Played for Villa: 1919-1922
Position: Centre half
Appearances: 108
Villa's first great post-War signing, Frank Barson was a hard, abrasive Yorkshireman who regularly got himself into trouble on and off the field. Barson was routinely booked (suspended on one occasion for seven months!) and frequently upset opposition fans and his employers; he was sold to Villa after falling out with the board at Barnsley, and was sold on in turn by Villa after another futile suspension for stubbornly refusing to move down to Birmingham, and another for letting a friend into the Villa changing rooms. An intimidating presence in the heart of the Villa defence, Barson is reputed to have galvanised the team and helped propel them to FA Cup triumph in 1920. His on-field success led to an England cap in 1920, and he would go on to serve eight years at Man Utd. In the 1930s he came back to Villa as youth coach, and eventually became head trainer for the club.
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Position: Centre half
Appearances: 108
Villa's first great post-War signing, Frank Barson was a hard, abrasive Yorkshireman who regularly got himself into trouble on and off the field. Barson was routinely booked (suspended on one occasion for seven months!) and frequently upset opposition fans and his employers; he was sold to Villa after falling out with the board at Barnsley, and was sold on in turn by Villa after another futile suspension for stubbornly refusing to move down to Birmingham, and another for letting a friend into the Villa changing rooms. An intimidating presence in the heart of the Villa defence, Barson is reputed to have galvanised the team and helped propel them to FA Cup triumph in 1920. His on-field success led to an England cap in 1920, and he would go on to serve eight years at Man Utd. In the 1930s he came back to Villa as youth coach, and eventually became head trainer for the club.
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