He played 163 competitive senior games from 1972 to 1980 with Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town.
The month after his 26th birthday and 10 days after scoring against Liverpool in the European Cup he damaged knee ligaments.
In May 1970 he signed for nearby Manchester City as a 17-year-old apprentice from his local side Cheadle Heath Nomads.
However he was overlooked in the final defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers with the more experienced Glyn Pardoe selected instead.
[1][2] Barrett featured in the late season derby game in which Manchester United were relegated.
[6] His only City goal came when beating Scunthorpe United 6–0 at home on 10 September in the 1974-75 Football League Cup.
[1] Aged 23 he dropped down a division to the second tier joining Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest on loan.
He scored two goals that season in Clough and Peter Taylor's Forest breakthrough trophy success, the 1976–77 Anglo-Scottish Cup final 5-1 aggregate win against Orient.
Like at Manchester City he missed out in the final this time due to a stress fracture with Frank Clark playing at left-back instead.
On 13 September in the 1978-79 European Cup Barrett scored the second goal in the 2–0 home leg win in the first round against Liverpool.
In the 86th minute Barrett drove home a right foot volley of a knockdown by Tony Woodcock.
10 days later on 23 September 1978 playing in the 2–2 home draw against Middlesbrough he suffered a life altering knee ligament injury.