Following the news of Adam Barrett’s retirement, Matt Mundy looks back on the career of a Southend legend.
The English football fan can be a strange animal when it comes to judging players.
You could stand on any terrace on a Saturday afternoon and the player who shows passion and is always committed is more often than not a fans’ favourite. It’s as if talent is secondary; a bonus. What is not forgiven is lack of effort.
The overused phrase ‘he gives 100%’, or variations of it like ‘working his socks off’ – not forgetting the classic English cliché of ‘giving 110%’ are all descriptions of a talismanic player. No fan favourite is the most gifted player, but he’s the one who works the hardest. Where else but in England is a player unanimously clapped for closing down the goalkeeper?
But as much as I dislike the concept, I’ve been guilty of it before. I fully understand why it is the case as well.
As fans we would love to pull on the shirt, so we fail to distinguish anyone who doesn’t give their all.
Someone who can’t have the accusation of not showing endeavour levelled at him is Adam Barrett, which is why the news that the Southend United legend will be retiring at the end of the season is gutting for every Shrimper.
He only recently re-signed at the club in January, but has struggled to hold down a first-team place, making one start and one substitute appearance.
Nobody, though, comes close to matching the genuine passion Barrett, a self-confessed Southend fan, has whenever he steps on the pitch for the Blues.
Not as technically gifted as others, Barrett was an incredible professional in his first spell as a Southend player and throughout his career.
It may be expected with most League Two defenders that the technical nuances don’t come as naturally, but neither is his style aggressive or destructive, which are normally more accustomed to a fourth tier defender.
Exceptional reading of the game makes up for his lack of pace which allows him to intercept the ball, win every header and rarely get beaten. His devotion for every game and every training session, his love for the club and his enthusiasm shines through. Coupled with his good defensive ability, it’s not hard to see what has made him the figure he is in the eyes of Southend fans.
That’s not to demean his talent in any way. I will always remember his thumping headers at corners which resulted in him running to celebrate in front of the West stand at Roots Hall. He’s a club legend for his dedication and success he has brought to the club.
The 35-year-old began his career at Leyton Orient but failed to make an appearance for the O’s. He moved on to play for Plymouth Argyle, Mansfield Town and Bristol Rovers before joining his home-town club in 2004 under Steve Tilson.
Barrett enjoyed great success with Southend in his first spell, gaining promotion to League One via the play-offs in his first season at the club. Chipping in with 10 goals in that campaign, the centre-back was a colossus at the heart of the defence and a key component in what would turn out to be one of the most outstanding periods in Shrimpers history.
That included the following season and an even more successful season as Barrett and Southend gained promotion to the Championship as champions of League One. Once again, Barrett was a mainstay in the team.
It would have hurt him having to miss out through injury on a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the League Cup in 2006, but he was involved in the narrow defeat to Tottenham in the next round. Southend were undone in the 119th minute to Jermaine Defoe’s offside goal.
Then in 2009, Southend were drawn against Chelsea in the FA Cup and with big thanks to Barrett and Peter Clarke in defence, the Blues managed to earn a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Barrett scored the opener in the replay, but the Premier League side showed their class to run out eventual 4-1 winners.
After a solitary season, relegation from the Championship was the beginning of Southend’s demise to where they are and the fight Barrett has joined – guiding the club to past glories. Despite leaving in acrimonious circumstances due to financial trouble for Crystal Palace in 2010, the Shrimpers fans have always held Barrett in the their hearts; and they are in his.
The perfect send-off for the defender would be contributing to another promotion.
But if it isn’t to be, for someone who left everything on the pitch for Southend and always gave his all, he will be remembered for years to come no matter what.