Barry Thornley

Barry Edward Thornley (born 11 February 1948) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a winger and full back in the Football League for Brentford and Oxford United. He later made over 200 appearances in a four-year spell at Chelmsford City.

Barry Thornley
Personal information
Full name Barry Edward Thornley[1]
Date of birth (1948-02-11) 11 February 1948
Place of birth Gravesend, England
Position(s) left winger, left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1965 Gravesend & Northfleet 18 (3)
1965–1967 Brentford 7 (0)
1967–1969 Oxford United 23 (4)
1969–1973 Chelmsford City 128 (20)
1973 → Ramsgate (loan) 8
1973–1975 Dover (8)
1975–1977 Margate 109 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Gravesend & Northfleet

A left winger, Thornley began his career at hometown Southern League First Division club Gravesend & Northfleet.[2] He made 18 appearances and scored three goals during the 1964–65 season,[3] before departing in October 1965.[2]

Brentford

In October 1965, Thornley moved to the Football League to sign for Third Division strugglers Brentford for a £2,000 fee.[2][4] He initially played for the reserve team and was the first substitute to be utilised for the team, when he replaced Phil Basey in a Combination Cup tie against Bristol City that month.[2] He managed just seven first team appearances for the financially stricken club and was released in 1967.[2] Thornley had failed to make a first team appearance at all during the 1966–67 season and instead played for the reserves,[5] experiencing some joy by winning the London Challenge Cup with the club.[6]

Oxford United

Thornley joined Third Division club Oxford United in June 1967.[1] He made something of a breakthrough into the first team, making 19 appearances and scoring three goals and picking up more silverware, with the Us securing promotion to Second Division by winning the Third Division title.[7] Playing in the second-tier for the first time, Thornley made just four appearances in the 1968–69 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign.[7] Thornley made 26 appearances and scored four goals during his time at the Manor Ground.[7]

Chelmsford City

Thornley dropped into non-league football in 1969 and signed for Southern League Premier Division club Chelmsford City.[3] He had a good first season, making 39 appearances, scoring seven goals and winning the club's Player of the Year award, in addition to the Essex Professional Cup.[3] Thornley made 35 league appearances and scored three goals during the 1970–71 season and won another Essex Professional Cup. He finally tasted league title success in the 1971–72 season, though the Clarets would be denied election to the Football League. Thornley played on until the end of the 1972–73 season, making only 20 appearances, but winning the Essex Professional Floodlight Cup.[3] He departed the New Writtle Street Stadium having made 212 appearances and scored 31 goals in his four years with Chelmsford.

Ramsgate (loan)

Thornley joined Southern League Premier Division club Ramsgate on loan towards the end of the 1972–73 season and made eight appearances without scoring.[3]

Dover

Thornley signed for Southern League Premier Division club Dover during the 1973 off-season for a £1,000 fee.[3] He scored 13 goals in his two seasons with the club.[3]

Margate

Thornley joined Southern League Premier Division club Margate during the 1975 off-season. Despite the team's indifferent form in the league, he had a good first season playing at left back, making 61 appearances, scoring two goals and winning the Kent Floodlight Trophy.[3] The Gate had a disastrous 1976–77 season, culminating in relegation to the Southern League First Division South, which prompted Thornley's retirement from football.[3]

Personal life

In later life, Thornley worked for Liverpool Victoria.[3]

Honours

Brentford

Oxford United

Chelmsford City

  • Southern League Premier Division (1): 1971–72
  • Essex Professional Cup (2): 1969–70, 1970–71
  • Essex Professional Floodlight Cup (1): 1972–73

Margate

  • Kent Floodlight Trophy (1): 1975–76

Individual

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1965–66[5] Third Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Oxford United 1967–68[7] Third Division 19 3 1 0 2 0 22 3
1968–69[7] Second Division 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
Total 23 4 1 0 2 0 26 4
Career total 30 4 1 0 2 0 33 4

References
  1. "Barry Thornley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 160. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. "Barry Thornley". margatefchistory.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  4. "Bees Start Their Pruning". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 19 May 1967.
  5. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 388. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 82. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  7. "Rage Online » AdHoc". www.rageonline.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
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