28 Facts About Frank Barson

Frank Barson was an English footballer from Grimesthorpe who played for several English football clubs including Barnsley, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Watford.

Frank Barson had a reputation for aggressive play, and is regarded as one of the "hard men" of English football.

The third of six children, Barson was born in Sheffield in 1891 to William and Agnes Barson and began his career working as a blacksmith and playing for amateur clubs Albion FC and Cammell Laird's, before joining Barnsley Football Club in 1911.

On one occasion, Frank Barson's hard tackling resulted in a seven-month ban; after a game, he often needed a police escort to protect him from angry opposition fans.

In 1909, Frank Barson signed for Cammell Laird FC; two years later in July 1911 he began his professional career with Barnsley.

On one occasion Frank Barson had to be smuggled out of Goodison Park to avoid a large crowd who had gathered outside the ground to discuss with him his behaviour in an FA Cup tie with Everton.

Frank Barson played a large part in the Villa team during his three seasons at the club, but it is his run-ins with authority for which he is best known.

Frank Barson maintained a business in Sheffield and refused to move to Birmingham despite Villa's insistence that he should do so.

Frank Barson celebrated his first game as captain by scoring a header from thirty yards out against Sheffield United.

Frank Barson went on to win one cap for England at his time with the club.

Frank Barson invited a friend of his to wait in the dressing room while he got changed, and this drew a rebuke from a director, a seven-day suspension was the result and Frank Barson handed in a transfer request.

Frank Barson was later Youth team coach and First team coach for Aston Villa.

Frank Barson spent an injury-plagued six years at Old Trafford, making 140 League appearances and scoring four goals for the club.

At the time he was regarded as a hero, but Frank Barson was so sick of such attention that on the opening night of his pub he gave the business to his head waiter.

In late September 1928, Frank Barson was sent off in a home game against Fulham.

Frank Barson's case was argued for in local and national newspapers, but the revelation that the petition had been burnt at the FA headquarters caused the affair to die down.

The suspension stopped Frank Barson from participating in the remainder of the season, and he was released from his contract.

Frank Barson had two short spells in the first team, but at the end of the season was looking to find a new club.

Frank Barson joined Wigan Borough in July 1930 ahead of what would be Borough's last complete season as a Football League club.

Frank Barson was the club's highest paid player and in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to stabilise the club's terrible finances he was off-loaded to Rhyl Athletic in June 1931.

Frank Barson was 39 at the time and at the end of his career but he appeared 19 times in a Wigan shirt.

In 1920, Frank Barson had England trials and it was whilst at Villa Park that he made his one and only international appearance for England on 15 March 1920 against Wales at Highbury.

Frank Barson was regarded as a "hard man" of English football.

On frequent occasions Frank Barson was escorted out of grounds by policemen to protect him from groups of angry opposition fans.

Frank Barson became the trainer at Swansea Town from June 1947 until February 1954 and he finished his career in May 1956 after previously spending almost two seasons as the trainer at Lye Town.

Frank Barson was a Sheffielder, a truly great footballer and personality and a card.

Frank Barson was never ashamed of numbering amongst his friends the notorious Fowler brothers, who were hanged for murder.

Frank Barson was married to Frances Evelyn Betton in 1915, and died on 13 September 1968 at Winson Green, Birmingham, at the age of 77.