You may have seen Barry taking over social media recently... Now is your chance to meet the man himself.
How and when did you join Gough & Kelly?
As a long-time supporter of Leeds United, I spent 46 seasons selling programmes at the stadium (this year will be my 47th). While working there, I met Ian Crawford and Sean Morgan from Gough & Kelly, who eventually offered me the position of Event Safety Steward. I officially joined the team in June 2023 and also hold a D1 driving licence, which allows me to drive other stewards in a minibus for shifts.
Tell us about a typical day at Gough & Kelly
A typical day starts the same but can end anywhere! I start by checking the events on the portal and booking my chosen ones. On workdays, I usually pick the minibus up, transport the team to the location, work a shift, then drive the team back.
At the moment, I am really enjoying the shifts at Millennium Square because of my passion for music (and dancing!). The Nile Rodgers concert was a real highlight, but I’m happy to do any shift, whether it’s Castleford Tigers or minibus driving up and down the country.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love my job! I really enjoy interacting with customers, making them feel comfortable and going the extra mile. It is my mission to put smiles on people’s faces by chatting, dancing, and being happy while doing my job.
Passion outside of work?
There’s a place in LS11 that I call church. That is Leeds United, Elland Road. As I said, I have sold programmes at the ground for almost 47 seasons. I absolutely love the place.
I also really enjoy listening to music.
What’s it like working for Gough & Kelly?
The first time I walked through the door at Gough & Kelly, it was like coming home. We’re all like one big family.
How do you feel about the hashtag that is circulating, #bemorebarry?
I didn’t realise what was happening, until my colleagues told me I was going viral on social media. I couldn’t believe my eyes! It’s beyond belief what social media can do in such a short space of time. Overnight there were thousands of views on a single video shared across different social media accounts.
I was enjoying my job so much I didn’t know anyone was recording the clip!
Where else have you been spotted?
A photo of me wearing my G4S uniform was posted on @Leedsthat's Twitter account with the caption "At Headingley. This man is a legend. Know him?" A lot of people in the comments recognised me from selling programmes at Leeds United.