Chris Barker

Christopher Andrew Barker (2 March 1980 – 1 January 2020) was an English professional footballer. He played as a defender.

Chris Barker

Barker at Southend United in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Andrew Barker[1]
Date of birth	(1980-03-02)2 March 1980 [2]
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Date of death	1 January 2020(2020-01-01) (aged 39)
Place of death	Cardiff, Wales
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1997–1999	Alfreton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2002	Barnsley	113	(3)
2002–2007	Cardiff City	162	(0)
2004	→ Stoke City (loan)	4	(0)
2006–2007	→ Colchester United (loan)	38	(0)
2007–2008	Queens Park Rangers	25	(0)
2008–2010	Plymouth Argyle	54	(0)
2010	→ Southend United (loan)	4	(0)
2010–2013	Southend United	113	(0)
2013–2016	Aldershot Town	87	(0)
2016	Hereford	5	(0)
2016–2017	Weston-super-Mare	15	(0)
Teams managed
2015	Aldershot Town (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Barker was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He began his professional career at Barnsley in 1999. He won the club's young player of the year award in his first full season. He appeared in over 100 games for the club. In July 2002, Barker joined Welsh side Cardiff City. While at Cardiff, Barker had loan spells at Stoke City and Colchester United. After 177 appearances for Cardiff City, he joined Queens Park Rangers in 2007, and Plymouth Argyle in 2008. He moved to Southend United in 2010, playing for the club until 2013. In 2015, Barker was named player-manager of Aldershot Town. He later played for Hereford and Weston-super-Mare.

On 1 January 2020, Barker died in Cardiff at the age of 39.[3]