Henry Brown “Harry” Barkas was a centre-forward whose scoring record in the Third Division North earned him a move to Liverpool, although he was unable to reproduce that form at Anfield. Born at Wardley Colliery on 21 January 1906, he played for Spennymoor United before joining South Shields in 1929. He made an immediate impression in League football, scoring 15 goals in 21 appearances during the 1929/30 season — a return that suggested he could progress beyond the third tier. Financial difficulties brought a significant change that summer when South Shields relocated to Gateshead, where the council was keen to accommodate a Football League club. Barkas remained with the renamed side and continued to score regularly, adding seven goals in 19 league appearances during the first half of 1930/31. Liverpool paid £1,500 for him on 30 December 1930, bringing a forward with 22 goals in 40 Third Division North appearances into George Patterson’s First Division squad.
Barkas' Liverpool debut followed just four days later, in a 3–1 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield on 3 January 1931. Selected at centre-forward, Barkas played between Gordon Hodgson and Archie McPherson, with Gordon Gunson and Fred Hopkin on the wings. It was a winning introduction shortly before his twenty-fifth birthday, but proved to be the only victory in his five first-team appearances. Barkas retained his place for the visit to Bolton Wanderers on 14 January, which ended in a 2–0 defeat, and appeared again in the 2–2 draw at Chelsea on 31 January. His opportunities then became increasingly sporadic. A goalless home draw against Birmingham on 15 April completed his four appearances in 1930/31, while his only outing the following season came in a 2–1 defeat at Leicester City on 12 September 1931. All five matches were in the First Division, and he finished his Liverpool career without a goal.
Barkas left for Southport in January 1932 and subsequently returned to football in the north-east, playing for Spennymoor United and Jarrow. Harry belonged to a remarkable footballing family: his brothers Jimmy, Tommy, Ned and Sam were also professional players. Sam achieved the greatest international distinction, winning five England caps as a Manchester City player and captaining his country in three successive internationals in 1937. Harry’s own First Division career was much shorter, but his appearance at Anfield ensured that Liverpool also featured in the family’s extensive Football League story.
