Stockport's Barry - Barcelona to Wembley via nine loans

Split picture of Louie Barry playing for Stockport County and Barcelona

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Stockport County loanee Louie Barry spent a short spell at Barcelona

ByBrent PilnickBBC Sport England

Published1 hour ago

"It felt unbelievable, something I've never felt before."

Those were Louie Barry's words after scoring the goal that helped send Stockport County to Wembley.

Barry curled in a beautiful opener to propel the Hatters on the way to a 2-0 League One play-off semi-final second-leg win over Stevenage on Wednesday.

"I've scored important goals before in the league but I've never scored in the play-offs, it means a lot to me," the 22-year-old added to Sky Sports.

It is one of the high points of the rollercoaster career of a man described as "one of the best young players in English football" seven years ago.

The then 16-year-old had just got the move every young player dreams of, joining Spanish giants Barcelona.

But while that dream ended and he is not firing in goals at the Nou Camp, he is preparing for a second trip to Wembley Stadium this season.

Barry, in his third loan spell with Stockport, featured in their Vertu Trophy final loss to Luton Town at Wembley a month ago and will be back at the home of English football next weekend after the 3-0 aggregate win over Stevenage.

It is the latest twist in a story that has taken Barry from the biggest of clubs to the smallest of League Two venues - while scoring against the Premier League champions along the way.

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Louie Barry scored on his one and only first-team appearance for Aston Villa

Barry was West Bromwich Albion academy's star turn as a youngster but when Barcelona came calling he could not turn down the chance to train at La Masia - the academy that has groomed Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Andres Iniesta.

However, after just 10 youth-team appearances, Barry was back in the Midlands as Aston Villa paid a 1m Euro fee (about £880,000 at the time) to bring him home.

"It sends a powerful message about the ambition of this football club," said Villa academy manager Mark Harrison at the time.

Since then though, Barry's chances at Villa have been rare - even though he has a 100% goals-to-games ratio for the first team.

Barry was part of a Villa youth side that faced then Premier League champions Liverpool in the FA Cup in third round in January 2021.

With Covid restrictions in full flow, a positive test among the Villa first team meant the youngsters had to step up... and step up Barry did.

With Liverpool 1-0 ahead, the then-17-year-old raced on to a through ball and calmly slotted home to make it 1-1 shortly before half-time.

While Villa went on to lose 4-1, Barry had made his mark - but it was the last time, for now anyway, he was seen at the top level.

'He must have aspirations to play every week in the Championship'

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Louie Barry scored a hat-trick in Stockport's 3-1 win over Peterborough last month, having registered 10 shots in an ultra-lively display

A nomadic trek around the three tiers of the English Football League has been Barry's life for the past few years - as well as regular mentions in gossip columns whenever the transfer window is open.

Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Salford City, Hull City and Sheffield United have all had Barry, who is still under contract with Villa until 2028, on their books on loan.

But it is at Stockport he seems to have found a home.

In his three loan spells at the Hatters, Barry has scored 29 goals - he managed just nine at his other clubs, two-thirds of which came at Swindon in League Two.

"His connection with the club has become a special one from both sides and the impact he has had within our team when playing has been huge," Stockport boss Dave Challinor said when he signed Barry for a third time in early February.

Having recovered from a knee injury, he made his third debut for Stockport on 6 April... lasting all of 11 minutes as he got two yellow cards and was sent off.

But Barry has once again become an integral part of County's side in recent weeks as they look to earn a fourth promotion in seven years.

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Louie Barry's goal after 14 minutes settled Stockport's nerves and sent them on their way to Wembley

His curling effort from inside the box gave Stockport the lead in their second leg win over Stevenage at Edgeley Park as they progressed 3-0 on aggregate.

"He must have aspirations to play every week in the Championship because he has the ability," Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans said on Sky Sports after the game.

"He loves it here [at Stockport] and they love him. I think it's more consistency in his game [that's needed].

"I think Louie would accept that's been a problem for him in recent times but he's got a big stage next week at Wembley."

Barry failed to score in either of his Championship loan spells - at Sheffield United earlier this season or at Hull City in the second half of last term.

But perhaps having a chance of playing in the second tier next season among familiar surroundings might be what he needs to make an impact.

However, before that there is a small matter of a play-off final against either Bolton Wanderers or Bradford City next week.

"I'd never been to Wembley before this season and I've come back from injury, come back with the lads here and am going to go to Wembley twice - I can't wait," Barry told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I feel like whatever happens, we've got the quality and we've got the confidence in our group that whoever we play we can get over the line," he added.