Barrie Hole facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 September 1942 | ||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 25 March 2019 (aged 76) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1959–1966 | Cardiff City | 208 | (16) |
| 1966–1968 | Blackburn Rovers | 79 | (13) |
| 1968–1970 | Aston Villa | 47 | (6) |
| 1970–1972 | Swansea City | 78 | (3) |
| Total | 412 | (38) | |
| National team | |||
| 1963–1970 | Wales | 30 | (0) |
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Barrington Gerard Hole (born September 16, 1942 – died March 25, 2019) was a talented Welsh footballer. He played as a midfielder, which means he helped both defend and attack on the field. Barrie was also a player for the Wales national team. He started his amazing football journey with Cardiff City when he was still a teenager.
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Barrie's Football Journey
Barrie Hole came from a family of footballers! His father, Billy, was a professional player for Swansea Town. He played over 400 games for them. Barrie's older brothers, Colin and Alan, also played for Swansea.
Starting with Cardiff City
Even though his family played for Swansea, Barrie decided to join their rivals, Cardiff City. He made his first league appearance when he was just 17 years old. This was in February 1960, and Cardiff won the game 4–3 against Luton Town. That season, Cardiff City even got promoted to the top division of English football!
Barrie quickly became a key player for Cardiff. Sometimes, he even played as an emergency striker, scoring goals for his team. He was so important that he played in every single game during the 1964–65 season.
Playing for Wales
While playing for Cardiff City, Barrie got to represent his country. He made his debut for the Welsh national team in 1963. This was during a game against Northern Ireland, which Wales won 4–1. Barrie became a regular player for Wales.
Moving to New Clubs
In July 1966, Barrie joined Blackburn Rovers. He played there for two years before moving to Aston Villa in September 1968. At Aston Villa, fans loved him! In 1969, he won the Aston Villa Lions Club Terrace Trophy. This award was for the best player at Aston Villa, chosen by the fans themselves.
In May 1970, Barrie returned to his hometown club, Swansea City. He played for Swansea for two years. His last game for Wales was during this time. It was a Euros qualifier against Romania, which ended in a 0–0 draw. Barrie retired from professional football in May 1972.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing football, Barrie Hole opened a newsagent's shop in Swansea. He ran this shop for many years before selling it in 2004.
Barrie Hole passed away in March 2019 at the age of 76. He will always be remembered as a dedicated footballer and a Welsh international.
