Leigh Barnard

Leigh Kenneth Barnard (born 29 October 1958) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. During his career, he made over 350 appearances in the Football League during spells with Portsmouth, Swindon Town and Cardiff City.[2]

Leigh Barnard
Personal information
Full name Leigh Kenneth Barnard[1]
Date of birth (1958-10-29) 29 October 1958
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1982 Portsmouth 79 (8)
1982 → Peterborough United (loan) 4 (0)
1982–1989 Swindon Town 217 (21)
1985 → Exeter City (loan) 6 (2)
1989–1991 Cardiff City 63 (8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Barnard joined Portsmouth as an apprentice in 1977 and appeared in 79 games for the club before falling out of favour in 1982 and being loaned out to Peterborough United.[3]

He was given a free transfer to Swindon Town at the end of the 1981–82 season with, then manager, John Trollope commenting "He has the kind of appetite for work that Roger Smart used to have in midfield, and you can't ask for more than that".[3] Barnard was a regular first team choice in his first season with the Wiltshire club and played in every League game.

A left-sided midfielder, Barnard was loaned by Swindon to Exeter City during the 1984–85 season after showing poor form in a Football League Trophy match against Torquay United.[3] In all he appeared 6 times for the Devon club, scoring twice, before returning to the Swindon first team the following season and scoring a goal against Mansfield Town that clinched the Fourth Division Championship for the team.

He lost his regular first team place in 1987–88 and did not appear in the first team again until the beginning of the 1989–90 season. A Fourth Division side on his arrival, Barnard made over 200 appearances for the club as they gained promotion twice during his spell the Robins, reaching the Second Division.[4] He was eventually transferred to Cardiff City in October 1989 for £17,500 where he went on to appear 69 times, scoring 9 goals.[3] After leaving Cardiff, Barnard later played non-league football for Stroud and Moreton Town. He also played in a trial match for Gloucester City against Bristol Rovers.[5]

He taught Mathematics in Abbotsfield School for Boys until 4 April 2014.

Honours
Swindon Town[4]

References
  1. "Leigh Barnard". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. "Leigh Barnard". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. Mattick, Dick (2002). "Leigh Barnard". Swindon Town Football Club 100 Greats. Tempus Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 0-7524-2714-8.
  4. "Swindon Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  5. "Leigh Barnard". Tiger roar. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  • Mike Neasom, Mick Cooper & Doug Robinson (1984). Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club. Milestone Publications. ISBN 0-903852-50-0.
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