Jim Barron
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Jim Barron | |
| Full Name | James Barron |
| Date of Birth | 19 October 1943 |
| Place of Birth | Tantobie, England |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Chelsea career | 1965-1966 |
| Debut | 1 September 1965 |
| Games (goals) | 1 (0) |
| Other clubs | Wolverhampton Wanderers Oxford United Nottingham Forest Swindon Town Connecticut Bicentennials Peterborough United |
James "Jim" Barron (born 19 October 1943) is an English former goalkeeper who made one appearance for Chelsea early in his career in 1965, having signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to establish himself as first choice at Oxford United, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town, before moving into coaching.
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Before Chelsea
A native of Tantobie in County Durham and son of a former Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper (James Barron Sr.), Barron started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made his league debut in 1963, and deputised for Fred Davies during 1963-64, making seven appearances.
Barron came to Chelsea's attention in unusual circumstances during a tour of the Caribbean in 1964, which the Blues had embarked upon jointly with Wolves. In a match between the two English sides in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Chelsea goalkeeper John Dunn was unable to continue after a collision with Wolves striker Ray Crawford left him requiring stitches. With Peter Bonetti also sidelined Wolves loaned their reserve 'keeper to Chelsea for the remainder of the match. Barron was outstanding, helping the Blues to a 3-2 win. [1]
Barron found his first team opportunities at Molineux even more limited the following season, but Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty, with Barron's performance in Trinidad no doubt still in mind, brought him south to Chelsea in 1965 for a fee of £5,000.
Chelsea career
Still just 21, Barron made his Chelsea debut early in the 1965-66 season; a home loss against Stoke City. It would prove to be his only game for the club; Peter Bonetti was already firmly established as first choice, and with John Dunn also in reserve Barron would find his first team opportunities even more limited than they had been at Wolves.
After Chelsea
Barron then dropped down the divisions in order to gain first team football, joining Oxford United in 1966. He established himself as first choice and went on to make over 150 league appearances for the club, helping them to the Third Division championship in 1968. Following an impressive display against Nottingham Forest in a League Cup tie, he was signed by Forest for £30,000 in 1970. [2] Barron was an equally important figure at the City Ground, but he couldn't prevent his side being relegated from the top flight in 1972. He left Forest in 1974, a few months before Brian Clough replaced Allan Brown as manager.
Prior to the 1974-75 season Barron moved to Swindon Town, where he dislodged Jimmy Allan as first choice and made 93 appearances in all competitions. [3] He then moved to the USA to play for the Connecticut Bicentennials, before returning to England to finish his playing career at Peterborough United.
Having retired from playing Barron later moved into coaching, becoming caretaker manager at Wolves in 1984 and managing Cheltenham Town in 1989 after a brief spell in Iceland at Íþróttabandalag Akraness in 1986. As of 2012 he was a first team coach at Northampton Town. He briefly acted as joint caretaker manager at the club in 2006, having performed a similar role at Birmingham City in 2001.
Statistics
| Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 1965-66 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
