Background
His son, Malcolm, who was also a professional football player, was born in Blackpool during his father"s spell at the town"s club Barrass was born in Seaham and started his career with Blackpool in 1919.
His son, Malcolm, who was also a professional football player, was born in Blackpool during his father"s spell at the town"s club Barrass was born in Seaham and started his career with Blackpool in 1919.
His great-grandson - also named Matt - was also a professional player. He remained at Bloomfield Road for six years, making 168 league appearances and scoring 53 goals. He made his debut for the club on the final day of the 1919-1920 league season, in a 3–2 home victory over Nottingham Forest.
In first full season at Blackpool, 1920-1921, Barrass made 32 league appearances and scored nine goals (including the only goals in a victories at Leicester City on 11 December 1920, and at home to Nottingham Forest on 22 January 1921).
He scored another treble in 1924-1925, in a 6–2 victory at Sheffield Wednesday on Christmas Day. Barrass" final game for Blackpool occurred on 14 March 1925, in a 3–0 defeat at Chelsea.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday shortly afterwards, and went on to make 48 league appearances for the Owls, scoring fourteen goals. Barrass signed for Manchester City in 1926, the first major purchase made by Peter Hodge.
He made a goalscoring debut on the opening day of the 1926-1927 season, and later that season scored a hat-trick against Clapton Orient.