He was also player-manager at Coggeshall Town, assisted by his father Bert who was also a professional football player. Born in Portsmouth, Barlow began his playing career at Colchester United, where his father Bert had played in the early 1950s.
Barlow remained the youngest debutant for the U"s until Lindsay Smith made his debut for the club in April 1971 aged 16 years and 214 days. He is currently the third-youngest debutant behind Smith and Thomas Bender. Barlow became a full professional at the club after his 18th birthday in January 1968, having been an apprentice since September 1965.
He scored four goals in 16 appearances during the 1967-1968 season, but under new manager Dick Graham, Barlow found himself on the transfer list and moved to Workington in February 1969.
Having made 21 appearances for Colchester, Barlow added to his tally with 11 goals in 42 league games at Workington during his year-and-a-half with the Reds. During the summer of 1970, Barlow moved to Hartlepool United, where he made just 11 league appearances before dropping into non-league football with Northern Premier League leaders.
Here he emulated his father in playing at Wembley some 33 years later as Stafford beat Barnet 3–0 in the 1971-1972 FA Trophy. On leaving Stafford, Barlow played for Nantwich Town and Hednesford Town before returning to Essex with Heybridge Swifts and Chelmsford City.
In 1978, he took over as player-manager at Coggeshall Town, assisted by his father.
He remained at Coggeshall until 1983, when he returned to playing with Wivenhoe Town.
