Ex-Blackburn Rovers reserve wants a good innings in new career (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ex-Blackburn Rovers reserve wants a good innings in new career

3:15pm Monday 27th October 2008 in Sport

FORMER Blackburn Rovers reserve team striker Keith Barker is relishing the opportunity to make it as a professional cricketer with Warwickshire.

The 21-year-old was in the Rovers Academy but struggled to break through to the first team at Ewood Park and went on loan to Rochdale and Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge before moving on to Irish club St Patrick’s and Conference side Northwich Victoria.

Barker was a promising all-rounder in his youth and continued to play cricket for Enfield in the Lancashire League during summers.

His godfather is former West Indies and Lancashire captain Clive Lloyd while his father played for British Guyana and moved to England to become the professional at Great Harwood.

Barker was recommended to Warwickshire second team coach Keith Piper by David Lloyd earlier this year after Lancashire, who originally tried to sign him at the age of 16, did not offer him a deal.

The Red Rose county did eventually come in with a bid as the Warwickshire deal came close to conclusion but Barker opted to stick with his decision to sign a two-year contract at Edgbaston in August.

He said: “I know how fortunate I am to have a second opportunity to make a career in professional sport and I am determined to make the most of my chance with Warwickshire.

“Some of the lads that were with me in the academy at Blackburn are now doing other things.

“A few are playing lower league football, one has gone into the police force and quite a few of the others have had to find other jobs.

“So I appreciate that am lucky to get back into professional sport so soon after I gave up football.”