The deal was concluded despite interest from other clubs such as Manchester United, Coventry City and Cardiff City, with Barber becoming the first player to leave the Ducks for a football league side in 30 years after Ray Mabbutt's £20 move to Bristol Rovers.
As is often the case in such deals, Palace agreed to send their full first team for a pre-season friendly the following summer.
Barber spent 7 years at Selhurst Park, before moving onto Millwall, and also played for Plymouth, Fulham and Bristol City before returning to the non-league game.
| Season | Club | League | Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1982/83 | Aylesbury United |
|||||||
| 1983/84 |  Crystal Palace |
9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| 1983/84 | Aylesbury United |
|||||||
| 1984/85 | Crystal Palace |
23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | |
| 1985/86 | Crystal Palace |
39 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 9 | |
| 1986/87 | Crystal Palace |
31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| 1987/88 | Crystal Palace |
37 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | |
| 1988/89 | Crystal Palace |
46 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 6 | |
| 1989/90 | Crystal Palace |
30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 1990/91 | Crystal Palace |
19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| 1991/92 | Millwall |
29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |
| 1992/93 | Millwall |
46 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 8 | |
| 1993/94 | Millwall |
35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 1994/95 | Millwall |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1994/95 | Plymouth Argyle |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1995/96 | Fulham |
13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 1995/96 | Bristol City |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1995/96 | Mansfield Town |
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1996/97 |  Dover Athletic |
36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 1997/98 | Dover Athletic |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1998/99 | Crawley Town |
|||||||
| Totals: | 417 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 417 | 49 | ||
