Ken Barrett

Ken Barrett (5 May 1938 – 7 June 2015) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Lincoln City.

Career Barrett was spotted by former Aston Villa player Frank Shell as a 15-year-old playing for Stoke Works and invited for a trial for the club which led to him, in 1953, becoming a part-time professional whilst also working as an apprentice press toolmaker at the Longbridge plant. He worked his way up through the ranks at Villa Park, being signed as a professional by Eric Houghton and then making a sparkling debut by scoring both goals in the 2–1 home victory over Newcastle United on 4 October 1958. He followed that by scoring again in his second match, the 4–1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion on 11 October 1958. In what would turn out to be his fifth and final appearance for the club, a 2–1 defeat at Luton Town on 1 November 1958, Barrett was informed of his selection by being awoken at his Bromsgrove home by a Police Officer and informed "Don't be alarmed son but you need to get your backside up to Villa Park, you're playing for Villa today at Luton, so you'd better get a move on!" Following the dismissal of Houghton as manager in November 1958, Barrett failed to make an appearance for his successor, Joe Mercer, and was released at the end of the 1958–59 season. His national service saw him in the army and he was initially posted to Blandford Camp, appearing for Weymouth when army commitments allowed,

Later life He spent the majority of his life residing in Bromsgrove before moving to Droitwich in his later years. He worked as bookmaker, running the Barrett and Husband shop in Aston Fields. A keen golfer, he was nicknamed the 'Greyhound' at his local course due to the speed at which he completed his rounds, he was also generous with his time to charities including attending regular Aston Villa Former Players Association golf days.