John Barker

[Donnywolf]

My friend for more than 50 years, the great Johnny Barker died last night on his way home from the game.

I am heartbroken. Spoke to him at half time, he seemed fine.
I just can't believe it.
John was one of the Rovers greatest supporters they've ever had and will leave a massive hole in mine and all of his friends lives

very sad to hear of your friend  , perhaps you could upload a picture as some people know faces but not names behind the face !

Pm sent 1969

[Donnywolf]

Heard it was a car accident.

Yes car crashed but as a result of illness to JB

[RedRover45]

He died of a heart attack

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Very sad news. Rip.

[since-1969]

My friend for more than 50 years, the great Johnny Barker died last night on his way home from the game.

I am heartbroken. Spoke to him at half time, he seemed fine.
I just can't believe it.
John was one of the Rovers greatest supporters they've ever had and will leave a massive hole in mine and all of his friends lives

I didn’t know him personally, but him recognise him from his face book picture and swung him at many games over the years  . 

[hamiltonrover]

Sad news indeed.
I’ve been going since 84 and although I didn’t know him personally, he’s been a constant at Rovers games since that time.
Condolences to his family and close friends.
RIP John

[silent majority]

Our paths crossed just as we were both leaving the stadium, he was going one way, I went the other.

RIP John.

[tommy toes]

If only it would have happened an hour earlier. Maybe the defib at the ground could have saved him.

[tommy toes]

Sad news indeed.
I’ve been going since 84 and although I didn’t know him personally, he’s been a constant at Rovers games since that time.
Condolences to his family and close friends.
RIP John

He's been a constant since 1966.Hardly missed a game, home and away for many years. Only over the last few years has he missed games to travel the World, and good on him that he did.

[idler]

I’ve known John since the 60s a great guy. Years ago when my mum was still alive in Balby I’d regularly pick John and his father-in-law up and drop them at Westfield Park after a game.
Always had a smile on his face.

[Donnywolf]

If only it would have happened an hour earlier. Maybe the defib at the ground could have saved him.

Said the same tt , it may we'll have done but unfortunately we will never know

We that knew him , and you much more than I will know we have lost a good un , and Rovers have lost a great and lifelong fan

I've been pointing to photos of John for people asking above rather than put them on here without permission and every one I think have realised who JB was now and most have spoken to him " many times" etc or recognize him

[retford rover]

on behalf of the Supporters club, we send our thoughts and condolences to Johns family,  john and his son Neil who now lives in the states, were regular on the Supporter's club coaches over the past 40 years, a brilliant man who loved talking Rovers, general football, and cricket, travelling the world with the cricket. Great man, will be shortly missed
Also, thanks to Walsall fan who called the ambulance
rip John, gone but never forgotten

[danum]

Awful news - I knew John from Rovers and Yorkshire cricket- I even knew his Father Alan, he, too, was a remarkable man, he was, in fact, blind, and used to deliver the Doncaster evening, post to houses in Sprotbrough and Cadeby et cetera. He frequently used to stop and talk to me as a youngster and always asked me to remember a number at the start of the conversation.
At the end of the conversation, he would ask me for that number and start counting his steps again, so he knew where he was up to.

RIP John x

[The Red Baron]

Very sad news. John was always up for a chat about Rovers, Yorkshire CCC or England cricket. He would have loved that Test match that's just finished in Pakistan.

RIP John

[Donnywolf]

Awful news - I knew John from Rovers and Yorkshire cricket- I even knew his Father Alan, he, too, was a remarkable man, he was, in fact, blind, and used to deliver the Doncaster evening, post to houses in Sprotbrough and Cadeby et cetera. He frequently used to stop and talk to me as a youngster and always asked me to remember a number at the start of the conversation.
At the end of the conversation, he would ask me for that number and start counting his steps again, so he knew where he was up to.

RIP John x

w

Wow , that's a brilliant feat and a brill story

[BradwellRover]

Really sad to read this, a really nice bloke. RIP

[i_ateallthepies]

Awful news - I knew John from Rovers and Yorkshire cricket- I even knew his Father Alan, he, too, was a remarkable man, he was, in fact, blind, and used to deliver the Doncaster evening, post to houses in Sprotbrough and Cadeby et cetera. He frequently used to stop and talk to me as a youngster and always asked me to remember a number at the start of the conversation.
At the end of the conversation, he would ask me for that number and start counting his steps again, so he knew where he was up to.

RIP John x

I didn't know John but certainly used to see his father delivering newspapers along Sprotborough Road back in the 60s.  An extraordinary man.

RIP John.

[Swifty62]

I've travelled the length and breath of the country in the company of JB supporting the Rovers, a very sad day indeed.. RIP John

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Very sad indeed. Now I've seen his face on the DFP Facebook page, I recall seeing John on many away trips going back along time.

One of those when you arrive in an unfamiliar town, find a pub near the ground and you're comforted to know you're in the right place when you saw his friendly face.

On the way back home to Balby via Woodfield After the game, I went through the Hall Flat Lane Junction and saw all the police cars blocking off Balby Road, so I knew something nasty had happened but obviously no idea it was one of our longest serving stalwarts tragically lost.

RIP.

[vaya]

Like others I didn't know John personally, but from reading what people have written on here I had an idea who he might be, and I've just seen his picture in the DFP.

Says a lot about someone and how much they've been a fixture in the Rovers community that you can realise who they are from tributes to them. RIP.

[Donnywolf]

Like the way DFP came on here to "pinch" quotes

[Donnywolf]

Well done to the other 196 fans yesterday. We applauded the loss of the County fan who had perished recently before KO

Then it was OUR turn with a tremendous standing round of applause on 73 minutes for fairly Big John Barker

Having known him for 50 plus years I was touched and I hope those much much closer to him were touched too

Every time any Rovers fan who I really knew passed away I would wear 2 scarves , one for me and one for them for one game , and believe it or not we have never won any game .

So yesterday I tried no scarves and we won and it and the applause was a fitting tribute to JAB


 

[roversdude]

It was a great ovation for JB, I looked around and I think every Rovers fan was stood joining in.

[Donnywolf]