Barnes was never coached at all in England
In the mid-1970s young Barnes, who by then was attending St George's College, migrated with his family to England when his father, Army Colonel Ken Barnes took up a military attache posting with the Jamaican High Commission, and he remains certain that he did not improve there. It was more that the environment afforded him an opportunity.
By the time he left Jamaica, Barnes had already played Colts football (Under-15 High Schools' League) and had seen his father playing for Jamaica. "All of my football development I got here," boasted Barnes. ". so I never went to England and improved, I went to England and I was given an opportunity to play and I suppose that is why I was as successful at Watford, particularly at such a young age.
"When I went to England I wasn't coached at all. when I went to Watford at 16, I wasn't at a professional club before. My father got recalled to Jamaica and I fully expected to come back to Jamaica. But then Watford said 'do you want to stay and play? And then I was in the first team six months later, really because I was playing off the natural ability that I had, which was developed here (in Jamaica) and continued there. I was never coached at all in England," reiterated Barnes, whose adroit left foot could cross a ball played at any speed down the left flank, on any desired spot.