Josh Barrett (footballer)
Irish footballer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joshua Lee Barrett (born 21 June 1998) is an Irish footballer who plays for National League South club Dorking Wanderers as a midfielder. He has represented Republic of Ireland at U21 level.
|
Barrett playing for Aldershot Town in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Lee Barrett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 June 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Oxford, England | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dorking Wanderers | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2015 | Reading | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2020 | Reading | 10 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Coventry City (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Aldershot Town (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Bristol Rovers | 16 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | King's Lynn Town | 86 | (15) |
| 2024–2026 | Aldershot Town | 81 | (23) |
| 2026– | Dorking Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 8 | (3) |
| 2016–2017 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 6 | (1) |
| 2016–2019 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:18, 22 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:22, 12 June 2019 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Club career
Reading
Barrett signed his first professional contract with Reading in October 2015.[4] He went on to make his senior debut for Reading on 8 March 2016, in a 3–1 defeat away to Huddersfield Town, coming on as an 84-minute substitute for Chris Gunter.[5] On 21 December 2017 Barrett signed a new contract with Reading, until the summer of 2021, and also agreed to join EFL League Two side Coventry City on loan from 1 January 2018, until the end of the season.[6] On 10 November 2018 Barrett signed for Aldershot Town on a month long loan.[7] Barrett scored his first goals for Reading when he scored twice in an EFL Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 27 August 2019.[8]
Bristol Rovers
On 7 January 2020, Barrett joined Bristol Rovers on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Reading.[9][10] Barrett failed to make an impact during the 2019–20 season that was prematurely ended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This came after manager Ben Garner had, although praising his skill levels, criticised Barrett's fitness levels with the midfielder below the standards of the first-team.[11]
Barrett made 9 appearances during the 20/21 league campaign, the Gas were relegated that same season. On 1 September 2021, it was announced that the club had terminated Barrett's contract to allow him to move on.[12]
King's Lynn Town
On 13 October 2021, Barrett joined National League side King's Lynn Town.[13] Barrett made his debut for the club that weekend, coming off of the bench in a 2–1 FA Cup Fourth qualifying round victory over Peterborough Sports, Barrett playing a part in the winning goal.[14] Barrett opened his account for the club on 11 December with a double as second-bottom King's Lynn beat bottom side Dover Athletic by two goals to one.[15]
Aldershot Town
On 22 January 2024, Barrett returned to Aldershot Town having previously spent time with the club on loan. The move saw him reunite with Tommy Widdrington, the manager who had brought him to King's Lynn Town, as well as signing him for both Bristol Rovers and Coventry City from his role as Head of Recruitment.[16]
At the end of the 2024–25 season, Barrett was named as the club's player of the season award, voted for by the fans.[17] On 11 May 2025, he scored the third goal as the Shots defeated Spennymoor Town 3–0 to win the 2024–25 FA Trophy.[18] On 25 June 2025, he signed a new two-year deal.[19]
On 14 May 2026, it was announced that Barrett would leave Aldershot Town after agreeing an undisclosed fee with an unnamed club.[20]
Dorking Wanderers
On 22 May 2026, Barrett signed for National League South side, Dorking Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.[21]
International career
Barrett made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U17s against Hungary U17s in August 2014.[3] Barrett was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21s for the first time in March 2016,[22] making his debut as a 75th-minute substitute against Slovenia U21s on 28 March 2016.[23]
On 28 May 2019, Barrett was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 team for the 2019 Toulon Tournament.[24] He started the match against Bahrain U23s and won the penalty for the winning goal.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 25 April 2026[26]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reading | 2015–16[27] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016–17[28] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[29] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[30] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[31] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | ||
| Coventry City (loan) | 2017–18[29] | League Two | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Aldershot Town (loan) | 2018–19[30] | National League | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Bristol Rovers | 2019–20[31] | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020–21[32] | League One | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| King's Lynn Town | 2021–22[33] | National League | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 3 | 33 | 8 | |
| 2022–23[34][35] | National League North | 43 | 7 | 6 | 1 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 51 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24[34][36] | National League North | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||
| Total | 86 | 15 | 10 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 100 | 19 | |||
| Aldershot Town | 2023–24[37] | National League | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25[38] | National League | 38 | 16 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 3 | 48 | 19 | ||
| 2025–26[39] | National League | 31 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 34 | 7 | ||
| Total | 81 | 23 | 3 | 2 | — | 10 | 3 | 94 | 28 | |||
| Dorking Wanderers | 2026–27[40] | National League South | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 204 | 38 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 239 | 49 | ||
- Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- One appearance in FA Trophy, one in National League North play-offs
- Two appearances and one goal in National League Cup, six appearances and two goals in FA Trophy
- One appearance in National League Cup, one in FA Trophy