Players - Barry Venison

Barry Venison
Birthdate: 16 August 1964
Birthplace: Consett, England
Other clubs: Sunderland (1982-86), Newcastle United (1992-95), Galatasaray (1995), Southampton (1995-97)
Signed from: Sunderland
Signed for LFC: £200,000, 25.07.1986
International debut: 07.09.1994 vs. USA
International caps: 2/0 (at Newcastle) - 29.03.1995
Liverpool debut: 16.08.1986
Last appearance: 26.04.1992
Debut goal: 29.08.1988
Last goal: 31.03.1992
Contract expiry: 18.07.1992
Win ratio: 58.23% W:92 D:34 L:32
Games/assists ratio: 17.56
Honours: League Championship 1987/88, 1989/90; FA Cup 1989
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 13 / 0
League games / goals / assists: 110 / 1 / 6
Total games / goals / assists: 158 / 3 / 9

Player Profile

Venison first attracted attention when he led Sunderland out in the 1985 League Cup final, the youngest-ever captain in a Wembley final, aged 20 years and 220 days. Sunderland lost 1-0 to Norwich on the big day and he suffered further disappointment when the Roker Park club was relegated at the end of the season. After one campaign in the Second Division Venison promoted himself to Liverpool's management and other first division clubs by writing a letter to them asking if they were interested in his services. Kenny Dalglish felt he would strengthen the side and signed Venison who was just turning 22 but had already gained immense experience at Sunderland making 205 appearances. Venison began the 1986/87 season as the first-choice right-back at Liverpool with Jim Beglin playing on the left. Venison switched to the left when Beglin broke his leg halfway through the season. Injuries and an appendix operation hampered Venison's progress in the successful 1987/88 campaign allowing Gary Ablett to settle into the team. Venison was out injured from December 1988 to March 1989 and hardly featured in the rest of the season but did make a substitute appearance at the start of extra-time in the 3-2 win over Everton in the FA Cup final. Venison was a regular in the second part of the 1989/90 championship season. In his two last seasons, Venison suffered with injuries and David Burrows made his mark in the left-back position. In the summer of 1992 Venison joined Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle conquered the Second Division in Venison's debut season and immediately established itself as one of the best sides in the Premier League. In September 1994 Venison made his full England debut after excelling in Magpies' midfield. At the end of the 1994/95 season, Venison rejoined former Reds boss, Graeme Souness, at Galatasaray. Five months later he moved to Southampton in the Premier League followed by Souness who took over at the Saints prior to the 1996/97 campaign. Venison only featured in two games for the Scot, in the second of which he was sent off against Leicester which proved to be his last-ever career appearance as he was forced to retire due to a back injury.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 110 21 17 3 7 158
1986-1987 33 2 6 0 3 44
1987-1988 18 2 2 0 0 22
1988-1989 15 1 4 0 2 22
1989-1990 25 8 3 0 1 37
1990-1991 6 5 2 0 1 14
1991-1992 13 3 0 3 0 19
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
15 1193 Everton
11 879 Arsenal
9 633 Southampton
8 716 Luton Town
7 630 West Ham United
7 630 Nottingham Forest
7 608 Manchester United
7 555 Aston Villa
6 519 Charlton Athletic
6 458 Norwich City
6 423 QPR
5 450 Wimbledon
5 411 Coventry City
4 360 Newcastle United
4 360 Oxford United
4 308 Tottenham
4 294 Sheffield Wednesday
4 274 Chelsea
4 274 Portsmouth
3 270 Millwall
3 254 Crystal Palace
3 233 Leicester City
3 200 Watford
2 210 Brighton & Hove Albion
2 180 Derby
2 180 Swansea City
2 180 Manchester City
2 180 Blackburn Rovers
2 180 Crewe
2 162 Wigan Athletic
2 33 Genoa
1 90 Notts County
1 90 Fulham
1 90 Leeds United
1 90 Walsall
1 90 Sheffield United
1 20 Middlesbrough
1 20 Swarovski Tirol
Total Started/substitutions
139 Started
21 On the bench
19 Substitute
16 Substituted
Total Venue
75 Away
73 Home
10 Neutral
Total Competition
110 League
21 FA Cup
17 League Cup
4 Charity Shield
3 UEFA Cup
2 Screen Sport Super Cup
1 Centenary Trophy
Total W D L Win % Manager
137 86 29 22 62.8% Kenny Dalglish
19 6 5 8 31.6% Graeme Souness
2 0 0 2 0% Ronnie Moran
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 1 1 3
1986-1987 0 0 0 0 0 0
1987-1988 0 0 0 0 0 0
1988-1989 0 0 0 0 1 1
1989-1990 0 0 0 0 0 0
1990-1991 0 0 0 0 0 0
1991-1992 1 0 0 1 0 2
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Started/substitutions
2 Started
1 Substitute
Total Competition
1 League
1 Centenary Trophy
1 UEFA Cup
Total Goal minute period
1 46-60 minutes
1 61-75 minutes
1 76-90 minutes
Total Goal origin
3 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 6 2 0 0 1 9
1986-1987 2 0 0 0 0 2
1987-1988 0 0 0 0 0 0
1988-1989 1 0 0 0 0 1
1989-1990 3 1 0 0 1 5
1990-1991 0 1 0 0 0 1
1991-1992 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 16.08.1986 Everton Wembley Other
50 20.09.1987 Newcastle United St James' Park League
100 26.11.1989 Arsenal Anfield League
150 31.03.1992 Notts County Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 50 29.08.1988 Nottingham Forest Anfield Other
Related Quotes

"Sometimes if I was feeling a little lethargic I would jump in my Porcshe and go screaming down some very tight lanes. It was certainly not one of the most sensible things I've ever done but it sure was exhilarating."

Barry Venison asked if he had any quirky pre-match rituals

Scrapbook
A poster of Barry Venison - 1986
A poster of Barry Venison - 1986
Focus on Barry Venison
Focus on Barry Venison
Match cover on 27 May 1989
Match cover on 27 May 1989
Poster of Sunderland's Barry Venison
Poster of Sunderland's Barry Venison
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Sunderland 1981-1982 England First Division 20 1 23 1
Sunderland 1982-1983 England First Division 37 0 42 0
Sunderland 1983-1984 England First Division 41 0 46 0
Sunderland 1984-1985 England First Division 39 1 50 1
Sunderland 1985-1986 England Second Division 36 0 41 0
Newcastle United 1992-1993 England First Division 44 0 50 0
Newcastle United 1993-1994 England Premier League 37 0 40 0
Newcastle United 1994-1995 England Premier League 28 1 31 1
Galatasaray 1995-1996 Turkey 1 8 0 8 0
Southampton 1995-1996 England Premier League 22 0 27 0
Southampton 1996-1997 England Premier League 2 0 2 0
Total 314 3 360 3