Leigh Barnard

Who is Leigh Barnard?

Leigh Kenneth Barnard is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He 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.

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". 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 during the 1984-85 season after showing poor form in a Freight Rover Trophy match against Torquay United. 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. He was eventually transferred to Cardiff City in October 1989 for £17,500 where he went on to appear 69 times, scoring 9 goals.