He started his career at home side Worksop before transferring to Barnsley on 21 June 1909. He played in both FA Cup finals that Barnsley reached in 1910 and 1912. In the 1910 FA Cup, Bartrop scored a 'wonder goal' in a 1–0 quarter-final win over Queen's Park Rangers. In the final, Barnsley lost the replay 2–0 to Newcastle, after a 1–1 draw in the first tie. The 1912 cup final went again to a replay but Barnsley won, defeating West Bromwich Albion 1–0 in extra time, after a 0–0 draw in the first encounter. Many newspapers, including the Manchester Guardian, praised his play in the replay.