ITV documentary about John Barnes broadcast in 2015. I don't own the copyright to this, but as numerous other episodes from the same series are already on youtube, I'm hoping there won't be a problem.
@@floydkennedy9599 The thing is he made it look so easy. You see him week in week out curling that ball in from left flank and you wonder why all wingers don't do that. Yet that once just one of his many skills. Free kicks, dribbling, running, he had it all.
What really pisses me off to this day is that everyone is eulogizing him here, but England fans were booing one of the best English players ever in 1993.
An absolute legend but never the greatest liverpool player that mantal falls to the greatest ever Steven Gerrard the man won 9 major honours for us and is the only player to have ever scored in the finals of the Champions league, Uefa Cup, FA Cup and league Cup and won them all some multiple times. And all in teams that had nowhere near the class, ability and finances of Liverpool teams in other era's.
Dave another brilliant upload, my hero growing up Top Top player Achilles injury robbed him of his pace and had to come back as a playmaker in midfield. 34:58 Gazza showing his love and admiration for a top player.
An excellent human being. After watching this I feel so proud of John Barnes, aside from being a football genius, he's gracious with real humility as well as being thoughtful, mentally robust and considerate... a rare type of man indeed.
Im a liverpool fan but at liverpool he had great players around him and he became a superstar. He is my fav liverpool player ever. At watford he was the star. Watford finished 2nd one season and Barnes was the reason why. Genius.
He seemed to get the most "boos and chants" etc from the crowd during own watching Football career. Probs because he brought out the jealousy and envy in those who engaged in such behaviour, as he was so GREAT... What a legend and a privilege to watch.❤
I am Spurs fan - but always loved Barnsey growing up. Always tried to catch the Watford and then Liverpool games to see his magic. He lit up English Footy in the 80s + 90s!
My dad supported them when i was a kid. Because of barnes jamaican roots. I'm 41 now and I am still a fan from london but have family who lives around the corner from Anfield
Im 45 and Barnes and rush were the reason why at 13 I became a Liverpool supporter I cried when Barnes left Liverpool same when rush did true legends of the game 2020 back on the top klopp brought the title home
@@cliffbutler4585 I felt it was right time for both Barnes and Rush to leave when they did they served the club top level and both go down as top bracket of greatest legends to wear the shirt...was new generation coming through no point holding onto them. Yes Klopp has brought us back to the top only a matter of time till we finally hold that premiership
My Footballing hero.. As a Black kid growing up in 80's England he was truly my inspiration and still one of the finest footballers i've EVER seen... Thanks Barnsey.. For showing great composure during torrid times... showing humility as a way to defeat these racist idiots. .. You remain my idol to this day... Y.N.W.A
THIS MAN was the main REASON I started supporting Liverpool FC- When I came to England. To ME HE was THE BEST PLAYER in the WORLD, I've EVER seen. period
John Barnes was my favorite player of all time. The things he did on the field, was just top class. I remember watching the abuse on tv. He is a class man. He is a legend. Deserves the chance to manage.
A total legend. As a young lad I watched in awe at his skill. Kenny is right, Mr Barnes you will always be remembered by the Liverpool faithful. Thanks for the memories.
It’s disgraceful the amount of abuse players like Barnes had to put up with in the 80’s. As a kid in the 80’s Barnes was an absolute legend. I’m not even a Liverpool fan but players like Barnes are role models to young lads. We need more players like him in the modern game.
As a Ghanaian I grew up watching Big League Soccer on the TV screens. I remember teams like Wimbledon, QPR, Aston Villa, even Leeds United. Liverpool was the real deal then so naturally I gravitated towards them. John Barnes, Saunders, Fowler, Ian Rush,- names that stuck in my memory but John Barnes was immense. Today, I support Chelsea, because of the African players, that used to be there. Celestine Baba Yaro, Jeremy Njtap then later Drogba and Essien in particular.
John Barnes was my hero as a child and made me want to play for England. I ended up being selected and coached by Tom walley who coached john at Watford which for me was an honour I cannot put into words. He was and still is the gentleman that he was back then and I want to thank him for giving me the inspiration to make my dreams come true. 🤜🏼🤛🏾
I saw his very first game for Liverpool, against Arsenal in Aug 1987. Instantly successful and his brilliance was there for all to see. Those were the days my friend...
Yes indeed that brilliant Liverpool side built &cajoled by Sir King Kenny from the 1987/88 season was such a marvel to watch strutting their stuff,they were masters of the passing game.Its a pity Liverpool fc &English clubs were banned from Europe from 1985-1990 as a result of the 1985 Heysel disaster.Im more than convinced that Liverpool side would have matched the dominant Arrigo Sacchi`s AC MILAN by winning 1/2 European cups.
I spent 6 years as a junior at Watford, all under the great Graham Taylor: John played his first games at the club with me and we used to travel up from London on the train together for training and some games. He was a quietly spoken and a really nice guy; but what a player !!! I remember playing a youth game with John at Orient (east London) and he took a ball on his chest, 35yards out on the angle and hit a volley into the top corner like a missile. After that the club ‘hid’ him till he could sign professional forms. It was a wonderful time to be at that club and John was quite simply the best of them. Great player, great guy 👏👏👏
my first hero n why i ended up a watford supporter...graceful dude and player,noble humble and dignified soul and he lit up football...900k was bargain of the century
He is such a fantastic human being. I met him when he came down to South Africa, in 2018 to perform his duties as a Liverpool Ambassador. And there he was in front of me, my hero growing up, we all wanted to play like him, he inspired a lot of hope especially to us blacks, we could identify with him...when I approached him, he was so warm to me, we had a very good uninterrupted 6 - 10 minute conversation. What a descent men, with a lot of humility.
Love Digger gave everything and more when he put on the Liverpool shirt pure football genius pure natural talent i loved watching john barnes play football,Thanks john for everything you did at Liverpool and for just being yourself pure magic,A TRUE FOOTBALL LEGEND JOHN BARNES THANK YOU JOHN,DELL
There's only 8 years between me and Barnes, but I felt like he was an important statesman for me. I'm also a Jamaican British woman. I cannot overstate the importance and impact on me, and I know others, of the way John Barnes conducted himself. So much was going on in the world during his era. Black people were portrayed negatively in the press and on TV, or subjectively as starving masses. Racism was rife in institutions: criminal justice, education, employment. Sports was a release, but racism was (still is) rife there too. I was privileged to watch John play in England v France at the old Wembley. The racism from England 'fans' simply when he got the ball was crazy - I screamed back at some of them. Funny how shocked they were. Now the racism continues into management, but I pray you will be vindicated Sir John. You were so much more than an 'entertaining footballer' and you will be remembered for far more than that. Carry on taking your opportunities overseas, even if not in Britain. One day black managers will say that they're successful in UK football management because of you. Thank you. God bless you. I hope you get to read this comment.
Mich Abing Mich Abing I'm like you. My parents come from Jamaica. When growing up, I'll NEVER forget an aunt telling me (some time during the 1980's) that a survey conducted revealed at one point "more kids wanted to be John Barnes than any other player." I found this so inspirational. In my lifetime the only players I've seen that are better than Barnes is D.Maradona and L.Messi. And even then, there's still room for debate. Messi would probably make a mark in top flight football in England. However bear in mind, the quality of pitches these days, a mandatory diet he MUST stick to (so NO ackee & saltfish washed down with Red Stripe) the amount of protection a player like that gets, because of who is and who he plays for, especially when he plays at home and doesn't have to suffer ANY racist abuse. I'm not doubting his abilities, but It COULD BE more challenging for him. And we still don't know whether he'd cut in the Premier league for sure. It's only an assumption as he plies his trade in a much weaker league. As for Barnes v D.Maradona. I'll never forget Mexico 86, England v Argentina. When Barnes came on (T.Steven got subbed), Barnes rivalled Maradona for the remainder of the game. Please remember, Maradona was at his peak. I'll never forget the cross he put in the Lineker, only for "golden boy" to head just wide of the post 😢😢😢😢 really! Lineker missing that header is as painful as Waddle missing his penalty 4 years later because who knows what MIGHT have happened thereafter if Lineker had scored, courtesy of J.Barnes. J.Barnes 22 LEAGUE goals 89/90 season, from left wing, played on shit pitches, having to ride tough tackles against the likes of T.Adams, M. Keown, P.Davies, V.Jones, J.Dicks etc, etc. The latest one from Jamaica (R.Sterlin) not good enough to lace his boots and that's not an exaggeration either. Absolute legend and will NEVER be forgotten among those old enough to remember. Also RIP recently departed G.Taylor - 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
How many managers do a rubbish job, get sacked and then keep getting another job? It seems like a lot to me. I don't know the motivations of people looking for managers but for someone of John's knowledge and intelligence not to be able to get a job in football doesn't seem right. Half a season at Celtic seems very quick to make a judgement.
Watching Liverpool play around the late 80s was a pleasure to watch, the magic of Barnes & Beardsley with either Rush or Aldridge up front, just wonderful.
@Lee Hollebon So why have you gone on youtube and cared enough to leave a pointless comment on a documentary about John Barnes when you can't stand football? What a pathetic shit life you must have, go and find something interesting to do with your time then instead of leaving crap comments on stuff you don't even like watching, jeez what a loser lol
what a legendary player... i watch the games in tv in Greece(Hellas) 80s and 90s... John Barnes was a fantastic forward, with great and unique skills, no one can compare with John Barnes
My all time football hero , those sprints down the left wing , cross and then goal . But his crowning achievement... his humility. Go John , may your life's ambition be fulfilled.
The finest player of his generation and was almost unplayable at his peak. No one was ever man marked so often and by so many opposition players as him. No one, not Waddle, Giggs, Gazza, Hoddle, JB was the best British player since Kenny and George Best
Got wind of Barnesy being at Leyton Marshes to do a lucozade advert. The whole school bunked off to go see him. Managed to put my arm around him as he came out the camper vehicle/home & say your the best in the world. Good Times. Thanks John.
Watching John Barnes on the ball in slow motion made me shed a few tears. I know 'poetry in motion' is a bit of a cliche in football but I can't think of any other way. I'm a United supporter too
Yeah. The 10 or so minutes he played, he changed that match. Created two chances, lineker took one, missed one. I guess the gods had already decided it was to be Argentine's world cup ;-/
Maradona's second goal might have been inspired by watching Barnes. Seriously, Argentina would have had tapes of the English players, you can bet they had tapes of Barnes, and of course 'that' goal he scored against Brazil. I'm sure Maradona would have played that goal a few times.
I remember the 1986 World Cup match against Argentina. Kept waiting for him to get a chance. Always felt that England waited too long to sub him in. Yet he still had a perfect cross for England's goal.
They did wait to long I think Bobby Robson was scared because of what happened before, but big mistake, which I think he regretted. If he had started earlier England would have won that game
I share the same birthday as Johnny, 7th of November and our club's best player by far in his prime from 1987-1991 and during those four years he was the #1 best player in the world In my opinion, technically gifted, he could dribble and rip anyone with the ball and a smashing left foot; 17 goals in 87-88, 13 goals in 88-89, 28 goals in 89-90 and 17 goals in 90-91; sensational consistency and form!
He is, to my mind, in the TOP THREE greatest Liverpool players ever to wear the red shirt of Liverpool. He was our MESSI. Pure and simple. Would be worth multi-millions at today's prices. Let me put the record straight about so-called 'Liverpool' 'fans' at the time we signed Barnes. Even our own 'fans' WERE HURLING BANANAS AT HIM AND CALLING HIM ALL KINDS OF RACIST FILTH! That actually happened, and for any Liverpool fan of that time period to come on here and say that it did not happen, well they are lying through their teeth because IT DID! At that particular time period. both Liverpool AND Everton were shockingly racist. Both clubs hardly had any black players of note playing for the first teams. The racist terrorism that black footballers went through when playing at Anfield and Goodison is a stain on BOTH CLUBS to this day. That is the bottom line. The football authorities AND the clubs turned a blind eye to what Barnes and the others suffered. To this day I will never ever forget the sheer hatred aimed at Barnes, not just [as I said,] our own so-called 'fans', but by those bastards at Everton too, in which whole sections of the ground aimed their bile at Barnes. Many times he should have simply walked off the pitch in protest - like many black footballers of that time period should have done. SHAME ON BOTH LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON FOR THE STAIN THEY STILL CARRY, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PART OF HISTORY CAN NEVER BE WIPED OUT! And black and brown people will NEVER forget the part both Liverpool and Everton played in reference to racism within both grounds. They did FUCK ALL to stem it. Of course it is much better now at Anfield, since those horrific days when black players like Barnes, Regis, Cunningham, Anderson and others were being systematically ABUSED and the authorities and clubs involved were doing FUCK ALL ABOUT IT!
It's the truth..I was at The 2006 FA Cup final in Cardiff and heard all kinds of shit hurled at Mo Mo Sissoko and Djibril Cisse..Made me fucking sick..There really is NO substitute for education in these instances..Ignorance and lack of intelligence equal the mindless gargoyles we have in society nowadays.. And unless we give society a transplant i can't see any end to it
its disgusting to know your own fans showing disgusting racist abuse towards you....the media must have swept that under the carpet because they highlighted everton fans racism towards him i remember...i know several liverpool fans protested as they did not want to see a black man wearing their clubs shirt and refusing to go anfield in the earlier games 87-88 season. only because barnes was so good they managed to accept him...bastards
Grew up loving United but for me John Barnes was breathtaking... I didn't want to watch Liverpool... I wanted to watch Barnes. His touch, pace, skill, vision and execution... no one could touch him. Hands down the best in the league and there is no doubt he is one of the British greats to ever have played in England! There is simply no debate or argument. The racism he faced was simply a disgrace and he played to have the same idiots abuse him, left speechless or in awe of his genius... simply put... A living Legend.
Hero, Footballing Legend, Incredible Human being. Loved watching you play the game Johnny Barnes, you remain my favourite player thirty years on. They should have retired the Number 10 shirt as far as I'm concerned, truly the Greatest winger I ever saw
Hard to believe England was so different back then..pioneers like Barnesy made massive strides for not only black players, but for the good of society.
It saddens me that this generation of Liverpool fans only seem to think we existed since 2005 and don't realise just how good this fella was. That late 80s Dalglish managed team was my favourite ever I think, such a shame about the European ban as we'd have had 3 more European cups in that era am sure of it.
Still the best player I’ve ever seen play for Liverpool, and the best left winger there’s ever been at his peak, without a shadow of a doubt. Go through all the names he’s better than them all for me. Peak Barnes was unbelievable. Growing up I didn’t care about watching England, I still don’t watch them. I was never interested in how Barnes played on the international stage. He was a superstar in my eyes. Sometimes I see football debates on social media about who’s the greatest, mostly kids talking nonsense. Barnes doesn’t get the recognition he deserves and he’s been forgotten over time. Such a shame. Fantastic player and person.
For a young black boy growing up in England during the John Barnes era, you cannot know how important it was for me to see you being great. You were absolutely one of, if not the greatest players of that era and in the world, thank you brother.
Waw this is a dream come true.. This is what we are lacking in this part of the world, moreover nigeria and ElegbeteTV and Radio is bringing this to us in Surulere regional league. With this in the next one year I wonder where we the club owners and players will be in the next one year. It's amazing.
Watching John Barnes in full flow was one of the most beautiful sights in sport, what a privilege to have grown up watching him.
I'm just going to watch a few minutes of this.
46 minutes later....
exactly me.
So true... :)
R.I.P. productivity... :)
Me too! John Barnes, watch a player and legend!!!! YNWA!
@@floydkennedy9599 The thing is he made it look so easy. You see him week in week out curling that ball in from left flank and you wonder why all wingers don't do that. Yet that once just one of his many skills. Free kicks, dribbling, running, he had it all.
What really pisses me off to this day is that everyone is eulogizing him here, but England fans were booing one of the best English players ever in 1993.
I guess but at least he is fully recognised now.
John Barnes had the lot! What a man. From a 46 year old Leeds fan who was blown away by him, then and now. Top fella.
My favourite all time player, that I had the pleasure to meet.
What an unusually brilliant, unusually disciplined and unusually humane person.
Well said and great comment.
What an unusually nice comment
He was my role model everything I saw him do I tried in the playground. I was close to tears watching this. The best for me. John Barnes
The greatest Liverpool player of all times john Barnes. Imagine him without the abuses. Jamaican people we so strong
An absolute legend but never the greatest liverpool player that mantal falls to the greatest ever Steven Gerrard the man won 9 major honours for us and is the only player to have ever scored in the finals of the Champions league, Uefa Cup, FA Cup and league Cup and won them all some multiple times. And all in teams that had nowhere near the class, ability and finances of Liverpool teams in other era's.
@@englished2304 no disrespect he was white in England Wayne Rooney did far greater..
Dave another brilliant upload, my hero growing up Top Top player Achilles injury robbed him of his pace and had to come back as a playmaker in midfield. 34:58 Gazza showing his love and admiration for a top player.
An excellent human being. After watching this I feel so proud of John Barnes, aside from being a football genius, he's gracious with real humility as well as being thoughtful, mentally robust and considerate... a rare type of man indeed.
1987 to 1991 he was the BEST ..
YES THE BEST
Arif Patel no when he was at Watford
Im a liverpool fan but at liverpool he had great players around him and he became a superstar. He is my fav liverpool player ever. At watford he was the star. Watford finished 2nd one season and Barnes was the reason why. Genius.
His best personal performance was at Liverpool, but he was still good at Watford
Shame english Clubs were banned from Europe at the time he would have been more known.
Can u imagine Barnes in the AC Milan side of the late 80s, wow
He seemed to get the most "boos and chants" etc from the crowd during own watching Football career. Probs because he brought out the jealousy and envy in those who engaged in such behaviour, as he was so GREAT... What a legend and a privilege to watch.❤
I am Spurs fan - but always loved Barnsey growing up. Always tried to catch the Watford and then Liverpool games to see his magic. He lit up English Footy in the 80s + 90s!
Respect you had Gascoigne now Barnes and Gascoigne damn never have a pair like that again
Great comment and I'm a spurs fan too.
What a player! The man who made me support Liverpool as a kid. I'm 40 now and still do....
Exactly same for me I'm same age
John Barnes brought me to Liverpool
My dad supported them when i was a kid. Because of barnes jamaican roots. I'm 41 now and I am still a fan from london but have family who lives around the corner from Anfield
Im 45 and Barnes and rush were the reason why at 13 I became a Liverpool supporter I cried when Barnes left Liverpool same when rush did true legends of the game 2020 back on the top klopp brought the title home
@@cliffbutler4585 I felt it was right time for both Barnes and Rush to leave when they did they served the club top level and both go down as top bracket of greatest legends to wear the shirt...was new generation coming through no point holding onto them. Yes Klopp has brought us back to the top only a matter of time till we finally hold that premiership
My Footballing hero.. As a Black kid growing up in 80's England he was truly my inspiration and still one of the finest footballers i've EVER seen... Thanks Barnsey.. For showing great composure during torrid times... showing humility as a way to defeat these racist idiots. .. You remain my idol to this day... Y.N.W.A
Great lad John,B, from a utd fan, best of luck John
I'm very emotional watching this...
Same, I'm holding back the tears
THIS MAN was the main REASON I started supporting Liverpool FC- When I came to England. To ME HE was THE BEST PLAYER in the WORLD, I've EVER seen. period
Me too 😂
Life long Liverpool supporter and one of my all time favorite player.
Legend. Never saw Dalglish play so cant include him but JB still my Greatest LFC player.
John Barnes was my favorite player of all time. The things he did on the field, was just top class. I remember watching the abuse on tv. He is a class man. He is a legend. Deserves the chance to manage.
Between87 and 89 Barnes was the best in his position in the world.superb.
A great man.
Love from Denmark 🇩🇰🇬🇧
Among the very best the English game has ever seen. Virtually unplayable 87-90.
A total legend. As a young lad I watched in awe at his skill. Kenny is right, Mr Barnes you will always be remembered by the Liverpool faithful. Thanks for the memories.
You are a suberb role model for people to aspire to be. A true hero! Congratulations and respect to you. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Barnsie, what a player and an absolute legend.
It’s disgraceful the amount of abuse players like Barnes had to put up with in the 80’s. As a kid in the 80’s Barnes was an absolute legend. I’m not even a Liverpool fan but players like Barnes are role models to young lads. We need more players like him in the modern game.
I saved my school bus fare to get to Anfield and watch John play - Barnes and Rush were my heroes growing up.
As a Ghanaian I grew up watching Big League Soccer on the TV screens. I remember teams like Wimbledon, QPR, Aston Villa, even Leeds United. Liverpool was the real deal then so naturally I gravitated towards them. John Barnes, Saunders, Fowler, Ian Rush,- names that stuck in my memory but John Barnes was immense. Today, I support Chelsea, because of the African players, that used to be there. Celestine Baba Yaro, Jeremy Njtap then later Drogba and Essien in particular.
the greatest player I ever saw. Full stop !
I agree
John Barnes was my hero as a child and made me want to play for England. I ended up being selected and coached by Tom walley who coached john at Watford which for me was an honour I cannot put into words. He was and still is the gentleman that he was back then and I want to thank him for giving me the inspiration to make my dreams come true. 🤜🏼🤛🏾
What a player. John barnes was one of the most naturally gifted footballers I've ever seen.
I saw his very first game for Liverpool, against Arsenal in Aug 1987. Instantly successful and his brilliance was there for all to see. Those were the days my friend...
For me watching him play at Anfield this lad was just class Mr Barns it was a pleasure to watch you
Marc Turner Maradona!
I’m a United fan but always loved John Barnes. He was BRILLIANT. We signed the wrong Barnes around that time..
Just his diving int box let him down,went down like he was shot
@@marcjohnson7734 Barnes dived??
@@lenburnette9556 is that a serious question?
@@marcjohnson7734 I don't think he was known for diving a lot, particularly when he was flying down the wing. Can you tell me some incidents?
@@lenburnette9556 did you ever go to any Liverpool UTD games? Seen him plenty times trip over that white penalty area box and win dubious penalties
Was a 13 year old kid I stayed up and saw him score that goal for England in Rio, 13 year old kids don’t see colour . He is still a hero , Lee EFC
Best in the world seasons 87/88 and 89/90. Just wish this team could have competed in Europe, would have loved to see them against AC Milan.
Bob Digi yes I agree 85/90 if hadn't got banned then maybe won another two European cups
Everton lost out the most from the European ban
Yes indeed that brilliant Liverpool side built &cajoled by Sir King Kenny from the 1987/88 season was such a marvel to watch strutting their stuff,they were masters of the passing game.Its a pity Liverpool fc &English clubs were banned from Europe from 1985-1990 as a result of the 1985 Heysel disaster.Im more than convinced that Liverpool side would have matched the dominant Arrigo Sacchi`s AC MILAN by winning 1/2 European cups.
The player that made me fall in love with the game , and Liverpool FC... thanks Mr barns... Red for life💯‼️
Great comment.
Absolute class and what a great guy YNWA
John Barnes, the best advertisement for 'The Beautiful Game' of legendary Brazilian Pele.
I spent 6 years as a junior at Watford, all under the great Graham Taylor: John played his first games at the club with me and we used to travel up from London on the train together for training and some games. He was a quietly spoken and a really nice guy; but what a player !!! I remember playing a youth game with John at Orient (east London) and he took a ball on his chest, 35yards out on the angle and hit a volley into the top corner like a missile. After that the club ‘hid’ him till he could sign professional forms. It was a wonderful time to be at that club and John was quite simply the best of them. Great player, great guy 👏👏👏
This guy was phenomenal. My favourite player. Met him and got his autograph when i was a kid. Was so down to earth. Tore teams a apart.
my first hero n why i ended up a watford supporter...graceful dude and player,noble humble and dignified soul and he lit up football...900k was bargain of the century
It sure was..Can u imagine what he'd be worth on today's transfer market?
@@simonforrest2522 if sterling is 120 million roughly i reckon 180 million...just a guess but defo worthy me thinks
What a player he was......One of the all time greats
He is such a fantastic human being. I met him when he came down to South Africa, in 2018 to perform his duties as a Liverpool Ambassador. And there he was in front of me, my hero growing up, we all wanted to play like him, he inspired a lot of hope especially to us blacks, we could identify with him...when I approached him, he was so warm to me, we had a very good uninterrupted 6 - 10 minute conversation. What a descent men, with a lot of humility.
The best British player I have ever seen.
At his best Barnes was absolutely unstoppable. Lovely, decent guy too.
Love Digger gave everything and more when he put on the Liverpool shirt pure football genius pure natural talent i loved watching john barnes play football,Thanks john for everything you did at Liverpool and for just being yourself pure magic,A TRUE FOOTBALL LEGEND JOHN BARNES THANK YOU JOHN,DELL
There's only 8 years between me and Barnes, but I felt like he was an important statesman for me. I'm also a Jamaican British woman. I cannot overstate the importance and impact on me, and I know others, of the way John Barnes conducted himself. So much was going on in the world during his era. Black people were portrayed negatively in the press and on TV, or subjectively as starving masses. Racism was rife in institutions: criminal justice, education, employment. Sports was a release, but racism was (still is) rife there too. I was privileged to watch John play in England v France at the old Wembley. The racism from England 'fans' simply when he got the ball was crazy - I screamed back at some of them. Funny how shocked they were.
Now the racism continues into management, but I pray you will be vindicated Sir John. You were so much more than an 'entertaining footballer' and you will be remembered for far more than that. Carry on taking your opportunities overseas, even if not in Britain. One day black managers will say that they're successful in UK football management because of you. Thank you. God bless you. I hope you get to read this comment.
Mich Abing 👍
Don v Haha! 😊
Mich Abing Mich Abing I'm like you. My parents come from Jamaica. When growing up, I'll NEVER forget an aunt telling me (some time during the 1980's) that a survey conducted revealed at one point "more kids wanted to be John Barnes than any other player." I found this so inspirational.
In my lifetime the only players I've seen that are better than Barnes is D.Maradona and L.Messi. And even then, there's still room for debate. Messi would probably make a mark in top flight football in England. However bear in mind, the quality of pitches these days, a mandatory diet he MUST stick to (so NO ackee & saltfish washed down with Red Stripe) the amount of protection a player like that gets, because of who is and who he plays for, especially when he plays at home and doesn't have to suffer ANY racist abuse. I'm not doubting his abilities, but It COULD BE more challenging for him. And we still don't know whether he'd cut in the Premier league for sure. It's only an assumption as he plies his trade in a much weaker league.
As for Barnes v D.Maradona. I'll never forget Mexico 86, England v Argentina. When Barnes came on (T.Steven got subbed), Barnes rivalled Maradona for the remainder of the game. Please remember, Maradona was at his peak. I'll never forget the cross he put in the Lineker, only for "golden boy" to head just wide of the post 😢😢😢😢 really! Lineker missing that header is as painful as Waddle missing his penalty 4 years later because who knows what MIGHT have happened thereafter if Lineker had scored, courtesy of J.Barnes.
J.Barnes 22 LEAGUE goals 89/90 season, from left wing, played on shit pitches, having to ride tough tackles against the likes of T.Adams, M. Keown, P.Davies, V.Jones, J.Dicks etc, etc. The latest one from Jamaica (R.Sterlin) not good enough to lace his boots and that's not an exaggeration either.
Absolute legend and will NEVER be forgotten among those old enough to remember. Also RIP recently departed G.Taylor - 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
essex boy 78 Preach di ting, my yoot! Yuh dun know! x
How many managers do a rubbish job, get sacked and then keep getting another job? It seems like a lot to me. I don't know the motivations of people looking for managers but for someone of John's knowledge and intelligence not to be able to get a job in football doesn't seem right. Half a season at Celtic seems very quick to make a judgement.
Watching Liverpool play around the late 80s was a pleasure to watch, the magic of Barnes & Beardsley with either Rush or Aldridge up front, just wonderful.
@Lee Hollebon So why have you gone on youtube and cared enough to leave a pointless comment on a documentary about John Barnes when you can't stand football?
What a pathetic shit life you must have, go and find something interesting to do with your time then instead of leaving crap comments on stuff you don't even like watching, jeez what a loser lol
what a legendary player... i watch the games in tv in Greece(Hellas) 80s and 90s... John Barnes was a fantastic forward, with great and unique skills, no one can compare with John Barnes
Huge inspiration to me during a time where you felt you didn't belong because of the colour of your skin. Magic Man!
The best I ever saw at Anfield. Privileged to have watched him in the flesh at his peak.
My all time football hero , those sprints down the left wing , cross and then goal . But his crowning achievement... his humility. Go John , may your life's ambition be fulfilled.
I always liked Barnes and got to see him once at Wembley against Holland in 1993. He scored from a free-kick in the first minute.
One of my heroes as a teenager & still is . Combined with Ian Rush this was a sight to see .
Best player in the world between 1987-1990
The finest player of his generation and was almost unplayable at his peak. No one was ever man marked so often and by so many opposition players as him. No one, not Waddle, Giggs, Gazza, Hoddle, JB was the best British player since Kenny and George Best
spot on!!!
i think that is accurate..
Got wind of Barnesy being at Leyton Marshes to do a lucozade advert. The whole school bunked off to go see him. Managed to put my arm around him as he came out the camper vehicle/home & say your the best in the world. Good Times. Thanks John.
Watching John Barnes on the ball in slow motion made me shed a few tears. I know 'poetry in motion' is a bit of a cliche in football but I can't think of any other way. I'm a United supporter too
Best player in the world 1987-1990
if he played in thr first half vs argentina in 1986....my imspiration as a child😎
Yeah. The 10 or so minutes he played, he changed that match. Created two chances, lineker took one, missed one. I guess the gods had already decided it was to be Argentine's world cup ;-/
I strongly agree
Maradona's second goal might have been inspired by watching Barnes. Seriously, Argentina would have had tapes of the English players, you can bet they had tapes of Barnes, and of course 'that' goal he scored against Brazil. I'm sure Maradona would have played that goal a few times.
GREATEST. Greatness. Big up John Barnes. NUFF Love n Respect
What a player...such talent and ability, tempered by that humility as a human being. Fantastic man.
Not only a true british hero, champion & inspiration but also a beautiful person.
I remember the 1986 World Cup match against Argentina. Kept waiting for him to get a chance. Always felt that England waited too long to sub him in. Yet he still had a perfect cross for England's goal.
They did wait to long I think Bobby Robson was scared because of what happened before, but big mistake, which I think he regretted. If he had started earlier England would have won that game
I share the same birthday as Johnny, 7th of November and our club's best player by far in his prime from 1987-1991 and during those four years he was the #1 best player in the world In my opinion, technically gifted, he could dribble and rip anyone with the ball and a smashing left foot; 17 goals in 87-88, 13 goals in 88-89, 28 goals in 89-90 and 17 goals in 90-91; sensational consistency and form!
Apart from being an incredible footballer and person, this man should be a diplomat! Loved watching him on and off the field...
That 87/88 Liverpool where top class. And John Barnes was their best player.
It's a word that's thrown around quite a lot lately.....BUT WHAT A LEGEND! Love barnesy ...#onelove #Ynwa
My favourite footballer of all time. Growing up I wanted to be John Barnes. One of my all time heroes. What a player.
His performance when liverpool beat my team, Leeds, 5-4 in ‘91 was unbelievable! Elland Road actually clapped his goals 👏🏼
Martin Tyler’s commentary was brilliant. “ it’s absolute slaughter “ after Barnes’s 1st goal.
He is, to my mind, in the TOP THREE greatest Liverpool players ever to wear the red shirt of Liverpool. He was our MESSI. Pure and simple. Would be worth multi-millions at today's prices. Let me put the record straight about so-called 'Liverpool' 'fans' at the time we signed Barnes. Even our own 'fans' WERE HURLING BANANAS AT HIM AND CALLING HIM ALL KINDS OF RACIST FILTH! That actually happened, and for any Liverpool fan of that time period to come on here and say that it did not happen, well they are lying through their teeth because IT DID!
At that particular time period. both Liverpool AND Everton were shockingly racist. Both clubs hardly had any black players of note playing for the first teams. The racist terrorism that black footballers went through when playing at Anfield and Goodison is a stain on BOTH CLUBS to this day. That is the bottom line.
The football authorities AND the clubs turned a blind eye to what Barnes and the others suffered. To this day I will never ever forget the sheer hatred aimed at Barnes, not just [as I said,] our own so-called 'fans', but by those bastards at Everton too, in which whole sections of the ground aimed their bile at Barnes.
Many times he should have simply walked off the pitch in protest - like many black footballers of that time period should have done. SHAME ON BOTH LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON FOR THE STAIN THEY STILL CARRY, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PART OF HISTORY CAN NEVER BE WIPED OUT! And black and brown people will NEVER forget the part both Liverpool and Everton played in reference to racism within both grounds. They did FUCK ALL to stem it.
Of course it is much better now at Anfield, since those horrific days when black players like Barnes, Regis, Cunningham, Anderson and others were being systematically ABUSED and the authorities and clubs involved were doing FUCK ALL ABOUT IT!
In Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby writes about having clear sight of Liverpool fans throwing bananas at him at Highbury on his debut. Idiots
Well said, mate. Bloody well said. 👍
Wow! Great comment
It's the truth..I was at The 2006 FA Cup final in Cardiff and heard all kinds of shit hurled at Mo Mo Sissoko and Djibril Cisse..Made me fucking sick..There really is NO substitute for education in these instances..Ignorance and lack of intelligence equal the mindless gargoyles we have in society nowadays.. And unless we give society a transplant i can't see any end to it
its disgusting to know your own fans showing disgusting racist abuse towards you....the media must have swept that under the carpet because they highlighted everton fans racism towards him i remember...i know several liverpool fans protested as they did not want to see a black man wearing their clubs shirt and refusing to go anfield in the earlier games 87-88 season. only because barnes was so good they managed to accept him...bastards
One of the finest players to wear the red pf Liverpool
and Watford
Possibly the greatest footballer alongside Gazza I have ever seen. We were blessed John 👍👍
Grew up loving United but for me John Barnes was breathtaking... I didn't want to watch Liverpool... I wanted to watch Barnes. His touch, pace, skill, vision and execution... no one could touch him. Hands down the best in the league and there is no doubt he is one of the British greats to ever have played in England! There is simply no debate or argument. The racism he faced was simply a disgrace and he played to have the same idiots abuse him, left speechless or in awe of his genius... simply put... A living Legend.
When you could buy a Kop season ticket for £120 in 1987 and watch Barnes ply his trade on that left wing!!.. magic
Hero, Footballing Legend, Incredible Human being. Loved watching you play the game Johnny Barnes, you remain my favourite player thirty years on. They should have retired the Number 10 shirt as far as I'm concerned, truly the Greatest winger I ever saw
One of the greatest that has ever played the beautiful game, he was just phenomenon, he's the great John Barnes.
Big legend
What a player John Barnes was 👏
Makes grealish look like Robbie savage
What a player. 👍🏼From a man United fan.
Newcastle fan. Proud to say Barnes wore the shirt of Newcastle. He played loads of memorable games against newcastle. World class player
Absolutely fantastic player!
I loved watching Barnes play ...... I was so heart broken listening to England fan booing him .... But loved it because he scored straight after
I remember that beautiful freekick
Hard to believe England was so different back then..pioneers like Barnesy made massive strides for not only black players, but for the good of society.
It saddens me that this generation of Liverpool fans only seem to think we existed since 2005 and don't realise just how good this fella was. That late 80s Dalglish managed team was my favourite ever I think, such a shame about the European ban as we'd have had 3 more European cups in that era am sure of it.
Thanks for the memories John Barnes. You Legend.
One of the best ever to wear the red jersey of Liverpool fc John Barnes Legend forever LFC. JFT96
what a lovely man
Class in every aspect as pro and a human being.
Legend, love you my man
Best Liverpool player and entertainer for me, ever . YNWA
I'm an Arsenal fan but regardless of club loyalties, have to say Barnsey is a legend. As a player and a man.
awsome ,,awsome player,,,class act all round - barnes and pele were my heroes growing up.
Still the best player I’ve ever seen play for Liverpool, and the best left winger there’s ever been at his peak, without a shadow of a doubt.
Go through all the names he’s better than them all for me.
Peak Barnes was unbelievable.
Growing up I didn’t care about watching England, I still don’t watch them.
I was never interested in how Barnes played on the international stage.
He was a superstar in my eyes.
Sometimes I see football debates on social media about who’s the greatest, mostly kids talking nonsense.
Barnes doesn’t get the recognition he deserves and he’s been forgotten over time.
Such a shame. Fantastic player and person.
For a young black boy growing up in England during the John Barnes era, you cannot know how important it was for me to see you being great. You were absolutely one of, if not the greatest players of that era and in the world, thank you brother.
Waw this is a dream come true..
This is what we are lacking in this part of the world, moreover nigeria and ElegbeteTV and Radio is bringing this to us in Surulere regional league. With this in the next one year I wonder where we the club owners and players will be in the next one year.
It's amazing.
One of the greatest footballers the country has ever seen. Often cant understand a word he says but still a top bloke
The greatest Liverpool player of all time.
deserves more views. Fantastic player and decent person.
Quality player and top man. One of my favourite LFC players of all time. Legend of LFC.