Barry Alfred Siddall (born 12 September 1954) is an English former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had 614 appearances over a 21-year career in the Football League, playing for numerous clubs. He played for 13 different Football League clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Darlington, Port Vale, Blackpool, Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers, Manchester City, Stockport County, Hartlepool United, Carlisle United, Chester City and Preston North End. He won promotion out of the Second Division, Third Division, and Fourth Division, and also played in the First Division.
Career Siddall was educated at Ellesmere Port Grammar school; where he was spotted by a Bolton scout, together with Paul Jones and Neil Whatmore. He played seven games for England Youth in 1973.
He began his career with Bolton Wanderers, turning professional in January 1972 after a two-year apprenticeship. In four years with the Burnden Park club he made 137 league appearances. Jimmy Armfield's "Trotters" won the Third Division title in the 1972–73 season, and finished mid-table in the Second Division in 1973–74 and 1974–75. Under the stewardship of Ian Greaves, they went on to finish fourth in 1975–76, one point behind promoted West Bromwich Albion.
In September 1976, he moved north-east to join Sunderland for a £80,000 fee, intending to replace retiring club legend Jimmy Montgomery. He made 167 league appearances for Jimmy Adamson's "Black Cats". The Roker Park club were relegated out of the First Division in 1976–77, and came close to winning promotion in 1977–78 and 1978–79 before they regained their top-flight status with a second-place finish under the stewardship of Ken Knighton in 1979–80; they finished just one point behind champions Leicester City. He was loaned out to Darlington during the 1980–81 season, who were managed by his former Sunderland boss Billy Elliott; Siddall played eight Fourth Division games at Feethams. Now managed by Alan Durban, Sunderland avoided relegation by one place and two points in 1981–82.
In August 1982, Siddall signed for John McGrath's Fourth Division Port Vale and went on to make 81 league appearances for the "Valiants" in a two spell. The first choice keeper in the 1982–83 promotion campaign, he was sidelined for three months after sustaining a knee injury in a 3–1 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate on 27 December 1982; Neville Southall was signed on loan to take his place. Teammate and club legend Phil Sproson named Siddall as the club's best goalkeeper of the 1980s. However, he handed in his notice at Vale Park in October 1983 following a contract dispute, and was loaned to Sam Ellis's Blackpool. Despite only spending one month at Bloomfield Road, during his seven league games for the "Seasiders", Blackpool were the victor in six of them, which assisted in their finishing sixth in the Fourth Division. He ended the 1983–84 season with 45 appearances for Port Vale, though he could not prevent the club from suffering relegation out of the Third Division. He was in goal for Vale against Blackpool in a 1–1 draw on 18 September 1984. Still, his return to Bloomfield Road was unhappy as he injured his ankle. He featured just 12 times in the 1984–85 season, as new boss John Rudge preferred Chris Pearce.
Siddall was loaned out to Vale's rivals Stoke City in January 1985, and the move was made permanent two months later. He played 15 First Division games at the end of the 1984–85 season, though he could not prevent Bill Asprey's "Potters" from being relegated in last place. He featured in just five Second Division games at the Victoria Ground in the 1985–86 campaign, as new boss Mick Mills preferred Peter Fox. He was also loaned out to Frank Worthington's Tranmere Rovers and Billy McNeill's Manchester City during the season, keeping goal in 12 Fourth Division games at Prenton Park and playing six First Division games during his time at Maine Road.
In 1986, Siddall returned to Blackpool, this time permanently. Sam Ellis was still in charge of the Bloomfield Road club, now a division higher, and Siddall went on to make 37 appearances during the 1986–87 season, as the club finished ninth in the Third Division. He was also first-choice during 1987–88, making 38 appearances, but in 1988–89 he was dropped a couple of times in favour of his deputies, Gary Kelly and Vince O'Keefe. He still made 35 starts in the league but was sold at the end of the season to Stockport County.
Siddall went on the books of six clubs in four years: Hartlepool United, West Bromwich Albion, Mossley (where he played four Northern Premier League Premier Division games), Carlisle United, Chester City, Preston North End and Lincoln City. Leaving the Football League in 1993, he later played for Northwich Victoria, Horwich R.M.I. and Burnley. He was signed by Birmingham City manager Barry Fry on the mid-season transfer-deadline day in March 1995. He played a total of 614 Football League and two Conference games throughout his career, before becoming a freelance goalkeeping coach.
Post-retirement Upon retiring, Siddall worked for the Post Office in Kirkham, Lancashire."Walwyn a sad loss to the seasiders" – Blackpool Gazette, 17 April 2003
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBolton Wanderers1972–73Third Division40000000401973–74Second Division4203050005001974–75Second Division4202020004601975–76Second Division4206010004901976–77Second Division70001050130Total137011090501620Sunderland1976–77First Division3402000003601977–78Second Division4201020004501978–79Second Division4102010204601979–80Second Division1201050302101980–81First Division1500000001501981–82First Division230303000290Total167090110501920Darlington (loan)1980–81Fourth Division8000000080Vancouver Whitecaps (loan)1981NASL240———240Port Vale1982–83Fourth Division3301020003601983–84Third Division3901030204501984–85Fourth Division90101010120Total810306030930Blackpool (loan)1983–84Fourth Division7000000070Stoke City1984–85First Division1500000001501985–86Second Division5000000050Total200000000200Tranmere Rovers (loan)1985–86Fourth Division120400000160Manchester City (loan)1985–86First Division6000000060Blackpool1986–87Third Division3701020104101987–88Third Division3806040205001988–89Third Division350305060490Total1100100110901400Stockport County1989–90Fourth Division210204020290Hartlepool United1989–90Fourth Division110000000110Mossley1990–91Northern Premier LeaguePremier Division4000000040Carlisle United1990–91Fourth Division240000010250Chester City1991–92Third Division90101010120Preston North End1992–93Second Division1000000010Career total64204004202607500
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup and Football League Trophy.
Honours Bolton Wanderers Football League Third Division: 1972–73
Sunderland Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1979–80
Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83
References