The Thistle Archive

Although Carlisle-born, Barry represented Scotland at youth international level. He played with Celtic Boys Club teams and was taken on by the club at the start of the 1995/96 season. He quickly established himself in the U18 side and by 1996/97 season he played across all the teams, finally making his first team debut being subbed on with six minutes left in normal time against Aberdeen in a 1-0 victory in Nov 1996, as well as playing for both the Reserves and the U18’s. That debut match was significant as it had put Celtic for the first time that season on top of the league, however it wasn’t to last and Celtic again lost the title with Rangers making it nine league titles in a row then equalling Celtic’s record.

In 1998/99 he spent some time on loan to Clydebank. He was out of contract at the end of the 1999/00 season and was released in March 2000 joining Dundee on a free. Most of the time that he was contracted to Dundee, he actually spent out on loan to Airdrie and Berwick Rangers. Badly afflicted by injury, he left Dundee after a year and joined Partick Thistle where he stayed for 2 seasons before a final season in 2003/04 at Stirling Albion. Following that he then pursued part-time football in the Juniors and played for Bathgate Thistle until 2008. Since 2008 he has stopped playing football to concentrate on his business opportunities.

Speaking to the Daily Record in 2004 Elliot was happy at Bathgate and looked back on his career to that point:

At Celtic you are competing against so many players. I was a big fan of the club and when I made my debut against Aberdeen I thought I was going to go on to bigger things. It wasn't to be. I remember sitting on the bench at Parkhead when we were five goals up and manager Jo Venglos put on defender Enrico Annoni. It was then I knew I had to leave. I wasn't disappointed about the decision as it was purely for football reasons. Better players than I was haven't made the grade there. Now I'm just a fan like everyone else.

I moved up to Dundee but I had just arrived when Jocky Scott was sacked and Ivano Bonetti came in. He hadn't even seen me playing when I was put up for transfer. I found that strange but I've learned in the game that if your face doesn't fit you're up against it. After that I was off to Partick Thistle where things didn't get much better. I spent most of my time on the sidelines due to injury.

After Berwick and Stirling Albion at 25, I had the chance to stay senior with a few clubs interested but then I spoke with Bathgate manager Willie Hill and I was really impressed by what he had to say. Financially this club could match any side in the second or third division but that wasn't the reason I signed. I felt that, out of all the teams I was speaking to, this was the one that really wanted me. A couple of years ago I'd never have entertained playing at this level of football but when you look at the amount of former seniors in the game it's the place to be. Bathgate are a very good side who could easily hold their own at a higher level but so could many other teams in this Super League. I don't care what level I'm playing at as long as I'm enjoying my game. That's all that matters to me and that's exactly what's happening at the moment.