Barry Siddall

Barry Alfred Siddall (born 12 September 1954) is an English former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had 614 appearances over a 21-year career in the Football League, playing for numerous clubs. He played for 13 different Football League clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Darlington, Port Vale, Blackpool, Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers, Manchester City, Stockport County, Hartlepool United, Carlisle United, Chester City and Preston North End. He won promotion out of the Second Division, Third Division, and Fourth Division, and also played in the First Division.

Career Siddall was educated at Ellesmere Port Grammar school; where he was spotted by a Bolton scout, together with Paul Jones and Neil Whatmore. He played seven games for England Youth in 1973.

He began his career with Bolton Wanderers, turning professional in January 1972 after a two-year apprenticeship. The first choice keeper in the 1982–83 promotion campaign, he was sidelined for three months after sustaining a knee injury in a 3–1 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate on 27 December 1982; Neville Southall was signed on loan to take his place. However, he handed in his notice at Vale Park in October 1983 following a contract dispute, and was loaned to Sam Ellis's Blackpool. Despite only spending one month at Bloomfield Road, during his seven league games for the "Seasiders", Blackpool were the victor in six of them, which assisted in their finishing sixth in the Fourth Division. He ended the 1983–84 season with 45 appearances for Port Vale, though he could not prevent the club from suffering relegation out of the Third Division. Mossley (where he played four Northern Premier League Premier Division games ), Carlisle United, Chester City, Preston North End and Lincoln City. Leaving the Football League in 1993, he later played for Northwich Victoria, Horwich R.M.I. and Burnley. He was signed by Birmingham City manager Barry Fry on the mid-season transfer-deadline day in March 1995. He played a total of 614 Football League and two Conference games throughout his career, before becoming a freelance goalkeeping coach.

Career statistics

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup and Football League Trophy.

Honours Bolton Wanderers Football League Third Division: 1972–73

Sunderland Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1979–80

Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83