John Barnes

[witchdoc187]

It went on that's a fact, not just with him either , viv Anderson was another one , and I could list a load of others ,man city goalkeeper ect.
I would say seventies to early eighties it was really bad and infact looking back ,I think the fans played up to it for a while , it wasnt a small minority either at times.
Although the likes of Chelsea, Leeds , ect were every bit as bad or worse, including the RS before he came , it was us that the reputation stook to.
Want helped by the fact most ,not all of are hooligan element were young white males ,and notorious hard on visiting ethnic hooligans from other teams.
No use trying to repaint history, it happened, but the club and the fanbase have moved on and unlike some teams we owned up to it and learned are lessons , today it's still there in small pockets ,like in the wider society but it's not widespread and certainly not the vast majority of are fanbase.
Cant take to Barnes at all , he has skeleton's in his closet as well, but I doubt he would own up to them.
But he is right on this , it happened.

Good post that mate.

 

[Death]

Ah, a "John Barnes Racism" thread.

This time of year comes round so quickly. What is he selling this time?

Anfield rap available on Itunes. New remix featuring Miley Cyrus.

 

[Bluebonic]

It was a society problem, certain regions there was less mixing between races. Everton and Liverpool fans were the same as it was just as prevalent in everyday life. There's no moral high ground to be had over each other.

Spot on mate!, times were what they were, it has improved undoubtedly, still a lot to do, but most football grounds are much better these days. I don’t get all this chest beating over the past, it happened, we survived, learn from it and move on! Our own greatest ever player was called Dixie in reference to his dark complexion and was seen by the man himself as a derogatory term. Does that mean we should never use the name Dixie Dean as it perpetuates a racial slur? Nah!

 

[Pabbers]

There's just been a programme on TV called Out of Their Skin. It's about black players and abuse they have had to endure over the years. John Barnes made a special point of mentioning Everton as being really bad. I am not condoning racist abuse by our fans in any way or form and I am ashamed of some of them but the same player was racially abused by his own fans. I remember just before he signed for the rs quite a lot of their fans were saying if he signed they would never go to the match again. I think it was their first game he played in against Arsenal his own fans were throwing bananas at him on the pitch. But no they're the best fans in the world. But what would you expect from Barnes he hates Everton. I also remember the awful racial abuse Mike Trebilcock got off the rs fans when I was a kid. They also gave one of their young players Howard Gayle terrible racial abuse years ago. As I said I am not condoning racial abuse but Barnes unfortunately probably got abuse at quite a few grounds but he always loves to mention Everton. He will never say he got abuse off his own fans.

He has become an absolute joke....his job these days to play the race card. Thats how it seems.

 

[John from Bootle]

It was a society problem, certain regions there was less mixing between races. Everton and Liverpool fans were the same as it was just as prevalent in everyday life. There's no moral high ground to be had over each other.

Yeah, the whole of North Liverpool in general was pretty bad in that regard during the 80's.

 

[tommytowne]

Ah, a "John Barnes Racism" thread.

This time of year comes round so quickly. What is he selling this time?

He seems to be the "go to" guy whenever the question of racism rears it's ugly head.
Yes John, it happened and I for one am sorry that it happened and I'd like to think we've moved on since.

 

[tommye]

I might be an outlier here, but I do have a respect for Jon Barnes stemming from my childhood, where I grew up, and the people I grewup with. I hail from a very mixed area which, in the late 80s and early 90s had a large afro-carribbean population. For the 2nd and 3rd generation black kids he was an absolute hero, a symbol of a black guy getting on and standing up to dreadful treatment. Trust me, their grandparents and parents dealt with some nonsense and had the attitude of "you need to be doubly good to get on". Awful that folk felt like that. So yeah, what went on in football stadiums just reflected crap that went on elsewhere.

I grew up in Toxteth through the 70s and 80s. Doesn't change the fact that Barnes spouts sensationalist guff at every given opportunity, usually at Everton's expense, merely to make headlines and make himself appear somewhat relevant.

As Walken said, the day he defended Suarez was the day any of his ramblings ceased to hold any sway

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

I grew up in Toxteth through the 70s and 80s. Doesn't change the fact that Barnes spouts sensationalist guff at every given opportunity, usually at Everton's expense, merely to make headlines and make himself appear somewhat relevant.

As Walken said, the day he defended Suarez was the day any of his ramblings ceased to hold any sway

Thats fair enough mate, I can't deny the Suarez stance was poor on his part. I grew up well away from Liverpool but I've no doubt Toxteth had similar challenges. But really, its not a 'I grew up somewhere difficult' off, more acknowledgement of how I can see he had a positive influence and was important for friends growing up in bleak times. Life, it ain't black and white (excuse the pun).

 

[Brennan]

Former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has attacked a "witch hunt" against Luis Suarez after he was banned for racially abusing another player. ... Barnes defended Suarez, saying: "As much as we will say ignorance is no excuse, ignorance is an excuse."

No further comment needed really.

 

[Toffeelover]

I seem to remember Millwall were not exactly innocent and did they have a philosophy of white players only?

As for Barnes he just likes to kick us at every opportunity put him on ignore.

 

[Bluestar]

There's just been a programme on TV called Out of Their Skin. It's about black players and abuse they have had to endure over the years. John Barnes made a special point of mentioning Everton as being really bad. I am not condoning racist abuse by our fans in any way or form and I am ashamed of some of them but the same player was racially abused by his own fans. I remember just before he signed for the rs quite a lot of their fans were saying if he signed they would never go to the match again. I think it was their first game he played in against Arsenal his own fans were throwing bananas at him on the pitch. But no they're the best fans in the world. But what would you expect from Barnes he hates Everton. I also remember the awful racial abuse Mike Trebilcock got off the rs fans when I was a kid. They also gave one of their young players Howard Gayle terrible racial abuse years ago. As I said I am not condoning racial abuse but Barnes unfortunately probably got abuse at quite a few grounds but he always loves to mention Everton. He will never say he got abuse off his own fans.

He received appalling abuse at Goodison. It was probably worse because he played for them. I hated it.
Id rather it was talked about to stop it happening again.
It was a dark period for football in general with regards to chanting and what was acceptable at the time. Making gassing noises at Spurs fans or singing Munich 58 at Manchester United. Just shockingly bad.
I do believe it’s only just under the surface and could easily make a return if not highlighted and dealt with.
Liverpool were truly disgraceful in that period with all their United songs. That all stopped pretty quickly after their own disasters.

 

[jondel]

I seem to remember Millwall were not exactly innocent and did they have a philosophy of white players only?

As for Barnes he just likes to kick us at every opportunity put him on ignore.

As I said in my post I am not in any way defending racism in any form or bigotry of any sort but John Barnes is very selective in who he calls racist.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Stevie Me got a fair load of abuse for the parentage of his children, this gets no media coverage because?

We all hear individuals hurling abuse at players generally if in own team because he made a mistake if the opposition because he is playing well against us. These comments don't necessarily make these individuals racist, homophobic or any other label we want to give them, it just makes them ill thinking idiots.

As society is so multi cultural there are so few families now that do not have an individual of ethnicity or gay or just different in their families, this is the new norm.

it always seems to be the older individuals who have had the real racist comments thrown at them but they will never admit that it is not as bad now.

Racism, homophobia etal is always not welcome at GP but it is so much better that in his day.

He is also one of the main protaganists in the fight for equal opportunities for BAME players for managers jobs but says they do not get the opportunity! I think he had the opportunity on several occasions and blew it.

All racists, homophobics should when identified be punished and educated, but as a no racist, non homophobe I get sick of it getting shoved in my face because I am straight and white.

I hated John Barnes because he was good not because he was black!

I hated Stevie Me because he was good not because he was white!

This... is not a good post.

 

[Joey66]

To be fair to Barnes, I know from speaking to me ma that went those games she always said the abuse Barnes got was horrific. Others I know have said similar. He might be a nob about most things but I've got no doubt that he's right there.

So True, but TBH he has sung the same song now for years - I was there and as a young lad the abuse was awful towards him he was a great player , but he as @tommye stated is now making a living sensationalising those events back then - time has moved on & quite rightly racism has been tackled not 100 percent, but to a far better degree .....
imo he just digs up the unwanted past ....... I was there & TBH he handled it very well - it was not right, but he coped as many other players did in that era,,,,,,
I hope those days are gone in the UK in all walks of life in all kinds of bigotry too.....