Not an event on this date, BUT in research I found this little gem from October 22nd 1928....Poor old Jim Barrett had the shortest international career of any player starting a match for England. He started playing against Ireland (as it was known then) in a Home International Championship match at Goodison Park (note the Geographic "closeness" of the two nations hence the choice of stadium) and after 8 minutes he was carried off injured in his DEBUT and was never picked again! see below.
James (Jim) Barrett was born in West Ham on 19th January 1907. A talented centre-half he played for England Schoolboys. Barrett was also a member of the West Ham Boys team that played Liverpool Boys in the 1921 English Shield Final at Upton Park. Syd King, the manager of West Ham Utd, signed the 16 year old Barrett in 1923. Despite his obvious talent he had to wait two years before he replaced the injured George Kay in the first-team. When Kay, the captain, returned to duty, Barrett played in a variety of different positions for the club. Barrett played in all 42 league games in the 1925-26 season. The 20 year old played in five different positions that year and managed to score five goals in three games at centre-forward. This included a hat-trick against Leeds Utd on on 30th January 1926. Barrett was also ever present in the team that finished 6th place in the 1926-27 season. Club top scorer that year was Vic Watson. However, West Ham struggled in the First Division in the 1927-28 season.
Barrett's form remained good and he won his first cap for England against Ireland (as it was known then) on 22nd October, 1928. Also in the England team that day was Dixie Dean and Joe Hulme and Tommy Cooper (NO!! not him...just like that). Barrett was carried off injured after only 8 minutes!!! He was never selected again and so it is the shortest recorded international career in history. West Ham Utd finished in 7th place in the 1929-30 season. England won 2-1 with goals from Hulme and Dean. Vic Watson scored an amazing 50 league and cup games in only 44 games.
Barrett played in 40 out of a possible 42 league games that year. The following season, West Ham finished in a disappointing 18th place. Barrett (below) scored 53 goals in his 467 appearances for The Hammers. He retired from playing in 1938 but continued at the club as a coach. Jim Barrett suffered from ill-health in his later years and he died aged only 63 on 25th November, 1970.
No comments:
Post a Comment