Peter Barnes

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Lore & Background

Peter Barnes (footballer) (born 1957), English football player

In Their Own Story

Of more significance in the 1975–76 season was the club's League Cup campaign which saw them reach the final by eliminating Norwich City (after two replays), Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Mansfield Town and Middlesbrough (against whom Barnes scored a goal and provided an assist) to reach the final, where they faced Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium. Barnes scored the opening goal of the match on 11 minutes with a half-volley after captain Mike Doyle headed a free kick into his path; it was part of a routine that had been practised on the training ground. Manchester City went on to win the match 2–1, with Tueart scoring the winning goal shortly after half-time. Hugh McIlvanney wrote that Barnes was an "ebullient, highly-skilled newcomer to Wembley" and that for his goal the ball "bounced awkwardly, but he used his left foot to come down on it with killing economy, and it went swiftly inside the goalkeeper's left-hand post". The day after the cup final, Barnes was voted Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association. He fluffed his acceptance speech due to his shyness and fear of public speaking as he froze and was unable to speak.

Reader's Guide

For the footballer, his record for Manchester City is 22 goals in 158 appearances in all competitions. The claim that he was named PFA Young Player of the Year the day after the 1976 League Cup final is inaccurate; the award was announced later in the season. The claim that he 'froze and was unable to speak during his acceptance speech' is an invented claim not supported by reliable records.

Did You Know?

• Peter Barnes (footballer) was born in 1957.
• He scored 22 goals in 158 appearances for Manchester City.
• He became West Bromwich Albion's record buy at £748,000 in July 1979.
• He scored 25 goals in 92 matches for West Bromwich Albion.