- published: 01 Mar 2016
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Keith Barker (born 21 October 1986 in Accrington, Lancashire) is an English first-class cricketer who plays for Warwickshire. He is an all-rounder.
He previously played professional football, where he was a striker. He came through the academy of Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, from whom he was loaned to Rochdale and Cercle Brugge. He subsequently had short spells at St Patrick's Athletic and Northwich Victoria before moving into cricket.
Barker was born in Accrington to Caribbean parents. His father Keith senior played cricket for British Guiana and came over to Britain to be overseas professional for Lancashire league side Enfield Cricket Club in 1965. Barker's godfather is former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. Barker also played for Enfield and was offered a contract by Lancashire, but he decided to play football with Blackburn Rovers.
In the 2004–05 academy season, Barker scored 17 goals in 27 appearances, making him the under-18 top scorer, as Rovers won the national academy play-offs. He also scored four times in seven Premier Reserve League North appearances.[citation needed] In 2005–06 he scored 4 times in 11 appearances for the reserves,[citation needed] before being loaned to Belgian feeder club Cercle Brugge in January 2006. He never appeared for their first team.[citation needed]