Overview

Barrington Gerard "Barrie" Hole (16 September 1942 – 25 March 2019) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a midfielder. During the 1960s and early 1970s he was a regular in club football and a consistent selection for the Wales national side. A concise profile of his career can be found via career summary or in accounts of professional footballers of his era.

Club career

Hole spent his playing years with a mixture of Welsh and English clubs. He is commonly associated with Welsh teams such as Cardiff City and Swansea City, and with English sides including Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa. Contemporary reports list him as a midfielder by trade, comfortable in central areas and adaptable to different tactical roles. Fans and team histories often describe his contributions in steady, unspectacular terms that underline dependability rather than flair.

International career

Between 1963 and 1971 Hole won 30 caps for Wales. He made his international debut in a match against Northern Ireland (first appearance) and his final appearance for his country came in a fixture versus Romania (last appearance). Those eight years saw him regularly selected as part of Wales' midfield options during qualification campaigns and friendlies.

Style and legacy

Although not widely celebrated with individual awards, Hole's career illustrates the role of reliable club professionals who form the backbone of teams. Deployed primarily in midfield roles, he combined defensive duties with participation in build-up play. His steady presence made him a valued team member at several clubs and a familiar name among supporters of both Welsh and English football sides.

Later life and notable facts

  • Born in Swansea, Wales: birthplace.
  • After retiring from playing he ran a newspaper and confectionery shop, which he later sold in 2004; local recollections and business references note this post-football career step (newsagent).
  • Died in 2019 at the age of 76; his passing was noted by former clubs and national football circles.

For more on players of his generation and context for his career, consult period histories and club archives (archive, profiles, Cardiff history, Swansea history, Blackburn history, Aston Villa history).