45 John Barnes Quotes for You to Enjoy

John Barnes

Black Life Me People Racism You

I moved into midfield because I ruptured my Achilles tendon and couldn't run anymore - it's not what I wanted to do, it's what I had to do! John Barnes

Run Had Because Moved Anymore Wanted Achilles Midfield

For most footballers, they just have to give their all for 90 minutes two times a week, and apart from a few training sessions spend the rest of the time resting. They only train intensively for six weeks before the new season. John Barnes

Time Training Rest Resting Before Few Spend Minutes Give Only Week Weeks 90 Minutes Footballers New Most Train New Season Times Six Just Apart Season Two

There is no right or wrong way of playing football. John Barnes

Way Football Wrong Wrong Way Right Playing

The fight against racial bias in society will not be won by hounding Liam Neeson or boycotting his films. It will be won by allowing honest discussions about why people hold biased views and exposing the flawed logic behind them. John Barnes

The teams which embrace the socialist ideology rather than having superstars, are the teams that are successful. Or if there are superstars they don't perceive themselves to be that. That's why I use Messi as an example. As much as he's a superstar he respects his team-mates and their collective efforts. John Barnes

Collective Example Ideology Respects Embrace Perceive Rather Having Superstar Superstars He Messi His Than Efforts Which Themselves Much Successful Use Teams Socialist Why

Before we are footballers or fans, we are ordinary members of society. We are doctors, lawyers, milkmen, postmen, unemployed people, students... So why are they called racist football fans? Are they just racist for the 90 minutes of a match, when the other six days a week they're not? John Barnes

Yes, my clothes don't reflect my personality at all. Because I'm a very straightforward and serious person. My clothes are much flasher than I am. Yeh. Yeh, yeh. It's a good contrast. I don't think your clothes should reflect your personality... keep people on their toes. John Barnes

For a long time, images of black men with big lips and a round head were used to make us feel inferior, but it doesn't need to be like that, we don't need to self'loathe. We can change the narrative. John Barnes

I used to go to the school plays my kids were in, and who were the angels at Christmas time? The blonde, blue-eyed girls. Who was Mary? And the shepherds were all the black and Indian kids in the background. John Barnes

Christmas Time School Black Girl Background Kids Indian Angels Mary School Plays Shepherds Go Were Blonde Blue-Eyed Used Who Plays

My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he was from the Caribbean. He used to stand up and salute during the Queen's Christmas speech. John Barnes

Christmas Queen Old Gentleman Caribbean Though Proper He Up Salute Stand Stand Up Used English Even Dad Speech

We are the first on the frontline to go into countries to liberate people in the name of freedom - that's what we've claimed. And now, all of a sudden, they need our help and we turn them away. Yet the rest of Europe stands ready to help. Why are we the first to jump ship? John Barnes

We all have preconceptions of people based on what we have been told about them and their race and ethnicity. John Barnes

People About Been Preconceptions Race Them Ethnicity Based

There are so many intelligent former black players, guys like Luther Blissett and Cyrille Regis, who never got a chance to become a top manager or a top coach because of the perception that surrounds people who look like them. They are black - which, for many, means they are good athletes but incapable of being anything above and beyond that. John Barnes

Good People Black Perception Become Top Athletes Above Guys Never Like Beyond Look Because Got Surrounds Intelligent Manager Being Anything Which Former Them Coach Incapable Means Who Many Players Chance Luther

I felt I had to take the Celtic opportunity. You quickly learn that any managerial vacancy attracts up to 60 or 70 applicants, so you need a good reason to turn a job down. A start is a start. John Barnes

Football is a socialist sport. Financially, some may receive more rewards than others but, from a footballing perspective, for 90 minutes, regardless of whether you are Lionel Messi or the substitute right-back for Argentina, you are all working to the same end. John Barnes

You Perspective Others Financially Some Minutes More Argentina Football 90 Minutes Sport Messi End Lionel Than Same May Rewards Substitute Regardless Whether Working Socialist Receive

Until we get rid of racial bias, sexism, homophobia in society, it will exist in all walks of society. John Barnes

Will Walks Society Sexism Bias Until Exist Get Racial Rid