1984: Watford's JOHN BARNES - Football's next SUPERSTAR? | Grandstand | Classic Sport | BBC Archive

"I think John is possibly the most exciting talent to emerge here since George Best, and as a Manchester United supporter, that's saying something!" - Ray Sullivan.
Ahead of the 1984 FA Cup Final between Everton and Watford, Grandstand profiles Watford's exciting young winger John Barnes, with contributions from his father, Colonel Ken Barnes, Watford Director Bertie Mee, and Barnes' former Sudbury Court boss Ray Sullivan.
Originally from Jamaica, the skilful attacker made a name for himself at youth level with Stowe Boys Club, before joining Sudbury Court in the Middlesex League - where his reputation grew, and he attracted the attention of scouts from a host of Football League clubs. He joined Graham Taylor's swashbuckling Watford side, aged 17, where he quickly established himself as a first team regular and key player. His impact at Watford led to him receiving an England call up in 1983, and he is now considered one of the most promising talents in Europe.
Clip taken from Grandstand: The 1984 FA Cup Final , originally broadcast on BBC One, 19 May, 1984.
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[@chewskewsme]

Clearly very well-raised and an impressive family. I never remembered JB being so confident as a young guy but always very humble. Good video.

[@el.aye.bee.4477]

You're right. I went to secondary school in Trinidad with one of his cousins, who is now a very well-accomplished man who did so well for himself that he was able to retire a millionaire in his forties.

[@Sidwhite-yb5cv]

Between 87-91 before the injury he was amazing player!!!!!!

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

Outshone by Gazza though

[@Sidwhite-yb5cv]

@@TheJohnCooperShow Only to morons

[@lucasm3879]

@@TheJohnCooperShow No he wasn't, not from '87 to '90, Barnes was the est in the country. Gazza was excellent at times but always flawed, even before his injury. Lineker played with peak Gazza and said that he was frustrating and often held the ball too long, basically like playing with a kid who didn't want to pass.

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

@@lucasm3879 he also said he was the most talented

[@lucasm3879]

@@TheJohnCooperShow Are you saying Lineker said Gazza was the most talented he played with? I’ve not heard him say that.

[@casskop]

His goal in the maracana in Brazil was one of the best ever scored

[@bocjagne2878]

Not one of the best ever scored, THE best.

[@theoisme]

When liverpool signed barnes, Beardsley and aldridge, wow, how amazing they were

[@MiaSummer-cm6cy]

Think I’d swap Aldridge for Ian Rush

[@caeserromero3013]

Few moments when media hype was actually justified. JB was the real deal. This is what talent and good parenting can achieve. Lesson to ALL. JB was truly world class and gave me and my team some truly wonderful memories.

[@jdigity72]

Always loved watching Barnes and Beardsley play for England. Such talent

[@brianoneill2776]

Both were geniuses on the pitch

[@DKNY707]

Fantastic this, John Barnes my footballing idol, greatest English player of his generation

[@seanmckillen9090]

He's Jamaican!

[@arfankhan10]

Saw him play in 1988 against QPR at Loftus Road. His close control, speed and power was incredible. One of the best to ever play for LFC

[@WeskerXM96E1]

John Barnes was my hero as a kid. What a talent!!👏👏👏

[@highbury1972]

John was a fantastic Player who served Liverpool for a decade and won every domestic honour there. Treated Poorly by England fans and racially abused, Even Graham Taylor had to bollock fans about it. An iconic player and loved his part in New Order‘s World in Motion.

[@cstew8355]

Wet lettuce (I really hope you get what you deserve) and you will

[@futurez12]

My first footballing hero. I'll never forget him on the left wing during the 1989 FA Cup Final Vs Everton. I was just 8 at the time, and I went straight outside and started bending balls into the top corner of a chalked outline of a goal on a brick wall outside our flat. BTW, has he lived back in Jamaica since retirement? His accent sounds more English in this video than it does nowadays .

[@callumcc8897]

Incredible raw talent and such a professional person who moved for the love of the game! He is an English legend and a kind soul.

[@kevingunn34]

Between 1987 and 1990 he the produced the best football I have seen from any English player during my lifetime. At that time there was a lot of hype around a young Gazza but Barnes was 10 times better.

[@jagjitsinghmanku2283]

Was he the first player to earn 10 grand a week back then ? Remember Greavsie getting worked up about those sorts of figures lol.

[@Lukec4ge]

Yes he was.

[@kevinhisee4265]

Barnes was more powerful than Gascoigne and could take a game apart, whereas Gascoigne could beat players in tight spaces with a feint or dummy in a way that Barnes couldn't. Equally good in their own ways. Gascoigne should have chosen United.

[@LIVERNIL723]

One of the Best Ever signings from Liverpool thereafter in 1987 for 900,000. Thank you Watford.

[@desendean6488]

He looked better in a Watford shirt though didn't he

[@edmundpower1250]

​​@@desendean6488Never!!! What a horrible combination of colours ; yellow shirts, red shorts. Who was the fashion designer at Watford? John looked superb in all red

[@chewskewsme]

@@edmundpower1250 Elton John, maybe?

[@duncanmacphee200]

As much as I love Bobby Robson, it always baffled me why the team wasn't built around Barnes, like Argentina was built around Maradona and Holland around Gullit.

[@maullinp]

Totally agree -against Argentina as soon as he came on Lineker almost equalised. He should have started the game.

[@davidcarrol110]

Years later at Italia '90 Barnes was fantastic against Holland and against Belgium had a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed.

[@kebabtank]

It doesn't baffle me. Great player as he was, John Barnes blew hot and cold in an England shirt and he was one of several great players we had at the time, but just couldn't gel as a team when the tournaments came around. shame, but there it is.

[@anthonymcken6050]

He's Black that's why and little has changed since.

[@Lukec4ge]

@@kebabtankbecause the coaches we now revere were simply not good enough to coach all that talent. Playing 4-4-2 against dynamic German and Brazilian teams showed the tactical naivety.

[@larsivar8772]

He was the best player on my favorite team when i discovered football, will always remember him, Beardsley and Rush.

[@spidyman8853]

Wow a young John Barnes

[@lyndxnjoel6917]

I came to learn of John Barnes as a pundit on SuperSport (with Robert Marawa, Benni McCarthy and Sam Kuffour) for UCL coverage in Africa. Then I went back and watched his games. Absolutely class footballer and person. He's still spoken of fondly by many older football fans in my country.

[@Q_Basic]

In case any youngsters are wandering, this guy was untouchable on the field. Class act, go look up his highlights.

[@thomaslangley1571]

John Barnes is not only a legend of English league and international football. But a Legend of a man in general.

[@ramonnelson7007]

This is amazing seeing this throwback of the great John barnes

[@davidcarrol110]

Incredible talent who maybe didnt fulfil his potential because of the European ban on English clubs in 1985.

[@beatonthedonis]

Barnes, Hoddle, Waddle, Beardsley - four sublimely talented players who kept you on the edge of your seat.

[@Stantheman848]

True..England have not produced any skilful players for years. Gazza was the last. Daniel sturridge and Stan collymore had lots of skill but mentality/or fitness stopped them. Barnes Beardsley Waddle and Hoddle were fantastic.

[@KingKong-ee8hc]

Gazza

[@TechAngelx]

Foden, Grealish, trying to terll me England haven't produced any skillfull players? @@Stantheman848

[@mojebi3804]

@@TechAngelx Imagine saying Grealish in the same sentence as Barnes, Hoddle, Beardsley etc

[@waynemarshall8836]

John Barnes was a superstar player in the eighties..no question

[@Kaetson-b34]

John Barnes is one of the best English club players I've ever seen. He really was exceptional at Liverpool. It's a shame it never quite happened for him at international level, even when taking into account his wonder goal against Brasil.

[@garethroblyn]

So many memories of watching Barnes with my grandad and dad. My grandads fav player

[@davidtaylorbfd]

Best player I have ever seen, he could glide past players on a muddy pitch.

[@djdrwatson]

You've got to hold and give But do it at the right time. You can be slow or fast But you must get to the line. They'll always hit you and hurt you, Defend and attack. There's only one way to beat them Get round the back. Catch me if you can 'Cause I'm the England man And what you're looking at Is the master plan. We ain't no hooligans, This ain't a football song, Three lions on my chest I know we can't go wrong.

[@shakeelmohideen7172]

For me John Barnes..was a Legend for Liverpool... he's magical left leg..played some special assists for Rush and team... he's free kick's were tops...at the time 😂..very talented player... unfortunately he's been never given true credit for his contribution...

[@Dead-Ball-Situation]

As a young Liverpool fan, John Barnes inspired me and the way I played. I literally tried to copy him, when on the pitch and I credit him for my progress as a young player and went on to play at county level.

[@bocjagne2878]

He made his England debut when he was 19. That says everything for me! Some stupid pundit said "he never really did it for England". What gibberish! The goal he scored in 1984 in the Maracana against Brazil is the best England goal ever scored.

[@kevinhisee4265]

Problem is when he played for England as a Liverpool player, he was going to an inferior side compared to Liverpool. He never had a manager that could get the best from him at international level. The Brazil goal was great, but Gascoigne proved it in the big tournaments, whereas Barnes showed glimpses in Mexico 1986 because Robson never used him properly.

[@bocjagne2878]

@@kevinhisee4265 Excellent points! I couldn't agree more. I think the only game he played in Mexico was against Argentina, and he cam on in the second half, and he was still the best player for England.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

The result of a great and loving family

[@kix5775]

Well done interview/piece as well. Pretty cool to see this

[@Project5am]

Fitting the pele footage came months befor he scored that incredible goal in Brazil

[@danslider9014]

He's English twang is more notable in this interview than latter years

[@user-ee8ux5hg8e]

Shame he had to putvup with racism his hole career

[@tedmaul5842]

England supporters treated Barnes appallingly, he was booed petty much at every Wembley game. Absolutely superb player and human being.

[@Stand663]

Nonsense. Stop stirring trouble. He had over 80 caps playing for England.

[@lucasm3879]

@@Stand663 He was loudly booed v San Marino in early ‘93, just as he was coming back from his serious achilles rupture injury.

[@megasg75090]

Best winger Liverpool ever had. It was embarrassing how England treated him in 1990 World Cup.

[@danyoutube7491]

What? He got injured while playing in the competition, didn't he? How did they not treat him well?

[@Salomessanctuary]

Wonderful. Love the hair.❤️🙏

[@markhand4530]

best player i've ever seen at liverpool got 9 out of 10 most games in the echo honestly think europe never viewed english players as anything but hardworkers with no class. If John had gone to real madrid or munich he would be talked about as one of the greats, Kevin Keegan was brilliant for LFC and achieved so much for liverpool but it was only when he went to hamburg did he get european footballer of the year twice i think.

[@leroysmart9363]

There is a video on you tube of John Barnes playing for a UK all stars team vs Jamaica all stars. Try and find it. Shows the Jamaican football he was talking about

[@lucasm3879]

Dickhead England fans were booing him in '93 before he scored the amazing free kick against Holland. Out of order for one of the best players England has produced.

[@Kam-King213]

why were they booing him if you dont mind me asking?

[@lucasm3879]

@@Kam-King213 Well it was under the pretence that he wasn’t playing well for England, as he just came back from a serious achilles injury, but there seemed to be an undercurrent of racism with fans abuse of Barnes. He got racist abuse playing for Liverpool - but England had other black players who didn’t get abuse like him. It seemed to be really down to him being seen as underperforming in his international career.

[@Paul_DJ_Melody]

Just wait till you hear him rap 😮

[@eemoogee160]

Does look a bit like Donald Glover.

[@davidcarrol110]

Just wait til he played with Gazza.

[@davidsingleton9864]

Ian Rush John Barnes are good comprises of the decade

[@bardo0007]

I remember John Barnes as one of the best Liverpool players, I think I watched this cup final on TV.

[@jasxx1108]

Legend gentleman brought to LFC by king Kenny 😊

[@jagjitsinghmanku2283]

Peak Barnes would easily get in Klopp’s best Liverpool side thus far.

[@obynoomere1280]

Of course

[@le01jack]

Those shorts are obscene😆

[@spidyman8853]

80s shorts Its like wearing ones briefs

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

That's how you get us ladies to come to the game. Give us some eye candy to entice us. 😂😉

[@bid84]

My testes would be hanging out of them, you must need a tight pair of budgie smugglers to keep your balls under control

[@MiaSummer-cm6cy]

They should of came with a public warning

[@jamalrobinson2159]

i support LFC to this day because of this man

[@danielhughes3677]

John Barnes my favorite Liverpool player of all time I'm a Lifelong Man utd fan

[@MBison-vm6gq]

You've got to hold and give but do it at the right time...

[@evertonfrancis640]

He should have started the game against the infamous hand of god game against Argentina, he almost set up the equaliser for Lineker

[@jefflinton]

Great seeing Jamaican footballers coming through

[@bid84]

Yah mon

[@danyoutube7491]

You can see a strong resemblance between John and his dad, especially in the upper part of his face :)

[@VictorVonDoom.]

Between 87 -90 (possibly 91) he was head and shoulders above everyone in England. He was so good and I sometimes wondered how he managed to be so good with the amount of racism he suffered. It must of got to him at times…it was truly disgusting If English clubs were able to play in Europe (at the time) he definitely would of lead Liverpool to win the European cup (maybe even twice) between 88-91

[@jagjitsinghmanku2283]

Agreed. Gets in Klopp’s liverpool no problem.

[@caeserromero3013]

He was in the top 3 players ever for us IMO. On the racism thing, look at his parents. He was raised the right way. He had no inferiority complex. He could rise above it. Racism couldn't stop him. Contrast with Howard Gayle, who was a great talent sadly lost to us because he couldn't block out the racism (not just in football but in wider society). But JB was the best I ever saw overall in my time.

[@lucasm3879]

I'm a massive fan of Barnes - but don't try and say they would have 'definitely' won the European Cup - they would have been going up against the amazing Milan side with Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard. That's pretty big talk.

[@caeserromero3013]

@@lucasm3879 I'm not so sure it is. Milan were a great team, but up to '89, you'd have to say that Liverpool had the better European pedigree. Remember only a few years earlier, they'd beaten Roma in their own back yard, and Heysel was not really a football match, more a disaster that enveloped the occasion. Whilst I certainly believe being out of Europe probably helped Liverpool win the double in '86, I think the Liverpool sides of '86-91 would have been a match for most European sides (I remember pre season 'friendlies' against teams like Bayern who had a good few of the winning German WC squad in which Liverpool acquitted themselves pretty well). It's all if onlys and academic, but with Liverpool in Europe, they may well have attracted even better foreign players. Many English players went to Rangers purely for European competition in that period. Look at English sides over the last 20 or so years. They've done pretty well in Europe with Arsenal, Liverpool, Utd, City, Chelsea and even Spurs getting to finals fairly regularly...I think Liverpool would have given anyone a game in the late 80's - early 90's

[@lucasm3879]

@@caeserromero3013 The AC Milan team that won the ‘89 and 90 European Cups is universally recognised as one of the best club sides of all time. They were built around three of the best players ever in Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard, complemented by Italians like Baresi, Ancelotti and a young Maldini. You’re not talking about the Roma team of the mid 80’s - sorry but to just blithely assume Liverpool would ‘definitely win the European Cup’ comes across as laughably biased. I would have like to have seen Barnes play in the competition, his talent deserved it - but when you talk about that Milan team, you’re talking about another level. Look at how England (including Barnes) fared against the Holland team and Van Basten at Euro ‘88, they were outclassed.

[@utrapzab]

After 90 minutes of sheer hell, you’re going to get thirsty….

[@katethomas5712]

That advert kicked off(pun slightly intended!) my crush on him.. 😀

[@lucasm3879]

It gets to your thirst, fast 😉👌

[@kailashpatel1706]

If only Bobby Robson had listened to Terry Venables advice and played Waddle and Barnes off the flanks...England would have been a much more devastating outfit between 1985 and 1990..

[@danyoutube7491]

Yep, I liked Bobby Robson a lot but I think he was, like many international managers before and since, guilty of being too conservative in his tactics at international level. People say that Barnes and other big stars didn't often do the business at international level but the way Liverpool played, for example, was very different from the way England played. We had some tremendously talented players in the 80s such as Hoddle, Waddle, Beardsley, Barnes and Gazza.

[@kailashpatel1706]

@@danyoutube7491 Playing Waddle and Barnes as inverted forwards would have been a big step but also playing the full back slightly inboard as well to add extra juice to the midfield. A 4-2-3-1 system would have been how Venables would have played the 1990 squad for sure..I also think Greenwood in the late 1970s and early 1980s was also guilty of poor tactical and team selection..

[@vinnyfanneran3116]

What a nice young man. I hope he becomes world-class, wins loads of stuff at club level, and plays for England at several major tournaments.

[@paulcullen4302]

My favourite ever player

[@stevey-nwas1230]

If digger was playing now in his prime at LFC He would be Worth 250m Barnes was just 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jayradical3515]

Seen John Barnes when he was in hull in 2023

[@edglue6138]

What a player and man YNWA John

[@desendean6488]

Watford Legend

[@Totalavulsion]

Wish him the very best of luck

[@thehearingaid]

loved JB as a kid.

[@stephenlever419]

What a charming inelegant person ,,, sadly we don’t see this with players anymore

[@cheeseonbread-th3zs]

John Barnes, Liverpool got a bargain.John Barnes one of the greatest.

[@stevenknight1198]

After this he was never heard of again.

[@squidley1000]

Legend 👊🏾💯🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Getyabootsoffskinny]

Legend ❤

[@sbaby-kg8hn]

Underrated

[@markstv40]

That’s one father I wouldn’t have liked to cross

[@Stantheman848]

Most skilful Liverpool player ever. This was the last era where skill was still encouraged...before football became zero skill athleticism.

[@aframaco9491]

Crickey!! Why does the Watford John Barnes look so much Freddie Waite Junior, the drummer of boy band Musical Youth???? 👊🏾🇳🇬!!!

[@kartikvenkat5391]

Turned out to be a decent player this fella didn’t he? 😉

[@andystacey2687]

They played this or parts before the FA cup final in 1984

[@stevey-nwas1230]

Barnes aldo Beardsley where the original fab 3 for LFC Before mane firmino salah arrived

[@MiaSummer-cm6cy]

Sorry John but them blue shorts . Watford was the first away ground I went to aged 11 . I’ll always remember the 1989 Hillsborough footage and seeing John Barnes

[@pressureworks]

Ok. Will keep an eye on him for the future. Best Wishes.

[@deryckclouter3462]

Sorry his goal at the Maracana was the best goal he ever scored , but I really don't think he did as good as he could have!

[@michaelcorleone7598]

His accent was more English back then.

[@keithy507]

When I score a goal the crowd go banana 🍌 (what a player he was)

[@thisisanfield7085]

In the all time 11 for Liverpool FC… That says it all.

[@biodunabbey86]

BARNES with ball ... STILL BARNES. he beats 2 defenders ... goal by JOHN BARNES...

[@jasonthompson4079]

🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@TechAngelx]

those shorts are a bit high tho, eh john?

[@danyoutube7491]

80s athletic shorts were like that, if you think about it it's just sensible - why add more material than is needed for decency? I've got a pair of running shorts like that and I must admit I do get the occasional cheeky comment...they're just good shorts!

[@johncully4699]

Did he make the grade ?

[@uvc_tv_jamaica]

PRIDE 😤 BUCK!!! 🇯🇲

[@HARRi81_UK]

"I come from Jamaica, my name is John Barnes When I do my thing the crowd go bananas”

[@AR_112]

Could pass for Childish Gambino

[@gazavalleyodg2911]

🇯🇲

[@KingKong-ee8hc]

Gascoigne or Barnes?

[@chrisgray2824]

Whats up wit the shorts....

[@emmadawson2360]

Whatever happened to Joh Barnes.....

[@oladambo123]

Why does he look like Bellingham a bit?

[@bighead2047]

John Barnes' father sounds a lot like a Trinidadian.

[@justincompton1838]

This kid had god given ability until he put on an England shirt,

[@danyoutube7491]

He had great ability for England too, the way we played in those years was just so drab and stifled that few of our most special players like Barnes, Gazza, Waddle and Beardsley had much chance to shine. Far too conservative and unimaginative, nothing like the dynamic way Liverpool played. Nevertheless, he played very well when he came on against Argentina in '86, putting in two fine crosses for Lineker, one of which he managed to put in the net. He also scored that great goal against Brazil. I liked Bobby Robson a lot but his style of play at interntional level (like many other highly respected coaches) was rather mediocre and didn't get the best out of our top talent. Far too often they opt for conservative and safety first play at the expense of flair. Much like Sacchi with Italy.

[@SilverTongueOne]

It was really tough back then for his generation of black players especially getting into the England squad. If you got in you were the token. Barnes suffered but Ian Wright, Andy Goal and Les Ferdinand were really ignored

[@danyoutube7491]

Hmmmm, no. Les Ferdinand was in the squads for Euro 96 and France 98, Paul Parker and Des Walker both played alongside Barnes at Italia 90. You can't have three black players all being the token at the same time, can you? By the way, who the chuff is Andy Goal, he sounds like a character out of Roy of the Rovers, lol. Do you mean Andy Cole? He got his debut in 1995, at the age of 24. He only managed to score once in 15 games which is not going to set the world on fire, is it. Being a top scorer at club level doesn't always translate into international success, and so it proved with Cole. A quote on his Wikipedia page attributed to Glenn Hoddle when asked why he didn't pick him for France 98 (Les Ferdinand, another black striker, was in the squad...as were Rio Ferdinand, Paul Ince and Sol Campbell) said that he needed 6 or 7 chances to score a goal, a common reason why many strikers couldn't bring their impressive club scoring records to the international scene.

[@SilverTongueOne]

@@danyoutube7491 euro 96 they barely got minutes that year wrighty and cole were destroying the Prem. Allan Shearer if i recall played regardless of form and went many games before scoring. My point is they got a few minutes towards the end of games and if they didn't score that was it

[@acb7074]

Sitting on the bench against Argentina in the WC 86,clown show.

[@user-hd8wc7sq3c]

Had an amazing career for someone who doesn't get opportunities because of the colour of his skin