Barry Hartle RIP

News has reached us from Stockport of the death of Barry Hartle who died on 29th January, aged 85 .  He was Southport’s regular outside-left in 1971-72 and in a League career which spanned fourteen years he made more than 300 Football League appearances with six different clubs.

Born in Salford on 8th August 1939 Barry was spotted by a Watford Scout while playing in Manchester junior football. He made his Watford debut in December 1958 against Shrewsbury Town and the following season Barry created many goals for Cliff Holton and Dennis Uphill in the team which gained promotion to the Third Division. I was present at Haig Avenue when he scored an equalising goal for the Hornets on 13th March 1960. This was a day he would never forget as he was married in the morning.  Whilst playing for Watford he impressed Sheffield United in an FA cup tie and joined the Blades who paid Watford £10,000 for his services in June 1960.

Barry spent six seasons at Bramall Lane making 101 League appearances most of which were in the First Division. He became Carlisle United’s then record signing when he joined the Cumbrians in July 1966 and made a further 28 appearances with the Brunton Park Club.. He was sold to Stockport County at a time when Jimmy Meadows was their manager, and he was successfully converted to a full-back. Released by Stockport in 1970 Barry spent a season with Oldham Athletic before being signed by Southport Manager Jimmy Meadows for a second time in July 1971 .  Meadows initially intended to play him at full-back. However, Barry resumed playing on the left wing where he gave some sparkling performances. Despite never being a prolific scorer,  he notched a hat trick at Exeter City on 16th October 1971. A clever player with a particularly good left foot Barry played in 37 League games (plus 4 substitute appearances) for Southport.

Barry dropped into non-league football with Macclesfield Town where he was voted player of the Year in 1972/73 and there followed spells with Buxton, Witton Albion, and Hyde United. Barry and his wife Maureen settled in Stockport and their four children. A grandfather and great grandfather he spent four years working as a post man before becoming a self-employed taxi driver.

MPB