John Barnes: Liverpool Legend, Battles with United & Tackling Racism | Stick to Football EP 112
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What are John Barnes' early experiences in football?
Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show. Hey, look. That's lovely, that righty. It's not bad, is it?
Everybody came to greet me. Where were you?
I went to the toilet, up the sofa and got caught.
You don't get caught. It took you a long time.
Keep away from those sweets.
Can I tell stories about Ian Wright from the old days? No. I looked after him in the World Cup 90. I tried to, you know, educate him. I tried chopping down a Sean's Elysee. Oh. Honestly, nearly got us banned from every store. No, I did. I just didn't want some of the stuff. It was rubbish. Yeah, but there's ways of doing it. When you're in a nice place, you kind of, like, go, oh, well, that's not too bad. I don't like it.
No. That was before I refined myself, before we moved to West London. Absolutely.
How old would you have been then, were you?
How did John Barnes address racism during his career?
31, at first.
What led to John Barnes joining Liverpool?
Are you the same age then? No, I'm older than him. You both don't look... He's four days older than me. Four days.
Wow. You look fantastic. It's in the jeans, baby. What's the secret, guys?
Do you know the first time I ever met John? I was in the first squad, 95. One of the first ever England squads.
What is the significance of the Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry?
And I went down to Burnham Beach, into the spa area, to walk to the jacuzzi. And I walked through the door and what... And he was in there on his own, just relaxing in the jacuzzi. Do you know one of them things where you think, oh, no? Because it's like John Barnes is, like, up here, and I'm 20. And I thought, oh, he's seen me. And I was, like, so nervous. He's seen you. He's seen me. I'm going to have to go through and sit in the jacuzzi because he knew I was going towards the jacuzzi.
Were you clothed? Eh? Did you have clothes on?
I had shorts on.
Oh, really?
Jill's got a vision of me and John.
I took him off after a few minutes. A tear of coffee. Are they looking out yet? No, they're not, mate.
They haven't looked after me at all, but I know you will. A tear of coffee. And John, you were unbelievable to me. For half an hour you talked to me, I thought, do you know something? This is a man who literally scarred and ruined.
But please don't tell them what I spoke to you about. A tear of coffee. Whatever it is, mate.
What do you prefer?
I'll have a tea then.
So that was one of your first times in the... First time I'd ever met him.
What game was that?
It would have been the early 95. I don't think you were in the Tour Noir. Were you in the Tour Noir?
No, no, no. I didn't make the Tour Noir. The one before the Tour Noir. No, it was one after that.
No, it was one after that. Umbro Cup, sorry. 95. It wasn't the Umbro Cup, was it? Were you in the squad for the... Cameroon game. Cameroon. It was Cameroon or we played like, I think, Columbia. What's Columbia? Columbia as well, yeah. So there's a couple of squads that I was in with John at that time.
It's not the worst thing when you go into international football and you have to meet everyone. Oh, it's so sick. It's so intimidating.
It's like New Year's Eve. Oh, honestly. All right, all the best.
It was like Christmas, Roy. It'd be nice for everybody.
Roy, mine. You're like meeting John Barnes. You're meeting Gazza. You're meeting Stuart Pearce.
These are people like... When I was there, I was frightened of them, man. I was really scared. Brian Robson was the one that made me feel... The first squad, I think, I went into, it was the hungry. Peter Beardsley was there. Peter was cool as well. But Steve McMahon was just like, bro, man, just intimidated me, man. Jeez. And then it was Brian Robson just saying to me, don't worry.
Would they help you?
Brian Robson just said, don't worry, don't worry.
But back then, you know what it was like back then? And we're going through a situation now where you're talking about character building and bullying. You do that a lot now, don't you? Back then with where you were brought up. You know what I mean? Yes.
It was tough.
When you were young coming in, it must have been difficult for you as well. Yeah, yeah. But as I said, when Roy came over, I remember the first game you played against us.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are John Barnes' early experiences in football?
0:00–0:54
2
How did John Barnes address racism during his career?
0:54–0:58
3
What led to John Barnes joining Liverpool?
0:58–1:18
4
What is the significance of the Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry?
1:18–42:25
5
What are the differences between Liverpool and Manchester United during Barnes' era?
42:25–45:29
6
How did John Barnes transition from playing to management aspirations?
45:29–48:34
7
What challenges do black managers face in football?
48:34–51:57
8
What is the story behind John Barnes' iconic rap?
51:57–1:26:25
Speakers
7 identifiedMore from Stick to Football
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