Barrie Hole


Barrington Gerard "Barrie" Hole was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a midfielder. A Wales international, he began his career with Cardiff City and made his professional debut as a teenager.

Career

Hole's father Billy had been a professional footballer and played for Swansea Town before World War II, making over 400 appearances and playing in the club's first ever fixture in The Football League. His older brothers Colin and Alan had also both played for their hometown club Swansea, although Colin never made a first team appearance. Barrie did not follow the family tradition and instead joined their rivals Cardiff City. He made his league debut as a seventeen-year-old during a 4–3 victory over Luton Town in February 1960 during a season when Cardiff gained promotion to the first division.
Soon establishing himself in the Bluebirds side, even playing as an emergency striker on occasions, he was a vital member of the side, including being ever present during the 1964–65 season. It was during the latter stages of his time at Ninian Park that he won the first of his Welsh caps and was a regular in the side when he was signed by Blackburn Rovers in July 1966 for £40,000. After just two years at Blackburn he moved, this time to Aston Villa for £60,000 in September 1968. He was signed in May 1970 by then Swansea manager Roy Bentley for £20,000 and played for the club for two years before fully retiring in May 1972.
After retiring from football he ran a newsagents in Swansea before selling it in 2004.
Barrie died in March 2019 aged 76.