Peter Barnes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Simon Barnes is an English
former international footballer, and the son of footballer Ken Barnes
. A textbook journeyman player, he played for numerous clubs across England, Wales, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Ireland, and the United States. He also manage to cross various footballing rivalries, playing for Leeds United, Manchester United, and Manchester City.
, Barnes made his debut for Manchester City
(the team his father played for between 1950 and 1961) in 1974–75, and scored in the 1976 League Cup final
at the age of 18. In the same year, he was voted Young Player of the Year
by the Professional Footballers' Association
. Barnes was sold by Malcolm Allison
in 1979, and joined West Bromwich Albion
for a fee of £752,000 – a club transfer record that was not broken for nearly 20 years.
Barnes was Albion's leading scorer in 1979–80, but he struggled to emulate this form after signing for Leeds United
in 1981. Leeds manager Allan Clarke
played him as a striker, but Barnes failed to adapt to his new role, scoring only one goal. Barnes was a regular with England.
When Leeds were relegated in 1982 he was loaned to Spanish club Real Betis
for a season, and returned to Leeds the following year. After 27 games and 4 goals in the Second Division, he was sold to Coventry City
for £50,000, where he scored 8 goals in 29 games. Ron Atkinson
subsequently signed him for Manchester United
, where he was effectively an understudy to Danish winger Jesper Olsen
. Barnes managed only 25 appearances during his two years at Manchester United, and scored 4 goals.
Atkinson was replaced as Manchester United manager by Alex Ferguson
. Barnes and Ferguson famously clashed when in his first season at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson went hunting for Barnes after a game, keen to give the former England winger a characteristic ear-bashing. Barnes was sitting in the home team's communal bath when he heard Ferguson on the war-path. Thinking quickly, he took a deep breath and ducked under the surface of the water, only surfacing when Ferguson had chuntered off, unable to find him . Barnes was soon transferred back to Manchester City in 1987, but soon fell out of favour and was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers
and Port Vale
. His league career petered out with brief spells at Hull City
, Bolton again and Sunderland
. He moved on to Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Professional Soccer League
and, after failing to persuade Bury
he was worth a contract, drifted into non-league football with Mossley.
From August 2010, he has been based in Kuala Lumpur
, working as a Premier League pundit for Malaysian network, Astro
and its twice-weekly FourFourTwo TV programme.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former international footballer, and the son of footballer Ken Barnes
Ken Barnes (footballer)
Kenneth Herbert Barnes was an English footballer. He played as a half back for Manchester City and Wrexham. On the books of Birmingham City as a youth, Barnes began his football career at amateur level...
. A textbook journeyman player, he played for numerous clubs across England, Wales, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Ireland, and the United States. He also manage to cross various footballing rivalries, playing for Leeds United, Manchester United, and Manchester City.
Playing career
Born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Barnes made his debut for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
(the team his father played for between 1950 and 1961) in 1974–75, and scored in the 1976 League Cup final
1976 Football League Cup Final
The 1976 Football League Cup Final took place between Manchester City and Newcastle United on 28 February 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was the sixteenth final and the tenth Football League Cup final to be played at Wembley. Manchester City won the match 2–1 to win the competition for the second time...
at the age of 18. In the same year, he was voted Young Player of the Year
PFA Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
by the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
. Barnes was sold by Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...
in 1979, and joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for a fee of £752,000 – a club transfer record that was not broken for nearly 20 years.
Barnes was Albion's leading scorer in 1979–80, but he struggled to emulate this form after signing for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in 1981. Leeds manager Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke (footballer)
Allan John Clarke , nicknamed "Sniffer", is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Walsall, Fulham, Leicester City, Leeds United and Barnsley, and won 19 international caps for England.-Early career:Clarke started his career at Walsall and made his debut aged 17, in 1963...
played him as a striker, but Barnes failed to adapt to his new role, scoring only one goal. Barnes was a regular with England.
When Leeds were relegated in 1982 he was loaned to Spanish club Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
for a season, and returned to Leeds the following year. After 27 games and 4 goals in the Second Division, he was sold to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
for £50,000, where he scored 8 goals in 29 games. Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
subsequently signed him for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, where he was effectively an understudy to Danish winger Jesper Olsen
Jesper Olsen
Jesper Olsen is a Danish former footballer who most notably played for Ajax of the Netherlands and Manchester United of England. Olsen was a regular left winger for the Danish national team, scoring five goals in 43 matches...
. Barnes managed only 25 appearances during his two years at Manchester United, and scored 4 goals.
Atkinson was replaced as Manchester United manager by Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
. Barnes and Ferguson famously clashed when in his first season at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson went hunting for Barnes after a game, keen to give the former England winger a characteristic ear-bashing. Barnes was sitting in the home team's communal bath when he heard Ferguson on the war-path. Thinking quickly, he took a deep breath and ducked under the surface of the water, only surfacing when Ferguson had chuntered off, unable to find him . Barnes was soon transferred back to Manchester City in 1987, but soon fell out of favour and was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. His league career petered out with brief spells at Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Bolton again and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He moved on to Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and, after failing to persuade Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
he was worth a contract, drifted into non-league football with Mossley.
Post-retirement
After retiring from playing, Barnes had a spell managing Runcorn and has since worked behind the scenes at Manchester City and for local radio.From August 2010, he has been based in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, working as a Premier League pundit for Malaysian network, Astro
Astro (Malaysian satellite television)
Astro is the brand name of the Malaysian direct broadcast satellite pay television service. It transmits digital satellite television and radio to households in Malaysia & Brunei...
and its twice-weekly FourFourTwo TV programme.