Ritchie Barker

9

D.O.B.

30/05/1975

Birthplace

Sheffield

Position

Striker

Signed

January 2007

Fee

£100,000

Former Clubs

Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers (loan), Ards (loan), Linfield, Brighton and Hove Albion (loan), Brighton and Hove Albion, Macclesfield Town, Rotherham United, Mansfield Town,

Pen Pic

Richie Barker started his career as a youngster at Sheffield Wednesday, he didn`t make an appearance for the Owls and had a loan spell a Doncaster Rovers before an unsuccesful spell in Ireland. Barker returned to England in 1997 when he joined Brighton. Barker played 96 times for the Seagulls but was released in 1999, he then joined Macclesfield Town.

He scored 23 goals in 58 games for the Silkmen and was sold to Rotherham United in 2001, Barker found his chances limited to a subsitute appearences and joined Mansfield Town in November 2004 on a free. Barker became captain at Field Mill and scored 40 goals in 90 games before he joined Hartlepool United in Januray 2007, Barker had been tracked by Pools boss Danny Wilson for some time and cost £100,000. He repaid the fee by scoring 9 goals in the final 18 games of the season as Pools secured promotion.

Barker started the following season on the bench, with his appearances limited he joined Rotherham on loan in October 2008. This move became permanent in the January transfer window.

''Barker is the ideal lower division striker, full of power and a good footballing brain. His shooting may not be the best but he is a hard worker and scares opposition defences''