Today, I found out (via Derek Smethurst) that 1979 Rowdie Barry Kitchener passed away on Friday evening at the age of 64, following a short battle with cancer.
Barry made 602 appearances for Millwall, across a fifteen-year spell with the club, having arrived as a 16-year-old from Newbury Park Youth Club.
Beside a brief loan spell with the Rowdies in 1979, Barry did not play for another club. He brought down the curtain on his Lions career in 1982, having won the player-of-the-year award three times.
The Dagenham-born centre-half went on to coach the club's youth and reserve sides, and also had a six-game spell in charge of the first-team shortly after his retirement.
'Kitch' eventually set up home in Norfolk, running souvenir shops in the seaside resort of Caistor with beloved wife Hazel.
Rest in peace to the Millwall/Rowdies legend Barry Kitchener. Thoughts and prayers go to his family.
I believe Barry's nickname was "The Towering Inferno" Rest In Peace.........
ReplyDeleteBarry was known as Kitch, Big Fella or Lurch. He also had his own chant, Ra, Ra, Zigger Zagger Kitchener. I attended his memorial which was before the kick off of the home game against Hull City and it was very emotional as I watched him play in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteRIP Big Fella