What the 1986 FA Youth Cup winners said about Ken:
David Boyd: Ken Barnes was a real gent and I’m sure you’ll find that no one has a bad word to say about him.
He was the ideal man from the club to deal with the school boys and their parents. The personal touch
went a long way and made everyone feel ‘special.
Ian Brightwell: After my family, Tony, Glyn and Ken were the biggest influences not only on my career - but my life too.
They instilled discipline, respect and hard work alongside teaching me football in a simple, uncomplicated
but highly effective way.
John Clarke: Ken Barnes he was an absolute gentleman and a big reason why I chose City over other clubs, he was
always there if you needed him with encouragement and positivity - I was very sad to hear of his passing.
Steve Crompton: Ken Barnes was a great man, and such a gentleman. Ken was the first person, other than the scout Eric
Mullinder, to talk to me when I went to City, and he was the one who told me that they wanted to sign me
on schoolboy forms. I wasn’t aware at the time that he had been such a great player. To me he was more
the father of Peter Barnes, the legendary winger. Ken was an honest person, and I don’t recall him ever
having a bad word to say about anybody. Once I had signed, I didn’t really have a lot to do with him. We
would see him at some of the games and we would always have a chat with each other. Ken was also the
person that I spoke to shortly after I had been released by the club. He gave me a lot of good advice at
the time, none of which though, I can remember!
Paul Lake: - Tony Book was more one for detail and more analytical maybe, but Ken just had a way of making you feel ten
feet tall. Tony rarely missed a game but I can remember he did miss one once and Ken
gave us the team talk. He walked in with his usual fag on the go and said: ‘Go out and play. Express
yourselves, you’re better than them, so get out there and fuckin’ enjoy it.’
“That was it. We came in at half time winning 3-0 and he just walked in and said, ‘Do the same again. I
told you were better than this lot. Enjoy yourselves.’ Team talk over. We won about 5 or 6 nil. We were
only kids, but we could have given Real Madrid a game that day, or at least Ken had us believing we
could. We all had immense respect for him. I think I was in the first team before I stopped calling him Mr
Barnes. He told me to call him Ken. I can’t explain how good that made me feel. It was like I had been
accepted as a player.
Steve Macauley: Ken Barnes - A true gentleman. This man was class. He would always make time to chat and give
advice. I do remember being in his room once with Ken, Denis Law and Tony Book and the conversation
was littered with profanities to the point of me barely understanding the thread of the conversation! In
walked a lady and it was as if someone had flicked a switch - three perfect gentlemen ( a true art!)
However, Ken, as nice as he was, once left me standing outside his room for what seemed like an
eternity, after physio Roy Bailey had sent me for a 'long stand!' All part of the life experience I suppose.
Ken was an old school gentleman who had time for everybody - a legend.
Paul Moulden
I had then and will always have a great respect for Billy McNeill and all the people that gave me my
football education at City - Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe, Ken Barnes, Roy Bailey and many more even down
to Joyce Johnston, the laundry lady who educated me in turning my match kit and training kit the right
way out to make life easier for her! That stayed with me for the rest of my career.
Steve Redmond: Ken Barnes for me is on the same level as I see the likes of Bill Shankly and Brian Clough - he had such
a great aura about him. I could listen to Ken all day long. He would say to us ''It's a simple game, pass the
ball from A to B, why complicate it? Just go and express yourselves and enjoy it.
Ian Scott: Ken Barnes was like the Grand Master. He would sit in his office full of smoke and on the occasional
times we went up there, usually before we had signed, he would tell us stories of his time at City. A great
man, but I did not spend much time in his company after signing. I recently had the pleasure of going to a
fundraising event at City’s stadium in honour of Ken - it was nothing but a privilege to be there and a
great night was had by all.
David White: Ken Barnes was a great guy who every now and again would get his kit on and join in a practice match.
He would be in his mid-fifties and was different class even then
