As far as Southampton FC was concerned, Albert Barrett was a full-paid-up member the “one that got away” club. He arrived at The Dell in February 1925 having won England Schoolboy honours in 1917 and Amateur recognition in 1924 but, despite his excellent pedigree, he failed to impress The Dell directors in his only senior appearance, although that was one more than he managed at his first League club.

A move to Craven Cottage relaunched Albert’s career as he went on to make over 300 League appearances over a 12-year period. In 1929 gained his full England cap against Ireland and although he represented his country just that once,

Fulham’s gain was undoubtedly Southampton’s loss.

In 1937, having chaired the PFA in his last season at Craven Cottage, he moved into coaching back at Leytonstone in the Isthmian League and trained as an accountant, he worked as a secretary in a wholesale firm in Romford and then when the war broke out was a tobacconist and newsagent in Ilford before emigrating to South Africa in 1954. He had first got to know that country when, along with Bert Shelley and Mike Keeping, he toured there with the FA in 1929. He made South Africa his home and remained there for the rest of his life.