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Ken Barnes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
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. Upon completion of his national service
in 1947 he joined semi-pro Stafford Rangers
.
A transfer to Manchester City in 1950 meant Barnes turned professional, but his pro career had a slow start, making only one first team appearance in four years. He broke into the first team in 1954, flourishing as part of the tactical system known as the Revie Plan
. During this period he played in two consecutive FA Cup
finals, as a loser in 1955 and a winner in 1956. After making 283 appearances for Manchester City he joined Wrexham as player-manager in 1961, guiding them to promotion
in his first season. Barnes returned to Manchester City in 1970, and over more than two decades filled a variety of coaching roles, including overseeing the development of the youth team which won the 1986 FA Youth Cup
.
He died on 13 July 2010.
area of Birmingham
, in the shadow of St Andrews
, the home stadium of Birmingham City
. Support for Birmingham City ran in the family; his uncle played for the club in the 1920s. In 1943, aged 14, he began work at the Post Office
. He played football for the works team, and quickly received an invitation to play for Moor Green
, one of the strongest amateur teams in the area. His performances for Moor Green resulted in interest from Birmingham City, and Barnes became part of their junior team, Birmingham City Colts. Barnes worked at the Post office during the day, trained with Moor Green in the evening, and played for Birmingham City Colts at the weekend. However, the Colts stopped selecting Barnes after a clash of matches, in which Barnes chose to play for a local team instead of the Colts. Barnes then resumed playing for Moor Green.
After a few months Barnes gained a second opportunity with a professional club, joining the youth ranks at Bolton Wanderers
. As with when he played for Birmingham, he trained with Moor Green and played for Bolton's youth team at the weekend. Upon turning 18, Barnes was called up for national service, and was based with the RAF
at Stafford
. He continued to play for Bolton when circumstances permitted it, but when the club made a formal request for his services the RAF refused. Upon completion of his national service Barnes joined semi-pro Stafford Rangers
. He made his debut against Newport County
on 14 June 1947, and continued to play for the club for the next three years.
after a £750 move from non-League Stafford Rangers on 6 May 1950. He did not feature in the first team on a regular basis for several years — his debut, against Derby County
on 5 January 1952 was the only appearance he made in his first four years at the club.
In the 1953–54 season
Barnes was playing for the Manchester City reserve team
. Inspired by the Hungary
team which had beaten England 6–3
the previous year, the reserves began using a tactical system in which Johnny Williamson
was used as a deep-lying centre-forward. Barnes played as an attacking half-back in a similar vein to József Bozsik
. Using the system the reserves achieved a lengthy unbeaten run. At the start of the following season Manchester City manager Les McDowall
decided to try the system at first team level, using Don Revie
in the centre-forward role. Henceforth the system became known as The Revie Plan
. The opening match of the season resulted in a 5–0 defeat at the hands of Preston North End
. Revie opined that the system required attacking half-backs to be successful, and that City's half backs, John McTavish
in particular, were too defensive. To that end Barnes was picked for the following match in place of McTavish. City beat Sheffield United
5–2, and Barnes became an integral part of the team, playing all but one of the matches in the remainder of the season. However, he was not enamoured by the attention given to the Revie Plan by the press, describing it as "bollocks".
During Barnes' first full season in the first team Manchester City enjoyed a successful run in the FA Cup
. As a top-flight team Manchester City entered the competition in the third round, facing Derby County. Barnes scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win, his first goal in professional football. A derby
victory against Manchester United
and a win against Luton Town
followed, setting up a quarter-final against his boyhood heroes Birmingham City. Single goal victories against Birmingham and Sunderland
gave City a place in the final, where they faced Newcastle United
. However, hampered by the loss of Jimmy Meadows
to injury after 18 minutes, City were beaten 3–1.
Manchester City reached the cup final again the following season, Barnes playing every match of the cup run. Manchester City beat Birmingham City 3–1, Barnes having a hand in the second goal. The final is most well-known for being the match where goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
continued play after breaking his neck.
By the late 1950s Barnes was one of the senior players in the side, and succeeded Roy Paul
as captain when Paul retired in 1957. During the 1957–58 season
Barnes became the third player to score a hat-trick
of penalties
in an English top-flight match, as part of a 6–2 defeat of Everton
. At this time Barnes was the club's primary penalty taker, helping him to score 11 goals over the course of the season. In his later years at Manchester City, Barnes role as captain meant he had become a strong influence on younger players. A particularly notable example was Denis Law
, who joined the club in 1960, the pair becoming lifelong friends.
Barnes never played international football, but was described by Denis Law as "the best uncapped wing-half ever to have played in English football". The closest he came to an international cap was being named as a reserve for a match against Wales
in October 1957.
In the dressing room Barnes had a reputation as a practical joker, with Bert Trautmann a particular target for teasing. Known as "Beaky" to his teammates, Barnes was one of the chief organisers of social activities on away trips, along with Roy Paul. In eleven years at Manchester City Barnes made 283 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals.
in May 1961, and Barnes was appointed player-manager. In his first season the club gained promotion
to the Third Division
. During his tenure he oversaw the club's record victory, a 10–1 defeat of Hartlepool United
. The club finished ninth in 1962–63
, but were relegated to the Fourth Division
the following season. Barnes remained at the club until 1965, when he resigned his post. By the time of his departure from the club he had made 132 appearances, scoring 24 goals.
After leaving Wrexham Barnes took a job outside football, working in sales for a steel company. However, before long he received an offer to become manager of Witton Albion
on a part-time basis. At Witton he created a team from a mixture of promising youngsters and ageing veterans. Players he signed included future European Cup
winner Chris Nicholl
and former greats Dennis Viollet
and Bobby Johnstone
.
On 27 August 1970, Barnes curtailed a brief spell as manager of Bangor City
to return to Manchester City as a member of the coaching staff. When Malcolm Allison
departed the club in 1973, Barnes was offered the role of caretaker manager, but, soured by his experiences at Wrexham, he turned it down. Instead he became assistant to the eventual managerial appointee Johnny Hart
. Seven months later ill health forced Hart to step down. In the reorganisation that followed the appointment of Hart's replacement Ron Saunders
, Barnes became chief scout, a role he retained for two decades until he was sacked by Peter Reid
in 1991. In his role he oversaw the development of a large number of successful young players, including Paul Lake
, David White
and Steve Redmond
, the stars of the Manchester City youth team which won the 1986 FA Youth Cup
. In 1994 he returned to the club at the invitation of Francis Lee
, who had recently become chairman. Barnes served in a part-time scouting position for a further six years.
Since 2000, Barnes had been involved in a youth football initiative in Malaysia; Ken Barnes Soccer Skills. In 2004, Barnes was elected to Manchester City's Hall of Fame, and in 2005 to Wrexham Supporters' Association's Hall of Fame. Married with four children, he died in July 2010 from lung cancer, aged 81. One of his sons, Peter Barnes
, was also a professional footballer, who played for England, both Manchester clubs, West Bromwich Albion
and Leeds United
.
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
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...
and Wrexham. On the books of Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as a youth, Barnes began his football career at amateur level. Upon completion of his 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...
in 1947 he joined semi-pro Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
.
A transfer to Manchester City in 1950 meant Barnes turned professional, but his pro career had a slow start, making only one first team appearance in four years. He broke into the first team in 1954, flourishing as part of the tactical system known as the Revie Plan
Revie Plan
The Revie Plan was a tactical system in association football used by Manchester City in the 1950s. The system was named after Manchester City player Don Revie, who had the most important role in it....
. During this period he played in two consecutive 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...
finals, as a loser in 1955 and a winner in 1956. After making 283 appearances for Manchester City he joined Wrexham as player-manager in 1961, guiding them to promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
in his first season. Barnes returned to Manchester City in 1970, and over more than two decades filled a variety of coaching roles, including overseeing the development of the youth team which won the 1986 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
.
He died on 13 July 2010.
Early career
Barnes was born in the Small HeathSmall Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
area of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, in the shadow of St Andrews
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
, the home stadium of Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. Support for Birmingham City ran in the family; his uncle played for the club in the 1920s. In 1943, aged 14, he began work at the Post Office
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
. He played football for the works team, and quickly received an invitation to play for Moor Green
Moor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
, one of the strongest amateur teams in the area. His performances for Moor Green resulted in interest from Birmingham City, and Barnes became part of their junior team, Birmingham City Colts. Barnes worked at the Post office during the day, trained with Moor Green in the evening, and played for Birmingham City Colts at the weekend. However, the Colts stopped selecting Barnes after a clash of matches, in which Barnes chose to play for a local team instead of the Colts. Barnes then resumed playing for Moor Green.
After a few months Barnes gained a second opportunity with a professional club, joining the youth ranks at 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....
. As with when he played for Birmingham, he trained with Moor Green and played for Bolton's youth team at the weekend. Upon turning 18, Barnes was called up for national service, and was based with the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
. He continued to play for Bolton when circumstances permitted it, but when the club made a formal request for his services the RAF refused. Upon completion of his national service Barnes joined semi-pro Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
. He made his debut against Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
on 14 June 1947, and continued to play for the club for the next three years.
Manchester City
Barnes joined Manchester CityManchester 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...
after a £750 move from non-League Stafford Rangers on 6 May 1950. He did not feature in the first team on a regular basis for several years — his debut, against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 5 January 1952 was the only appearance he made in his first four years at the club.
In the 1953–54 season
1953-54 in English football
The 1953–54 season was the 74th season of competitive football in England.-National team:The Marvellous Magyars shocked football by defeating England 6–3 at Wembley Stadium.-Honours:...
Barnes was playing for the Manchester City reserve team
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...
. Inspired by the Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
team which had beaten England 6–3
England v Hungary (1953)
England v Hungary was an international football game played on November 25, 1953. The game was played between Hungary - then the world's number one ranked team, the Olympic champions and on a run of 24 unbeaten games - and England, then the world's number three ranked team, the inventors of the...
the previous year, the reserves began using a tactical system in which Johnny Williamson
Johnny Williamson
Johnny Williamson is a former footballer who played as a striker for Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers in the 1950s.Williamson made his Manchester City debut on 1 April 1950 in a 4–1 defeat against Arsenal...
was used as a deep-lying centre-forward. Barnes played as an attacking half-back in a similar vein to József Bozsik
József Bozsik
József Bozsik was a Hungarian footballer. He represented Hungary in various international tournaments, and is a member of the Mighty Magyars.-Biography:...
. Using the system the reserves achieved a lengthy unbeaten run. At the start of the following season Manchester City manager Les McDowall
Les McDowall
Les McDowall was a Scottish football player and manager. He managed Manchester City between 1950 and 1963, and then Oldham Athletic until 1965. McDowall was the longest serving manager in Manchester City's history, his tenure spanning 13 years.Though born in India, McDowall was raised as a Scot...
decided to try the system at first team level, using Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
in the centre-forward role. Henceforth the system became known as The Revie Plan
Revie Plan
The Revie Plan was a tactical system in association football used by Manchester City in the 1950s. The system was named after Manchester City player Don Revie, who had the most important role in it....
. The opening match of the season resulted in a 5–0 defeat at the hands of Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. Revie opined that the system required attacking half-backs to be successful, and that City's half backs, John McTavish
John McTavish
John Kay McTavish was a Scottish footballer who played for Petershill, Falkirk, Oldham Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Partick Thistle, York City, Goole Town, East Fife, East Stirlingshire, Dumbarton and Scotland at international level.- Playing career :McTavish began his career at...
in particular, were too defensive. To that end Barnes was picked for the following match in place of McTavish. City beat 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...
5–2, and Barnes became an integral part of the team, playing all but one of the matches in the remainder of the season. However, he was not enamoured by the attention given to the Revie Plan by the press, describing it as "bollocks".
During Barnes' first full season in the first team Manchester City enjoyed a successful run in 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...
. As a top-flight team Manchester City entered the competition in the third round, facing Derby County. Barnes scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win, his first goal in professional football. A derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
victory against 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...
and a win against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
followed, setting up a quarter-final against his boyhood heroes Birmingham City. Single goal victories against Birmingham 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...
gave City a place in the final, where they faced Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. However, hampered by the loss of Jimmy Meadows
Jimmy Meadows
James "Jimmy" Meadows was an England international who started his playing career in 1949 at Third-Division Southport, with whom, later in life, he had his most successful period in management...
to injury after 18 minutes, City were beaten 3–1.
Manchester City reached the cup final again the following season, Barnes playing every match of the cup run. Manchester City beat Birmingham City 3–1, Barnes having a hand in the second goal. The final is most well-known for being the match where goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper...
continued play after breaking his neck.
By the late 1950s Barnes was one of the senior players in the side, and succeeded Roy Paul
Roy Paul
Roy Paul was a footballer who played as a half-back for Swansea Town and Manchester City...
as captain when Paul retired in 1957. During the 1957–58 season
1957-58 in English football
The 1957–58 season was the 78th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:In this season, Sunderland was relegated for the first time in their history.This was the last season in which Division 3 was split, North and South...
Barnes became the third player to score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in an English top-flight match, as part of a 6–2 defeat of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. At this time Barnes was the club's primary penalty taker, helping him to score 11 goals over the course of the season. In his later years at Manchester City, Barnes role as captain meant he had become a strong influence on younger players. A particularly notable example was Denis Law
Denis Law
Denis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
, who joined the club in 1960, the pair becoming lifelong friends.
Barnes never played international football, but was described by Denis Law as "the best uncapped wing-half ever to have played in English football". The closest he came to an international cap was being named as a reserve for a match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in October 1957.
In the dressing room Barnes had a reputation as a practical joker, with Bert Trautmann a particular target for teasing. Known as "Beaky" to his teammates, Barnes was one of the chief organisers of social activities on away trips, along with Roy Paul. In eleven years at Manchester City Barnes made 283 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals.
Management and coaching
By 1961, age meant Barnes was no longer an automatic first team selection, so he sought a move into management. An opportunity arose at WrexhamWrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in May 1961, and Barnes was appointed player-manager. In his first season the club gained promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the 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...
. During his tenure he oversaw the club's record victory, a 10–1 defeat of Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. The club finished ninth 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....
, but were relegated to the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
the following season. Barnes remained at the club until 1965, when he resigned his post. By the time of his departure from the club he had made 132 appearances, scoring 24 goals.
After leaving Wrexham Barnes took a job outside football, working in sales for a steel company. However, before long he received an offer to become manager of Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
on a part-time basis. At Witton he created a team from a mixture of promising youngsters and ageing veterans. Players he signed included future European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
winner Chris Nicholl
Chris Nicholl
Christopher John "Chris" Nicholl is an English-born former Northern Ireland international footballer.-Playing career:Nicholl was born in Macclesfield...
and former greats Dennis Viollet
Dennis Viollet
Dennis Sydney Viollet was an English footballer best remembered for his time with Manchester United in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Club career:...
and Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
.
On 27 August 1970, Barnes curtailed a brief spell as manager of Bangor City
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
to return to Manchester City as a member of the coaching staff. When 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...
departed the club in 1973, Barnes was offered the role of caretaker manager, but, soured by his experiences at Wrexham, he turned it down. Instead he became assistant to the eventual managerial appointee Johnny Hart
Johnny Hart (footballer)
John Paul Hart is an English former football player and manager.Golborne-born Hart played for Manchester City as an inside-forward in 169 Football League matches, between 1947 and 1960, scoring 67 goals...
. Seven months later ill health forced Hart to step down. In the reorganisation that followed the appointment of Hart's replacement Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
, Barnes became chief scout, a role he retained for two decades until he was sacked by Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
in 1991. In his role he oversaw the development of a large number of successful young players, including Paul Lake
Paul Lake
Paul Andrew Lake is an English former footballer, who played for Manchester City.-Early life:Raised in the Denton area of Manchester, he attended St Thomas More School Denton. Lake was spotted by Manchester City scout Ken Barnes as a ten year old, playing against boys two or three years older...
, David White
David White (English footballer)
David White is a former English footballer, best remembered for his eight-year spell at Manchester City. He also played for Leeds and Sheffield United, and was capped once by England....
and Steve Redmond
Steve Redmond
Stephen 'Steve' Redmond is a former English footballer, who played as a central defender.Redmond was captain of the Manchester City youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1986...
, the stars of the Manchester City youth team which won the 1986 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
. In 1994 he returned to the club at the invitation of Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
, who had recently become chairman. Barnes served in a part-time scouting position for a further six years.
Since 2000, Barnes had been involved in a youth football initiative in Malaysia; Ken Barnes Soccer Skills. In 2004, Barnes was elected to Manchester City's Hall of Fame, and in 2005 to Wrexham Supporters' Association's Hall of Fame. Married with four children, he died in July 2010 from lung cancer, aged 81. One of his sons, Peter Barnes
Peter Barnes (footballer)
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...
, was also a professional footballer, who played for England, both Manchester clubs, 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...
and 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...
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Wrexham |  |
1 May 1961 | 1 February 1965 |
|||||