We are saddened to hear of the passing of our former player Barry Hartle (SCAN 705), who died on 29th Jan 2025 at the age of 85
Born in Salford in 1939, he was spotted by a Watford scout and headed south for a trial at the age of 16. He was signed by the Hornets and two years later he made his full league debut. In 1960 he helped the club win promotion from the 4th Division. He then moved to Sheffield United where he stayed for six seasons playing in the top division, making 101 league appearances.
After a single season at Carlisle, left winger Hartle came to Edgeley Park in September 1967, signed by Jimmy Meadows for a fee of £4,500, with newly promoted County facing an early season injury crisis. The fee was something of a bargain as Hartle had been bought by Carlisle only a season earlier for their record fee of £15,000. He made his County debut against Tranmere Rovers on 22nd September 1967, but after playing the next six games, he suffered an achilles injury which kept him out of the team until the New Year, where he struggled to regain his place in the team.
His County career was to take a different path at the beginning of the following season, when manager Meadows decided to move Hartle to the left fullback position. This was to prove an inspired choice, with Hartle making 46 appearances, in a County side that had aspirations of promotion, until a poor finish to the season saw them finish in 9th position.
The last six months of his Edgeley Park career were plagued by injury, and he was released on a free transfer at the end of the disastrous 1969/70 season, in which County were relegated from the 3rd Division. He moved to Oldham Athletic, before ending his Football League career with Southport. He remained in the Stockport area and continued to paly for a number of north-west non league sides including Macclesfield Town, Buxton, Witton Albion and Hyde Utd.
He became a postman in Stockport and later also worked as a taxi driver. In 2013 he returned to Edgeley Park to receive his SCAN certificate.
In total he made 97 appearance for Stockport County FC, scoring one goal.
We send our deepest condolences to all of Barry’s family and friends at this very sad time.