against Coventry City
on October 4, 1969. Barnett made 11 league appearances and successfully kept a clean sheet over both legs against Sporting CP in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Second Round (saving a penalty in the goalless first leg), but once Wilson recovered from his injury, Barnett was relegated to the reserves.
Barnett missed out entirely on Arsenal's 1970-71
Double
-winning season but after an injury to Wilson late on in the 1971-72
season, played against Leeds United in the 1972 FA Cup Final
. He was blameless for the goal which saw Arsenal lose 1-0 in a match better known for ill-discipline rather than the quality of play. Barnett started the 1972-73
season as Wilson struggled to recover from injury, playing 25 matches, but Wilson always assumed the goalkeeper's jersey ahead of Barnett when fully fit.
After Arsenal signed Jimmy Rimmer
as Wilson's long-term replacement in February 1974 (Wilson would retire from the game that summer), it was clear Barnett would never take the No. 1 spot at Arsenal full-time. Nevertheless, he stayed loyal to Arsenal and played for another two years as Rimmer's understudy, his last appearance coming against Stoke City
on December 13, 1975 (his only match in the 75/6 season). In January 1976 he left Arsenal to join the Minnesota Kicks
in the United States
; in total he played 49 matches for Arsenal, with only an FA Cup runners-up medal to his name.
Barnett stayed in America for a number of years, briefly becoming the Kicks' coach on May 14, 1981. He had a record of 16-10. The team folded after the 1981 NASL season However he never pursued a career in management and eventually returned to England; he now runs a pub in his native Cheshire.
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer.
Barnett played as a goalkeeper and started out at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1962, and there he gained schoolboy and U21 honours with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. However, with the goalkeeping spot being dominated by Gordon West
Gordon West
Gordon West is an English former professional football goalkeeper.-Blackpool:He made his debut for Blackpool at the age of 17...
and Andy Rankin
Andy Rankin
Andrew George "Andy" Rankin is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a goalkeeper for Everton, Watford and Huddersfield Town. In 1973 Rankin became the inaugural Watford Player of the Season, an accolade he would reclaim in the 1974–75 season.-References:...
through most of the 1960s, Barnett could only be content with being their understudy, making just ten league appearances in seven seasons for the Toffees, all in his final three seasons. However, he did win a 1965 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1960s
-1968/69: Sunderland v. West Bromwich Albion :-1967/68: Burnley v. Coventry City :-1966/67: Sunderland v. Birmingham City :...
with Everton.
In October 1969, Barnett was hurriedly signed for £35,000 by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
after their No. 1 goalkeeper Bob Wilson broke his arm early in the season, and Barnett made his debut against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on October 4, 1969. Barnett made 11 league appearances and successfully kept a clean sheet over both legs against Sporting CP in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
Second Round (saving a penalty in the goalless first leg), but once Wilson recovered from his injury, Barnett was relegated to the reserves.
Barnett missed out entirely on Arsenal's 1970-71
1970-71 in English football
The 1970–71 season was the 91st season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. Arsenal secured the league title at White Hart Lane, the home of bitter rivals...
Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
-winning season but after an injury to Wilson late on in the 1971-72
1971-72 in English football
The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in England.-FA Cup:Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the 1972 FA Cup Final...
season, played against Leeds United in the 1972 FA Cup Final
1972 FA Cup Final
The 1972 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1972 at Wembley Stadium. It was the Centenary final and the 44th to be played at Wembley....
. He was blameless for the goal which saw Arsenal lose 1-0 in a match better known for ill-discipline rather than the quality of play. Barnett started the 1972-73
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
season as Wilson struggled to recover from injury, playing 25 matches, but Wilson always assumed the goalkeeper's jersey ahead of Barnett when fully fit.
After Arsenal signed Jimmy Rimmer
Jimmy Rimmer
John James "Jimmy" Rimmer is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Manchester United, Swansea City, Arsenal and Aston Villa. He was capped once for England....
as Wilson's long-term replacement in February 1974 (Wilson would retire from the game that summer), it was clear Barnett would never take the No. 1 spot at Arsenal full-time. Nevertheless, he stayed loyal to Arsenal and played for another two years as Rimmer's understudy, his last appearance coming against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on December 13, 1975 (his only match in the 75/6 season). In January 1976 he left Arsenal to join the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; in total he played 49 matches for Arsenal, with only an FA Cup runners-up medal to his name.
Barnett stayed in America for a number of years, briefly becoming the Kicks' coach on May 14, 1981. He had a record of 16-10. The team folded after the 1981 NASL season However he never pursued a career in management and eventually returned to England; he now runs a pub in his native Cheshire.