Background
Barnes was born in the London Borough of Harrow.
Barnes was born in the London Borough of Harrow.
He began his football career with Welling United in the Conference before Birmingham City paid £75,000 for his services in October 1995. He made his first-team debut as a substitute in a League Cup match against Middlesbrough in December 1995, and first played in the Football League on 4 February 1996, coming on to replace Jason Bowen in a Division One game away at Norwich City which finished as a 1–1 draw. Barnes spent three months on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion of Division Three in 1998, starting 12 games, and in October 1998 joined Barnet, also of Division Three, on a free transfer.
He played regularly for Barnet in his first season, less so in his second, and in March 2000 he rejoined his former club Welling on loan, where he scored twice in eight appearances.
His second goal, which secured a 1–0 defeat of Hednesford on the last day of the season, was not enough to prevent Welling"s relegation from the Conference. He went on to play for Street Albans City, Harrow Borough, Welling United (two more spells) and Chesham United.
In March 2009, having spent time out of the game, Barnes joined Maidenhead United of the Conference South.