Richard Barker

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ritchie Barker


fullname = Richard Ian Barker
height = convert|6|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|5|30|df=y
cityofbirth = Sheffield
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Rotherham United (on loan from Hartlepool United)
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1993-1997
1995
1996
1997-1998
1997
1998-1999
1999-2001
2001-2004
2004-2007
2007-
2008-
clubs = Sheffield Wednesday
→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)
→ Ards (loan)
Linfield
→ Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
Brighton & Hove Albion
Macclesfield Town
Rotherham United
Mansfield Town
Hartlepool United
→ Rotherham United (loan)
caps(goals) = 000 0(0)
006 0(0)
007 0(3)
00? 0(?)
053 (11)
043 (10)
058 (23)
140 (12)
095 (40)
062 (23)
01 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 3 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Richard 'Ritchie' Ian Barker (born 30 May 1975 in Sheffield, England) is an English footballer, who currently plays for Rotherham United. Barker has never played at the highest level, but is an experienced striker in the lower leagues. He is the brother of Plymouth Argyle defender Chris Barker.

Barker began his career at Sheffield Wednesday, but never played any competitive matches for the first team. He was released by the Owls in 1997, and then had a short spell at Northern Irish side Linfield, before returning home to play for Brighton. He played two seasons at Brighton, scoring 12 goals, before moving to Macclesfield on a free transfer in 1999.

At Macclesfield, Barker scored 23 goals in 58 league games. He was signed by Rotherham in January 2001, and helped the Millers gain promotion to the Championship. He was mostly used as a substitute by Rotherham, and was allowed to move to Mansfield Town on a free transfer in November 2004.

Barker soon became a fan favourite at Field Mill, scoring 10 goals in his first season at the club. In the summer of 2005, he was named team captain, and he leads by example with his professionalism and work-rate. Barker was the Stags' top scorer in 2005-06 with a career-best 23 goals, including two goals against his old club Rotherham in the FA Cup first round.

In the summer of 2006, Barker signed a contract extension with Mansfield which tied him with the club until the end of the 2008-09 season. However in January 2007 he joined Hartlepool United F.C. during the January transfer window.

He re-joined Rotherham United on the 3rd October 2008, on a emergency loan, and is expected to make the switch permanently in January. He scored on his second Millers debut in the 4-1 over Grimsby Town after coming off the bench.

External links

* [http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10326~8040,00.html Barker's Official Hartlepool United F.C. profile ]
* [http://www.hartlepool.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=362 Vital Hartlepool Profile: Richie Barker]
* [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/cgi-bin/itmc_view_person.asp?oid=1214 Richard Barker profile] at [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/ In The Mad Crowd]