Adam Nicholas Barrett (born 29 November 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender. During his career, which lasted from 1998 to 2017, he made 647 appearances in the Football League, including 308 for Southend United. He is assistant head coach at Cambridge United.
Born in Dagenham, Barrett began his career with Leyton Orient, but failed to make an appearance for them and moved on to sign for Plymouth Argyle, spending the 1999–2000 season with them. In 2000, he moved to Mansfield Town and then spent two years at Bristol Rovers before joining Southend United in 2004. He helped Southend from League Two to the Championship during a six-year stay at Roots Hall, and played over 250 times for the club before signing for Crystal Palace in 2010. He would go on to play for Leyton Orient (loan), AFC Bournemouth, Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon. In January 2015, he re-joined Southend United.
Club career Southend United Barrett joined Southend United, on a free transfer at the beginning of the 2004–05 season. Successive promotions from League Two and League One in 2004–05 and 2005–06 saw Southend competing in the Championship for the 2006–07 season. Barrett quickly established himself as a fan's favourite. He scored 11 goals in his first season with the Blues, a high figure for a centre-back, and was voted Player of the Year by Southend fans.
Barrett was influential in Southend's sixth-place finish, though their season ended with a playoff semi-final defeat to Doncaster Rovers. He played the full 90 minutes in a memorable 1–1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round on 3 January 2009. And he scored a goal in the replay, although Southend United would go on to lose the match 4–1.
On 24 June 2010, Barrett had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Crystal Palace Barrett signed a two-year contract for Crystal Palace on 6 July 2010. Barrett made his Palace debut on 10 August 2010, in a 0–1 win against Yeovil Town. He made his league debut in just over a week later against Ipswich Town. He played his last game for the club in a 1–1 draw against Watford in February 2011.
Leyton Orient On 11 March 2011, Barrett returned on a month's loan to his first club Leyton Orient.
AFC Bournemouth Barrett signed a two-year deal with AFC Bournemouth on 5 July 2011. Barrett scored against his former club Crystal Palace in a pre-season friendly against them on 30 July. The newly appointed captain then netted his first competitive Cherries goal in his first home league match; a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 13 August 2011.
Gillingham On 16 August 2012, Barrett signed a one-year deal with Gillingham with the option for the contract to be extended to two years. He was quickly made captain at Priestfield and led the Gills to win the League Two championship. His regular combative performances quickly won the fans over and he was awarded the club's Supporters' Player of the year and Away Supporters' Player of the year awards.Player of the Year Awards 2013. gillinghamfootballclub.com. 28 April 2013 Barrett was also named in the League Two team of the year.Day, Richard (30 April 2013) Three Gills chosen in the League Two team of the year. gillinghamfootballclub.com
Return to Southend United On 15 January 2015, Barrett re-joined Southend United. An injury delayed Barrett's homecoming but he finally made his second debut for Southend as a second-half substitute against Cheltenham Town on 10 February 2015. At the end of the 2014–15 season he played for Southend in the League Two play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers. Southend won in a penalty shoot-out and were promoted to League One. The following month Barrett signed a new one-year contract at Southend, reversing his decision to retire which he had announced in February 2015. In March 2016, Barrett signed a further one-year deal keeping him at Southend until 2017. Towards the end of the 2015–16 season Barrett replaced John White as the captain, a role Barrett previously held in his first spell at the club before leaving in 2010.
On 24 September 2016, Barrett played his 350th game for Southend in all competitions, over two spells with his boyhood club
On 28 February 2017, Barrett announced his retirement from playing.
Coaching career On 10 March 2017, Barrett joined Millwall as first team development coach. Following the resignation of Neil Harris on 3 October 2019, Barrett took over as caretaker manager. In his first game in charge he led Millwall to a 2–1 win over Leeds United. He departed the club in December 2024.
On 20 May 2025, Barrett joined Cambridge United as assistant head coach, once again supporting Neil Harris.
Career statistics Information correct as of 11 May 2022.
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPlymouth Argyle1999–2000Third Division4337020005232000–01Third Division90002000110Total523704000633Mansfield Town2000–01Third Division81001000912001–02Third Division290301000330Total371302000411Bristol Rovers2002–03Third Division4514120005122003–04Third Division454100010474Total905512010986Southend United2004–05League Two4311101010055112005–06League One4532010104932006–07Championship2833030003432007–08League One4564031305572008–09League One4525110105232009–10League One412101010442Total2472716110116028929Crystal Palace2010–11Championship7000200090Leyton Orient (loan)2010–11League One140000000140AFC Bournemouth2011–12League One211202030281Gillingham2012–13League Two4312010004612013–14League One452201010492Total883402010953AFC Wimbledon (loan)2014–15League Two231400031302Southend United2014–15League Two1000000001002015–16League One3740000203942016–17League One120000010130Total594000030624Career total6384541224127173049
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamNatFromToRecordMillwall (caretaker)3 October 201922 October 2019Millwall (caretaker)18 October 2023PresentTotal—
Honours Southend United Football League One: 2005–06 Football League Two play-offs: 2005, 2015 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2004–05
Gillingham Football League Two: 2012–13
Individual
PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2004–05 League Two PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 League Two, 2005–06 League One, 2012–13 League Two Gillingham Player of the Season: 2012–13
References
External links
Adam Barrett profile SouthendUtd.com