The Premier League’s record appearance holder, Gareth Barry, has come out of retirement to sign for a side in the 12th tier of English football.
Hurstpierpoint FC, who play in the Mid Sussex Football League Championship division, announced the signing of the former England International at the end of July, much to the surprise of the footballing world.
Barry last played professionally for West Bromwich Albion during the 2019/20 season, when the club were in the Championship, which at the time, was the lowest level of football Barry had played at in his senior career. He did however, make some appearances for Kidderminster-based over 35s Comberton Dynamoes Veterans after his official retirement in August 2020.
As well as holding the record for the most appearances in the Premier League (with 653), Barry also has 53 England caps and clinched 27 U21 caps as well. He made his senior debut for his country in 2000 as a substitute against Ukraine and would go on to make his first start against France in the same year.
Barry was born on 23rd February 1981 down on the south coast in the seaside town of Hastings and came through the youth ranks of Brighton and Hove Albion, before moving to Aston Villa where he would establish himself in the footballing world. The move to Hurstpierpoint sees his footballing journey go full circle geographically.
Hurstpierpoint is a small village between Burgess Hill and Brighton, which neighbours the nearby slightly larger village of Hassocks. The village football team were founded in 1886 but have always competed at an amateur level.
However, the club are managed by former professional Michael Standing, who echoed Barry’s early career, moving from Brighton to Villa at the same time. He would go on to play for Bradford and Walsall amongst others, before retiring after a short spell at hometown club Shoreham in 2012.
Following Standing’s retirement, he became Barry’s football agent. The two have been best friends since childhood having been in the same youth teams at the Albion and Barry was quoted saying he trusted Standing 100% upon appointing him as his agent.
Therefore, Barry’s ‘move’ to Hurstpierpoint FC makes quite a lot of sense once you wade through the initial shock. Barry links up with his best friend and offers invaluable experience to a local village team full of aspiring young players.
In-fact, when announcing the signing, Hurstpierpoint FC themselves said: “Gareth has a long-standing association with the village through his good friend, and our Coach, Michael Standing; so, it seemed an obvious move to get him involved with the football club.”
It is yet to be seen when Barry will make his Hurstpierpoint debut, with the clubs first official fixture currently scheduled for 31st August against Sovereign Saints. The Saints’ Shinewater Lane home may not quite be the same as some of the places Barry has played in throughout his career…
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