Education
Born in Leicester, Leicestershire, Barnes completed an apprenticeship with N ottinghamshire County before signing a professional contract in November 1985, making his debut in February 1986.
Born in Leicester, Leicestershire, Barnes completed an apprenticeship with N ottinghamshire County before signing a professional contract in November 1985, making his debut in February 1986.
He played in five season with the Magpies scoring 19 goals in 67 appearances helping them on their way to promotion in 1989-1990. He joined Stoke City on transfer deadline day in 1989-1990 being one a of a large number of players signed by Alan Ball in an attempt to avoid relegation. Barnes played in five matches as Stoke failed to mount a revival and were relegated to the third tier.
He played in seven matches for Stoke in 1990-1991 also having a short spell on loan at Chesterfield.
Under Lou Macari in 1991-1992 he found himself in the reserves due to the form of Wayne Biggins and Mark Stein. He played in 18 matches scoring four goals and was an unused substitute in the 1992 Football League Trophy Final. manager John Ward spotted Barnes in Stoke"s reserves and signed him in July 1992.
In September 1995, he hit the national headlines when he scored twice in City"s 3–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in a first round League Cup tie, and he almost scored a hat trick, but his third goal was ruled offside. Barnes was eventually sold to Birmingham City for a fee of £350,000 in March 1996.
Six months later he was transferred to Burnley for £300,000.
He scored 30 goals in 65 matches for the Turf Moor club A further move saw him play for Huddersfield Town and then in March 1999 signed with Bury for £50,000. In 2003, playing for, he helped the club gain promotion back to the Football League from the Football Conference, winning the Golden Boot in the process.
Barnes then signed for non-league Tamworth, and then finished his career at Hinckley United.
N ottinghamshire County Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1989-1990 York City Football League Third Division play-offs: 1992-1993 Doncaster Rovers Football Conference play-offs: 2002-2003 Individual York City F.C. Clubman of the Year: 1993-1994 Doncaster Rovers Player of the Year: 2002-2003.
