He started his career at his hometown club Oldham Athletic after being spotted as a child. He played ten times for their first team in the league and twelve times in total. In 2006, he joined Stafford Rangers on loan where he played in non-league football for the first time. On his return from the loan he was sent out on loan again to Stalybridge Celtic where he scored five goals in fifteen games. He returned to Oldham in the summer of 2007 and was released and subsequently re-joined Stalybridge on a permanent basis. After three seasons with Stalybridge, scoring in the double figures in every one of the three seasons, he moved to Australia to play for semi-pro side Armadale SC, but after just eight months he moved back to England to join Stalybridge rivals Hyde. In February 2012 Barlow signed for the Australian club Stirling Lions who play in the Football West State League.