Peter Barnes

Who is Peter Barnes?

Peter Simon Barnes is an English former international footballer, and the son of renowned coach and scout Ken Barnes. He is one of a small number of players to have played for both Manchester City and Manchester United.

He was named as PFA Young Player of the Year after scoring in the 1976 League Cup final victory for Manchester City. He won 22 England caps, and became West Bromwich Albion's record buy at £748,000, but found that his career faltered in the mid-1980s. He played for Leeds United and was also a rare English export to La Liga with Real Betis. He played briefly for Coventry City, and was signed by Ron Atkinson at Manchester United in 1985, before being one of the players that Alex Ferguson released after his arrival in the 1986–87 season. Over the next few years he struggled for opportunities as wing play went out of fashion, despite trying his hand at clubs throughout the English Football League and in Portugal, Australia, Malta, the United States, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.