He played professionally, as a full-back, for Everton and Derby County before moving into non-league football and management.
He helped Worcester to the Southern League First Division North title in 1976–77, and began to attract interest from a number of higher-level clubs.
His final game for Worcester came in 1979 in their FA Cup win against Plymouth Argyle, Barton leaving the following week to join First Division Everton for a then record non-league fee of £25,000.
He was manager of Burton Albion from 1994 until September 1998 while also working for Burton College as a sports and recreation lecturer along with Steve Spooner former footballer,and was later manager of Worcester City for five years until resigning in January 2005.
[1] In October 2007 Barton was appointed caretaker manager of Worcester City following the departure of Andy Preece.