Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Kenneth Herbert Barnes | ||
Date of birth | 16 March 1929 | ||
Place of birth | Small Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England | ||
Date of death | 13 July 2010 | (aged 81)||
Place of death | England | ||
Playing position | Wing half | ||
Youth career | |||
Moor Green | |||
Birmingham City | |||
Bolton Wanderers | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1947–1950 | Stafford Rangers | ||
1950–1961 | Manchester City | 258 | (18) |
1961–1965 | Wrexham | 132 | (24) |
Teams managed | |||
1961–1965 | Wrexham | ||
1965–1969 | Witton Albion | ||
1970 | Bangor City | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Kenneth Herbert Barnes (16 March 1929 – 13 July 2010) 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.
Barnes was born in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, in the shadow of St Andrew's, 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.