Whatever Happened To... Graham Barrett
Graham Barrett spent the latter half of the 2001-02 season with the U's on loan from Arsenal, scoring four goals in 20 appearances. There were high hopes for the young Irishman, who made 20 appearances for Republic of Ireland Under 21s and later went on to make six appearances for the Republic of Ireland senior side, scoring two goals.
He spent the 2002-03 season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made 31 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring one goal.
Arsenal then released him and he joined Coventry City in the summer of 2003. He was in and out of the Sky Blues' first team and had spells on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Livingston (managed by Paul Lambert). It was while on loan at Livingston that he picked up a serious knee injury that kept him out of the game for nearly two years. Coventry released him at the end of the 2005-06 season, having made 59 appearances, scoring seven goals.
Falkirk took a chance on him, signing him ahead of the 2006-07 season. He didn't play in his first season because of his knee injury, but then became a first team regular, making 55 appearances and scoring 11 goals, before being released midway through his third season.
After a trial at Hearts, he joined St Johnstone in February 2009 on a short term contract until the end of the season.
He then returned to his native Ireland, after a trial at Grimsby Town, and signed for Shamrock Rovers in August 2009. He made 22 appearances, scoring once, before deciding to retired in September 2010, at the age of 28, because of ongoing knee problems. Despite retiring, he was eligible for a winners medal when Shamrock won the League of Ireland title in 2010.
Clubs since leaving the U's: Brighton & Hove Albion, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday (loan), Livingston (Scotland, loan), Falkirk (Scotland), St Johnstone (Scotland), Shamrock Rovers (Republic of Ireland).
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Today Leeds announced that Red Bull have bought a minority stake in the club, and will take over as the main shirt sponsor, but thankfully there will be no change in the name of the club or the colour of the shirt.
The 49ers have plenty of cash available to invest in Leeds United, but defeat in the 49th game of the League season means that some key players will be leaving to keep the club with the Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) regulations.
****ing Southampton. Again. ****ing Adam Armstrong. Again. ****ing Play-offs. Again. Grrrrrr.
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As you probably know already, our play-off final against with Southampton kicks off at 3pm on Sunday. And if you didn’t manage to get your hands on a ticket, it’s live on Sky Sports.
With our recent form being what it was, I was expecting a nervy encounter, with Leeds struggling to get through the Norwich City defence, but how wrong I was! Suddenly we recovered the swagger we have shown for much of the season, and not a moment too soon.
Many neutrals have complained on social media that yesterday’s game at Norwich City was a bit on the dull side, but the Leeds team wasn't set up to please them. For us it was the result that mattered, and it should leave us in a better position to get through to the final.
For the second time this season we are visiting Norwich City, this time for the play-off game at high noon on Sunday, and the kick-off time is of course thanks to our good friends at Sky Sports. You’ll find Carrow Road is about a mile to the south-east of the city centre.
If we were ever going to have a final day miracle we needed a much better performance than this final day showing against Southampton, so now we have to endure the agony of the play-offs yet again.
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