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Stick to Football

John Barnes: Liverpool Legend, Battles with United & Tackling Racism | Stick to Football EP 112

Stick to Football

The Overlap

News, Sports News, Football, Arsenal, Gary Neville, Ian Wright, Jill Scott, Premier League, Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, Sports, Soccer

4.2969 Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2026

⏱️ 86 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome back to Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE.


Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Jill Scott and Ian Wright are joined by John Barnes to reflect on a remarkable career and life in the game.


Barnes looks back on his early years and pathway into football, from his breakthrough at Watford to earning a move to Liverpool. He revisits some of his most iconic moments, including that unforgettable goal against Brazil, and speaks openly about dealing with racism during his playing days.


The conversation also turns to the famous Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry, with Barnes sharing why he feels United often had the edge during that era.


We finish with a look back at his iconic England rap, as John reveals how it came together and shares unseen footage from the recording.


What is your favourite John Barnes moment? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Overlap.


00:00 - Intro

04:50 - Transition to Professional Football

28:30 - Racism in Football

29:02 - Joining Liverpool

40:20 - Football Culture

01:00:54 - The Legacy of Sir Kenny Dalglish

01:03:37 - Love for Liverpool

01:07:14 - Iconic Rap Story


This episode is sponsored by Huel.


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This episode is sponsored by Sky Bet’s Super 6.


Visit super6.skysports.com for your chance to win £200k and a brand new car.


Terms and conditions apply: https://super6.skysports.com/terms


Stick to Football is brought to you by our partners ARNE clothing


https://arneclo.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing.

0:04.1

We hope you enjoy the show.

0:07.9

Hey, look, so crazy.

0:09.5

That's lovely that, Ritey.

0:11.3

It's not bad, isn't it?

0:12.1

Everybody came to greet me?

0:13.3

Where were you?

0:14.5

I went to the toilet, up, the shopping up the car.

0:16.2

You took a long time.

0:18.0

Keep you away from those sweets.

0:20.7

The menoen rolls. 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'm chopping down to Sean Zelese. Oh. Honestly, nearly got a span from every store., I did. I just didn't want some of the stuff.

0:37.8

It was rubbish gear.

0:39.2

Yeah, but there's ways of doing it. When you're in a nice place, you kind of like go, oh, well, that's a good boy to his attack. I don't, 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, right you?

0:54.4

31 and 32.

0:57.8

Nice year. move to West London. Absolutely. How old would you have been then, right? 31. 31. 32. Are you the same age then? Right? No, I'm older than him.

1:01.4

You both don't look. He's four days older than me, four days. Wow. You look fantastic.

1:07.9

It's in the jeans, baby. What's the secret, guys? Do you know the first time? Seven children? First time I ever met John. I was in the first squad, 95, one of the first ever England squads and I went down to Burning Beach's into the spa area to walk to the jacuzzi and I walked through the door and he was in there on his own just relaxing in the jacuzzi. you want to know one of them picked 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 me I'm going to have to go through and sit in the jacuzzi because I was going towards his newsie were his his clothes? Huh? Did you have clothes on?

1:44.5

He had shorts on.

1:45.3

What's that? Jill's got a vision of me and John. I mean, I took him off after a few minutes. I don't know. And they look him out to him out. No, they're not, mate. They haven't looked after me at all, but I know you will. I love a coffee. And John, you were unbelievable to me.

2:01.5

For half an hour you talked to me, I thought,

2:03.4

Joe something, this is a man who Not a not, mate. They haven't looked after me at all, but I know you will. Do you have a coffee? And John, you were unbelievable to me.

2:01.5

For half an hour you talked to me, I thought, Joe something, this is a man who literally scarred and ruined. But please don't tell them what I spoke to you about. Do you hear of coffee? Whatever is he just, mate? What do you prefer? I'll have a tea then. So that was one of your first times in there?

...

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