Watford fans' favourite John Barnes to feature on special stamps along with 10 other selected British footballers

6:00am Friday 8th February 2013 in Sport

Barnes to feature on 'Football Heroes' stamps Barnes to feature on 'Football Heroes' stamps

Former Watford favourite John Barnes has been selected as one of 11 British internationals to feature on a new set of ‘Football Heroes’ stamps, commissioned by the Royal Mail.

The stamps, which are available to pre-order ahead of their release on May 9, have been commissioned to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishing of the rules of Association Football as well as the 140th anniversary of the Scottish Football Association.

Barnes, 49, won 79 full England caps, scoring 11 goals during an international career which spanned 12 years and saw him play for England at two World Cups and one European Championships.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Barnes spent six years at Vicarage Road after joining from Sudbury Court in 1981, racking up 296 appearances for the club and scoring 85 goals during the most successful period in the club’s history.

In 1987 Barnes left Vicarage Road for the great Liverpool side of the late 80’s and early 90’s, winning two First Division titles, two FA Cups, one League Cup and three Charity Shields.

Barnes would go on to play for Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic before retiring to embark on a managerial career which has seen him manage Celtic, Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers.

Joining Barnes in the Football Heroes collection will be John Barnes (England); Gordon Banks (England); George Best (Northern Ireland); John Charles (Wales); Bobby Charlton (England); Jimmy Greaves (England); Kevin Keegan (England); Denis Law (Scotland); Dave Mackay (Scotland); Bobby Moore (England); Bryan Robson (England), with each player featured in his national kit.

Comments(18)

OliverF1976 says...
6:59am Fri 8 Feb 13

It still amazes me to this day that John Barnes wasn't considered good enough to start ahead of Chris Waddle in Mexico but I suppose at that time he was only playing for little old Watford do couldn't possibly start for England. We would have one the World Cup. Fact.

Well done John. Thoroughly deserved to be recognised as a true British great.

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corbindallas says...
7:36am Fri 8 Feb 13

Looking at the list of players I wonder if his inclusion was more to do with being PC than football greats, I can name a dozen players who I would put before Barnes for recognition as England greats! Sorry I only speak as I see it.

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Stoney77 says...
7:47am Fri 8 Feb 13

Best club player of his time. Shame he never quite did it for England. Any one else still got 'The John Barnes Story' video? Some of the best goals you will ever see. Absolute legend.

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Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
7:51am Fri 8 Feb 13

corbindallas wrote:
Looking at the list of players I wonder if his inclusion was more to do with being PC than football greats, I can name a dozen players who I would put before Barnes for recognition as England greats! Sorry I only speak as I see it.
This is a list of British greats, not just English, adding more weight to your argument. So many missing names...

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Mohandas says...
8:04am Fri 8 Feb 13

Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
corbindallas wrote:
Looking at the list of players I wonder if his inclusion was more to do with being PC than football greats, I can name a dozen players who I would put before Barnes for recognition as England greats! Sorry I only speak as I see it.
This is a list of British greats, not just English, adding more weight to your argument. So many missing names...
Don’t get me wrong Barnsey was an excellent player but having seen defenders the likes of Jack Charlton, Des Walker, Mike England, Terry Butcher, Viv Anderson in action for club and country these players were always in the game by their sheer doggedness and 100% commitment. They were the ditch you had to cross and I can’t forget Bryan Robson. They would always be my first choice.

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gloryhornet4 says...
8:08am Fri 8 Feb 13

OliverF1976 wrote:
It still amazes me to this day that John Barnes wasn't considered good enough to start ahead of Chris Waddle in Mexico but I suppose at that time he was only playing for little old Watford do couldn't possibly start for England. We would have one the World Cup. Fact.

Well done John. Thoroughly deserved to be recognised as a true British great.
Oliver - I think you have it spot on. 15 minutes against the Argies and he nearly got us back in the game.

It was GT that had to point out Luther and Digger to the England set up, which was a disgrace given what they must claim on exps to find who is in form. Waddle was one of the pampered darlings but was nowhere near as good as Digger.

Final insult was a national tabloid said JCB was discovered by Kenny Dalgleish, even though he was already walking through the Brazilian and Liverpool defence for fun.

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gloryhornet4 says...
8:13am Fri 8 Feb 13

corbindallas wrote:
Looking at the list of players I wonder if his inclusion was more to do with being PC than football greats, I can name a dozen players who I would put before Barnes for recognition as England greats! Sorry I only speak as I see it.
Yes being asked to beat a defender on the half way line wing should have been worked out as a waste of the great man's talents. He should have been up front with GL. He could play CF as well of course.

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mellow yellow says...
9:25am Fri 8 Feb 13

I like to think GT had the casting vote and was offered a choice between Digger and Gary Lineker... ;o)

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BigRussMalta says...
9:36am Fri 8 Feb 13

Personally my favourite watford player of all time.in the early 80s when i was alot slimmer we used to pay £1.50 to get in the family enclodure and squeeze thru tge bars into the vicarage rd end and get squashed under the old scoreboard,fond memories,eyes fixed on what was at the time the most exciting attacking team in england,and they were ours.memories of beating luverpool,man utd,arsenal,spurs,ch
elsea everyone.....wouldnt it be fantastic to have that back again!!!???

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Sahorn says...
9:37am Fri 8 Feb 13

OliverF1976 wrote:
It still amazes me to this day that John Barnes wasn't considered good enough to start ahead of Chris Waddle in Mexico but I suppose at that time he was only playing for little old Watford do couldn't possibly start for England. We would have one the World Cup. Fact.

Well done John. Thoroughly deserved to be recognised as a true British great.
Too much media pressure for England managers to take the risk on players from 'unfashionable' clubs, and that will never change.

Good to hear JB interviewed on Five Live
and commentary of wonder goal vs Brazil frothing over"John Barnes of Watford."

I suspect we'll be hearing more commentary on international stars "from Watford", they just won't be English, but at least Watford will be a better known Premiership Club when it happens.

No pressure there then Mr Zola, but 'Must Win' 6 pointer vs Palace tonight please...

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Boosey says...
11:30am Fri 8 Feb 13

If it's to do with P.C. that's fine by me John's will only cost a penny!

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The Not-so-enlightened one says...
4:39pm Fri 8 Feb 13

In my humble opinion, the greatest player I have ever seen pull on the shirt (I can't comment on anything prior to 77/78) and for all of Luther's goal scoring exploits, it was Digger that really got the juices flowing. There are a couple amongst the current crop that you look at (even if, officially, they're not "ours") and think "hmmm, maybe, just maybe" - let's hope so!

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John Howard Norfolk says...
7:11am Sat 9 Feb 13

Surely we should see Luther on the stamp - after all it was Luther who got the England hattrick not JB

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wheelsonfire says...
7:36pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Most skillfull player I ever saw at Vicarage Road. And that includes George Best and Bobby Charlton.
He was far better when playing for Watford than he was at Liverpool but only got the recognition when he was at a so called 'big team'.
Although he was always great for England he was never as good for them as he was for his club sides.
Maybe a few players in the new batch would eventually be up there with him.

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lutondown says...
7:37pm Sat 9 Feb 13

wheelsonfire wrote:
Most skillfull player I ever saw at Vicarage Road. And that includes George Best and Bobby Charlton.
He was far better when playing for Watford than he was at Liverpool but only got the recognition when he was at a so called 'big team'.
Although he was always great for England he was never as good for them as he was for his club sides.
Maybe a few players in the new batch would eventually be up there with him.
Better than George Best? No way Jose

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wheelsonfire says...
7:59pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Sorry *****down I beg to differ.
Some of the displays he gave when we were promoted in 81/82 were incredible.
I saw Bestie against us in 1969 and he and Sir Bobby were not given a kick.
Best was great but Barmsey went on for longer and was more consistent.
Loofer will always be my favourite player but Barnsey was special.

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lutondown says...
8:12pm Sat 9 Feb 13

wheelsonfire wrote:
Sorry *****down I beg to differ.
Some of the displays he gave when we were promoted in 81/82 were incredible.
I saw Bestie against us in 1969 and he and Sir Bobby were not given a kick.
Best was great but Barmsey went on for longer and was more consistent.
Loofer will always be my favourite player but Barnsey was special.
Well it's all down to opinion, Best like Gazza was flawed mentally but brilliant. Barnes right up there in my book but Best, Gazza better iApparently Duncan Edwards better than them all.
Peles fav footballer? Georgie Best. That's good enough for me

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Paul Gadd says...
6:30pm Sun 10 Feb 13

corbindallas wrote:
Looking at the list of players I wonder if his inclusion was more to do with being PC than football greats, I can name a dozen players who I would put before Barnes for recognition as England greats! Sorry I only speak as I see it.
i wouldn't say Barnes was the best black England player- probably Viv Anderson IMO- but it is about Football Heroes....in which case colour is not relevant, and the predictable PC argument is not valid..

Barnesy is a hero.....the most naturally talented player ever at WFC, what he won at Liverpool, best player in Europe, his educational roles etc etc- all done fighting blatant and hidden racism

Well done John....statue next, please Pozzos, along with GT, Luther & Tony C

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