In 1974, Dunstable Town received the financial backing of Keith Cheesman.[1] He hired Barry Fry as manager, and gave him money to build a strong team; indeed in his autobiography, Fry claims that he was often given blank, signed cheques. Jeff Astle and George Best were brought in to play, with Best playing two pre-season games to promote interest in the club.[2] Dunstable was promoted under Fry, but he was dismissed by Cheeseman's successor, Billy Kitt, after poor performance in the Southern League. [citation needed]
After spells at Hillingdon Borough and hometown club Bedford Town, in 1979 Fry became Barnet manager for the first of two management spells covering thirteen seasons. In his first spell, Barnet maintained a mid-table position in the Alliance League for six seasons before Fry left in December 1985 to manage Maidstone United. He returned to Barnet in August 1986 for a further seven seasons. Three times runners-up in the GM Vauxhall Conference, Fry achieved his first managerial success as Champions in 1990–91. Two years later he guided them towards the new Division Two (leaving two months before the end of the season to manage Southend United) despite being sacked eight times and reinstated each time by controversial chairman Stan Flashman,[1] as well as being in charge of a club in a precarious financial state and under threat of expulsion from the Football League. [citation needed]
Fry moved to Southend United in 1993 with the club bottom of Division One. Fry kept Southend up, but moved to Birmingham City.[1] Though Birmingham were relegated in his first season, he won the Division Two championship and the Football League Trophy in 1994–95. During the 1995–96 season, Fry guided the Blues to the semi-finals of the League Cup but was sacked after the club finished 15th in Division One.[3]
Just after leaving Birmingham, Fry became chairman-manager of Peterborough United. They were relegated to Division Three in his first season, but regained their Division Two status three years later. Fry's nine-year reign as manager came to an end in May 2005 after they were relegated again, after which time he took up a role as director of football.[4] Fry remained as chairman until 2006 when Darragh MacAnthony succeeded him.[1]
In popular culture
Fry starred in a documentary called There's Only One Barry Fry. The programme included some of Fry's dressing room antics, including a row with Mick Bodley and his promise to get the Posh out of Division Two.[5] The documentary shows how Fry signed Miguel de Souza to Peterborough from Wycombe Wanderers, and shouted "Sold to the fat bastard in the blue blazer!" when Fry and De Souza reached an agreement.[6]
Betting controversy
In December 2018, Fry was charged by the Football Association for alleged misconduct in relation to betting after claims he placed bets on matches or competitions during the 2017–18 season, in breach of FA rules.[7] He accepted the charges, and on 31 January 2019 he was suspended from all footballing activity for four months, with three months of those suspended for a two-year period.[8]
↑Billy Meadows resigned on 7 December 1978, but no successor is mentioned in that day's report.[9] Fry was in charge by the game against Weymouth on 9 December.[10]
↑Holmes, Bob (21 December 1978). "Shake-up at Barnet". Evening Standard. London. p.31 – via Newspapers.com. The Premier Division club has conceded 30 goals in the last 10 matches—nine in the games against Weymouth and Redditch since Fry took over...
↑"New phase as Fry goes". The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 January 1985. p.20 – via Newspapers.com.
↑"Fry, Barry". Downhill Second Half: An archive of Barnet Football Club. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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