Simon Barker

Simon Barker (born 4 November 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He began his career at Blackburn Rovers in 1983, winning the Full Members' Cup with the club in 1987, before moving on to Queens Park Rangers the following year for £400,000. He played 351 league and cup games for QPR and played in the Premier League before moving on to Port Vale in 1998. He scored 84 goals in 619 league and cup appearances throughout a 16-year career in the English Football League. He also represented England under-21s four times. He retired in November 1999 and went on to work for the Professional Footballers' Association as assistant chief executive.

Career Blackburn Rovers Barker began his career at Blackburn Rovers under Bobby Saxton's stewardship in 1983, having been Noel Brotherston's boot boy as an apprentice. He had chosen to join Rovers ahead of Manchester United as he felt he had a better chance of breaking into the first-team at Ewood Park. Rovers finished sixth in the Second Division in 1983–84, three places and 13 points outside of the promotion zone. They moved up to fifth in 1984–85, just two places and one point behind promoted Manchester City. Blackburn then dropped down to 19th in 1985–86, just one place and three points above relegated Carlisle United; Barker was voted the club's Player of the Year at the end of the campaign. New manager Don Mackay then rallied them to a 12th-place finish in 1986–87. Barker played for Rovers in the 1987 Full Members Cup final at Wembley, where Colin Hendry's goal was enough to beat Charlton Athletic 1–0. Blackburn reached the play-offs in 1987–88, but were defeated at the semi-final stage by top-flight Chelsea.

Queens Park Rangers He joined First Division club Queens Park Rangers in 1988 for a fee of £400,000, a club record for both Blackburn and QPR.

PFA work Barker applied unsuccessfully for management jobs and instead began working full-time for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) in 1999 after spending five years on the management committee.

Career statistics

Honours Individual Blackburn Rovers F.C. Player of the Year: 1985–86

Blackburn Rovers Full Members' Cup: 1987