Having joined Newcastle United as a seventeen-year-old in September 1925 Barber remained with the ‘Magpies’ for three years, but had only one outing in the First Division. In June 1928 he was transferred to Bristol City for £500 and appeared in 23 Second Division matches before moving to Exeter City in a direct swap for Alec Sheffield in June 1930.
It was at the other St James’s Park that the Geordie half-back enjoyed the best spell of his career, gaining great popularity with his whole-hearted approach to the game. Over four seasons the strongly-built favourite scored ten goals in 127 League and Cup matches, but latterly suffered a breakdown in health and was released in May 1934 when he was recruited by the Albion.
Stan’s sole first-team appearance for Brighton came in a Southern Section Cup replay with Southend United, the only game that regular left half Dave Walker missed during the 1934-35 season, and in 1935, after playing in a variety of positions for the reserves, he hung up his boots and returned to his native Tyneside.