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Fullname: Thomas Barber
aka: Tom Barber, Tommy Barber
Born: 20 February 1888
Died: 18 September 1925
Birthplace: Derby
Signed: 23 August 1918 (loan)
Position: Half-back
Debut: Clyde 0-3 Celtic, League, 31 Aug 1918
Internationals: England
International Caps: 0
International Goals: 0
Biog
When the First World War broke out, Englishman Tom Barber had joined the Footballers Battalion but leg wounds sufferred from his time on the war front (the ‘Western Front’) led to his lay up in Aberdeen Infirmary. Despite fears, he recovered to play for England v Scotland in the Haig Hospital Fund International at Celtic Park on 8th June 1918 (but no caps appear to have been awarded for this game).
Working in munitions in Glasgow, the Derby-born player signed on loan for Celtic in August 1918 from Birmingham side Aston Villa. Quite a capture as he was the goal scorer in a 1-0 FA Cup final victory for Aston Villa v Sunderland. He was relatively an older player on his signing, 30 years of age, but an experienced head was likely wanted to help regain the league title for Celtic.
He made his debut on 31 August 1918, helping Celtic defeat Clyde 3-0, with the match report stating positively on him that “though probably out of condition, Barber and Cringan held sway over opponents who paid tribute to reputation gained elsewhere“.
After his debut he next played in a 1-0 victory over Ayr Utd, but sadly he was soon struck down with pleurisy in September 1918 but thankfully quickly recovered.
On his return, he played in a notable match on 23 November 1918, the first Celtic match after the end of the First World War, with Celtic winning 1-0 v Partick Thistle in the league.
In total, in his four matches Celtic were victorious bar his final appearance, a 3-1 defeat in the league to Motherwell, one of only two league defeats all season for Celtic. Upto that final match he could be proud of his perfect record as a defender as Celtic had not conceded a goal in his matches till then. So a frustrating end for his Celtic match record.
He got to play for Celtic in an important season as Celtic reclaimed the league title, but it closed a long golden era for the club in which Celtic had been dominant, not to reoccur again for Celtic until the 1960s.
He was to stay for just a short time at Celtic Park, and after just the four league appearances for Celtic, Tom Barber moved across Glasgow to Partick Thistle. He only played one game for Partick Thistle before again moving on swiftly.
He may have failed to secure a regular starting place with Celtic, but helping Celtic to reclaim the league title is much to be thankful for.
Interestingly, he went on to play for Belfast Celtic in January 1919 (a loan signing). This is a very notable point as this came at around the time of the troubles in Ireland (War of Independence) and Belfast Celtic supporters were very identified with the Irish Republican side. This must be noted with respect to that Tom Barber was English and an ex-soldier. Amazingly, he also had a loan spell with Linfield at a similar time in January 1919 (their support is heavily identified with the British Unionist side). Quite a feat for Tom Barber and at what a time. Must have had some stories to tell.
It reflects both Celtic & Belfast Celtic in a good light that despite the environment (i.e. socially & politically) that both clubs would still employ and play a man with his background, as it’s the man who matters and not the creed or nationality.
He retired from football in 1925, after shuffling between a number of clubs.
Sadly, illness and injury continued to hamper Tom Barber’s life even after football. He was struck down with tuberculosis which led to his premature death in the same year he stopped playing football, dying aged just 37 in 1925. Too young an age for any man.
An interesting character who walked into the world of a set of clubs at a uniquely pivotal point in the history of their supporters’ lives.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1918-19 | 4 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 4 |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
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Tommy Barber
Source: http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.com/tom-barber/
Thomas Barber (1888-1925) was born on 20 February 1888 in West Stanley and died in Nuneaton on 18 September 1925. An intelligent and enterprising half-back, Barber spent most of his career at Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa before the First World War, during which he served in the Footballers’ Battalion. Barber was forced to retire due to ill-health in 1925 and died soon after aged just 36.
Football Career
Barber began his career at local sides Shankhouse, West Stanley and Hamsterley before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 1907. Handed his debut on 17 October 1908, Barber would eventually play a total of 107 games for the Trotters before moving to Aston Villa in December 1912.
Barber soon became a regular starter at Villa Park and went on to play 68 times for the club, bagging 10 goals. In 1913, Barber scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final triumph over Sunderland at Crystal Palace, before playing his last official game for Villa in a 3-0 loss at Newcastle United on 28 April 1915.
Barber played for a number of clubs during the war, including Partick Thistle, Crystal Palace and Glasgow Celtic, and would also represent England in the Haig Hospital Fund International against Scotland at Celtic Park on 8 June 1918.
After the Armistice, Barber had brief spells at Merthyr Town, Ton Pentre, Pontypridd and Walsall. In 1918 he also turned out for both Belfast Celtic and Linfield – a rare occurrence as the clubs were bitter rivals at a time of political unrest in Ireland.
Barber would suffer recurring ill-health after the war and spent significant time in hospital. He was struck down with tuberculosis in 1925, which would eventually prove fatal. Barber died in Nuneaton on 18 September 1925 aged just 36.
War Service
Private F/852 Barber joined the 17th (Service) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in February 1915 and was among those players permitted to return to their clubs at weekends to fulfil the remainder of the 1914/15 season fixtures.
After spending time at Cranleigh in Surrey and Clipstone Camp near Mansfield, Barber moved to Perham Down with his battalion in August 1915 where they prepared for deployment overseas. The 17th Middlesex subsequently landed at the French port of Boulogne on 17 November 1915 and would experience its first taste of life in the trenches near the mining town of Loos.
Barber would subsequently take part in actions at Delville Wood and Waterlot Farm during the Somme offensive, when he sustain leg wounds and was evacuated to Britain. After undergoing treatment at a hospital in Aberdeen, Barber was transferred to the Labour Corps (311143) before undertaking munition work in Glasgow.