John Barnwell
Encyclopedia
John Barnwell is an English former football
player and manager. He was until recently the chief executive of the League Managers Association
.
Born in Newcastle, Barnwell first played as an amateur
for Bishop Auckland before moving to Arsenal
in 1955; he turned professional in November 1956. A regular in both the Arsenal and Irish youth sides, he made his debut for the Arsenal first team against Sunderland
on 13 April 1957.
Soon after Barnwell was called up for National Service
, and did not play again for Arsenal till midway through the 1958–59
season. A semi-regular in the Arsenal side for the next six seasons, Barnwell initially played as an inside forward
, behind the main striker
s, but during 1961–62
he was switched to a more defensive wing half position. He couldn't maintain his place in the side and was dropped.
However, Barnwell returned in 1962-63
, playing 37 games at wing half, only to lose form again the following season, however, and he was dropped from the side. Unable to find his way back into the Arsenal first team again, he moved to Nottingham Forest
in March 1964 for £40,000. In total, he played 151 matches for Arsenal, scoring 24 goals.
Barnwell played for Forest for six seasons, where he properly settled into a defensive midfield role; he did not win any major honours at Forest either, although they came close in 1966–67
– finishing as First Division
runners-up and FA Cup
semi-finalists. He played 186 matches, scoring 22 goals, for Forest. He left for Sheffield United
in 1970, but after a brief stint (playing nine games and scoring twice), he retired due to a persistent ankle
injury.
After retiring, Barnwell moved into coaching, becoming a coach under Noel Cantwell
at Peterborough United
, helping the club to promotion to the old Third Division
. Barnwell succeeded Cantwell in 1977, and narrowly missed out on reaching the Second Division
in his first and only season. He left United in 1978 after a dispute with the club's board, but soon joined Wolves
, taking the club to an FA Cup semi-final against his old club Arsenal in 1979, and then victory in the 1980 League Cup
final against Forest. Wolves finished 6th in the League in 1979-80. This was despite Barnwell being involved in a horrific car
accident, in which he fractured his skull
.
However, Wolves could not maintain their form at the turn of the decade, finishing 18th in 1980-81
, although they did reach the FA Cup
semi-finals for the second time in three seasons. With the club bottom of the First Division in January 1982, Barnwell resigned.
He moved abroad, coaching in Saudi Arabia
and later managing Greek
side AEK Athens (1983–1984). He then returned to England in the lower divisions to manage Notts County
(1987–1988), Walsall
(1989–1990) and Northampton Town
(1993–1994), none of which brought much success.
After that, he semi-retired from management, before becoming manager of Grantham Town in February 1996 and he then took up his current post as LMA chief executive in July 1996. Barnwell is now a life Vice President of the LMA, and is involved in various businesses related to football. He describes his passion as ' The game, the people in it, and its future'.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager. He was until recently the chief executive of the League Managers Association
League Managers Association
The League Managers Association is the organisation which collectively represents all Premiership and Football League managers in English football...
.
Born in Newcastle, Barnwell first played as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
for Bishop Auckland before moving to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1955; he turned professional in November 1956. A regular in both the Arsenal and Irish youth sides, he made his debut for the Arsenal first team against 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...
on 13 April 1957.
Soon after Barnwell was called up for National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, and did not play again for Arsenal till midway through the 1958–59
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
season. A semi-regular in the Arsenal side for the next six seasons, Barnwell initially played as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
, behind the main striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
s, but during 1961–62
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
he was switched to a more defensive wing half position. He couldn't maintain his place in the side and was dropped.
However, Barnwell returned in 1962-63
1962-63 in English football
The 1962–63 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Everton won the League Championship, their first post-war title.*Manchester United won the FA Cup, their first major trophy since the Munich Air Disaster in 1958....
, playing 37 games at wing half, only to lose form again the following season, however, and he was dropped from the side. Unable to find his way back into the Arsenal first team again, he moved to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in March 1964 for £40,000. In total, he played 151 matches for Arsenal, scoring 24 goals.
Barnwell played for Forest for six seasons, where he properly settled into a defensive midfield role; he did not win any major honours at Forest either, although they came close in 1966–67
1966-67 in English football
The 1966–67 season was the 87th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Queens Park Rangers won the Football League Cup on the first occasion it was played at Wembley, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2....
– finishing as First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runners-up and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finalists. He played 186 matches, scoring 22 goals, for Forest. He left for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in 1970, but after a brief stint (playing nine games and scoring twice), he retired due to a persistent ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury.
After retiring, Barnwell moved into coaching, becoming a coach under Noel Cantwell
Noel Cantwell
Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...
at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, helping the club to promotion to the old Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Barnwell succeeded Cantwell in 1977, and narrowly missed out on reaching the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in his first and only season. He left United in 1978 after a dispute with the club's board, but soon joined Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, taking the club to an FA Cup semi-final against his old club Arsenal in 1979, and then victory in the 1980 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final against Forest. Wolves finished 6th in the League in 1979-80. This was despite Barnwell being involved in a horrific car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
accident, in which he fractured his skull
Skull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
.
However, Wolves could not maintain their form at the turn of the decade, finishing 18th in 1980-81
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
, although they did reach the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finals for the second time in three seasons. With the club bottom of the First Division in January 1982, Barnwell resigned.
He moved abroad, coaching in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and later managing Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
side AEK Athens (1983–1984). He then returned to England in the lower divisions to manage Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
(1987–1988), Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
(1989–1990) and Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
(1993–1994), none of which brought much success.
After that, he semi-retired from management, before becoming manager of Grantham Town in February 1996 and he then took up his current post as LMA chief executive in July 1996. Barnwell is now a life Vice President of the LMA, and is involved in various businesses related to football. He describes his passion as ' The game, the people in it, and its future'.