John Barnes is a national treasure. An icon of English football, one of the greatest talents that this country has ever produced, publish author and media superstar. John Barnes is a footballer who has transcended the sport and established himself into English culture and mainstream popularity
Superstar Speakers are delighted to be hosting the John Barnes 2022 tour. John will be travelling the country meeting and greeting the fans and telling stories of his incredible career with Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle United, his move into management with Celtic, Jamaica (where he led the team to win the Caribbean Cup in 2008) and Tranmere Rovers, his 79 caps for England and his later career as a published author with his 2021 book ‘the uncomfortable truth about racism’
Throughout his career John Barnes won the first division twice and the FA Cup twice with Liverpool. And a series of individual honours including the PFA Players Player of the year 1988, FWA Footballer of the year 1988 and 1990, PFA First Division Team of the year 1988, 1990 and 1991, PFA team of the Century (1977 – 1996), English Football Hall of Fame induction in 2005 and an MBE in 1998
Despite all these incredible career achievements John Barnes achieved mainstream success and national fame with the famous ‘John Barnes Rap’ that he performed on the Italia 90 single World In Motion with EnglandNewOrder.
Check out this video of John Barnes at one of our previous events – where he performed this legendary rap live for the fans – we are confident that we will get a live performance from Barnesy on this tour again
The John Barnes tour dates are as follows
Northampton Park Inn 15th Jan
Click the Image to see the photographs from John Barnes in Northampton
Chester Storyhouse Theatre 28th January
Click the Image to see the Photographs from the Chester Event with John Barnes
Nottingham Crowne Plaza 17th March
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Tickets Available Here
Hull MKM Stadium 18th March
Click the Image for Tickets
Tickets Available Here
Watford Vicarage Road 25th March
Click the Image for Tickets
Tickets Available Here
John Barnes started his professional footballing career with Watford FC at 17 years old. He quickly established himself as a first team regular with his unique combination of skill, strength, passion and ability. John Barnes was a key factor in the rise of Watford FC from the old 2nd division to the top flight of English football and then finish runners up in the 1st division in 1983 and FA Cup finalists the year later in 1984. To this day John Barnes is still beloved and respected by the Watford fans and is a regular fixture on the ‘all-time XI’ for Watford. He made 296 appearances and scored 85 goals for the Hornets before signing for Liverpool
John Barnes is most associated with Liverpool FC. Signed by Sir Kenny Dalglish in 1987 Barnes was part of a new generation of talent that was tasked with maintaining the success of the Merseyside club. Barnes established himself as one of the greatest players in England during his spell at Liverpool – an England Regular and first team player at one of the countries biggest clubs, Liverpool won the league in Barnes’s first season at Anfield, helped in part by his 15 goals from midfield.
John Barnes earned his place in the hearts of the Liverpool fans after the Hillsborough disaster where he made the effort to visit injured fans in hospital and attend funerals of some of the victims – he even pulled out of an International friendly to make these commitments
In his 10 years with Liverpool John Barnes made 403 appearances and scored 106 goals – He won the league twice, the FA Cup twice, League Cup once and the Charity Shield 3 times. Barnes’s time at Liverpool is best summed up by his team mate Peter Beardsley who said "The best player I ever played with, bar none. For three or four years at the end of the '80s, John was possibly the best player in the world."
Check Out Former Liverpool Legend Dean Saunders on John Barnes
John Barnes was handed his first England cap under Bobby Robson in 1983. He represented England until 1995 earning a total of 79 caps.
Barnes’s finest moment for England (outside of the John Barnes rap world in motion) was his wonder goal against Brazil in 1984. Barnes proved his caliber as a player when he ran through the entire Brazil defence and scored what is considered one of England’s greatest goals
Barnes’s England career didn’t quite match his club career – with the failure of Euro 88 and an injury in Italia 90 and another in Euro 92. John Barnes felt he didn’t get the same freedom with his country that he did at club level – stating that England’s systems were too rigid.
Yet he continued to play and perform where he could for England – even returning to the side in the build up to Euro 96
John Barnes is a national hero – a man who has transformed from talented footballer to national hero (with his rap) and then into a media celebrity. He is a regular on TV notably appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, Who do you think you are and Celebrity Big Brother. Never one to mince his words John is an intelligent broadcaster and author who mixes his football knowledge and expertise as a pundit to offering his political opinion on question time
Not bad for a man who started with Lucozade adverts and rapping with New Order.
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