AROUND THE GROUNDS: Home Grown

NAME

Gareth Barry

CLUB

Aston Villa

AGE

Born 23rd February 1981

HOMETOWN

Birmingham

POSITION

Left sided defender/midfield

SQUAD NUMBER

6

SIGNED FOR CLUB

Gareth started life as a Villa YTS trainee and turned professional shortly after his 17th birthday on 1st May 1997.

HEIGHT

183cm

DEBUT

Gareth Barry came on as a substitute defender against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 1997/98 season. Still only 17, he followed this up with a full debut against double winners Arsenal, and played well in Villa's 1-0 win.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Gareth made his claim for a regular first team place during the summer of 1998, and only an injury during the season stopped him from making more than 27 appearances for the club. His first senior goal came against Nottingham Forest, and on his 18th birthday Villa gave him a five-year contract.

Gareth made his full England debut in May 2000 against Ukraine, and looked the most likely player to claim the difficult left-back slot, following impressive performances in his next five international games. However, when Kevin Keegan resigned as England coach he was dropped from the side, with Ashley Cole favoured by Sven Goran Eriksson.

Gareth has since returned to the England Under-21 side. A change of manager at Aston Villa has seen him switch from defence to the left side of midfield, where he made over 40 appearances and scored four goals last season. His good form could well see him back in the England team before long.