Where do kit men come from?

Well, in the case of Bristol City's Roger Barton, the answer is the classroom, the pulpit and the boxing ring!

Barton, 64, a former head teacher, vicar and schoolboy boxer has certainly crammed plenty in to his life.

He has a Masters degree in teaching special needs. And after working in Bristol Schools football, he joined City as their Recruitment Officer when he left teaching 11 years ago.

But for the last five years, Barton has been the Kit Man at Ashton Gate and insists he has now found his true calling.

He said: "I'm loving being the Kit Man. It's the best job I've had and it takes the biscuit.

"It's demanding. If you have a midweek game you're here until after midnight. Then you have a reserve game away, and you might not be back until 1 in the morning.

"When I come back from an away game I start washing the kit straight away. Me and my assistant, we just get on with the business."

Barton spent the majority of his adult life in the classroom. He was deputy headmaster at a comprehensive before running a special needs school.

But he was always involved in football and finally took the plunge at the age of 53.

As well as talent spotting Leroy Lita and David Cotterill, he was involved with a host of the youngsters coming through at Aston Gate, including Cole Skuse and Scott Golbourne.

Barton added: "I did Bristol Schools football for about 12 years. I saw the best players and used to direct them to Bristol City because we lived that side of the city.

"Then when I retired from teaching, I became a full-time Recruitment Officer for the Bristol City academy, largely because of the contacts I had in school and youth football.

"I did that until five years ago when I became kit man.

"Scouting is just identifying talent and a lot of credit goes to the coaching staff at the Academy.

"I think I have a role to play with the players I brought into the club.

"There are quite a few of those now, in the dressing room and around the club. They've known me for years and I know their mums and dads. It helps them to relax and gives them a familiar face."

Barton's years of work were recognised when, following an Internet campaign, City's fans sang his name during their Play-Offs Final against Hull in May.

He added: "The fans are wonderful. I'm just a kit man so it really is nice when something like that happens."

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