Barney Bowers

Barney Bowers(born 19 August 1959 ) is a former Derby, Cliftonville, Ards and Glentoran F.C. player.

He is the record holder for European appearances for a Glentoran player & Irish league player, with a number of appearances for Ards in Europe towards the end of his career. Despite missing so much Barney still amassed over 500 appearances for Glentoran after joining from Derby County in August 1981, but for those two broken legs and a fractured cheekbone Barney would have been the record holder for Glentoran appearances. As an 18 year old Barney slipped through the Glentoran scouting network, only to be signed by Cliftonville. Inthose days Barney was a midfielder, and earned rave reviews, for his all action play. Such was his talent that Derby manager Tommy Doherty signed him for £25,000. Despite an offer from Swindon Town, Barney opted to return to Belfast, and join his boyhood favourites at the Oval. Along with Paterson, Cleary, Jameson, Blackledge etc. Barney played his part during our trophy winning sides of the mid-eighties. Goals have also played their part in Barney's game with over 100 during his time. Who could forget his free kick in the last minute against Standard Leige or the winning goal in the last minute of the Gold Cup Final against Cliftonville in 1991. Over the seasons though Barney has spent a lot of time as a sweeper leding a cool head in the heart of the defense. No matter where Barney has played for Glentoran his commitment to the team has never dwained. A whole hearted player, who gained just reward in 1992 when he led Glentoran to the League title, the only medal he had previously not won in the Irish League, having missed out on a medal during our double year, when out with a broken leg. A well deserved honour for truly one of the great Glentoran players. Debut v Dundalk 0-0 (H) August 1981

Appearances 1981-82 44 + 4 goals 1982-83 37 + 12 goals 1983-84 51 + 16 goals 1984-85 50 + 18 goals 1985-86 22 + 7 goals 1986-87 28 + 5 goals 1987-88 18 + 3 goals 1988-89 35 + 3 goals 1989-90 54 + 1 as sub + 7 goals 1990-91 42 + 1 as sub + 3 goals 1991-92 37 + 2 as sub + 7 goals 1992-93 40 + 6 goals 1993-94 39 + 1 as sub + 10 goals 1994-95 20 + 1 as sub + 3 goals

Another major achievement in Barney's life came on Saturday 28th June, when he won 'player of the tournament' in an over 35's football tournament in the heart of East Belfast. Many pundits including BBC sport's football pundit Jackie Fullerton feels that Barney should be elated to have won this, "Barney has to consider this to be his biggest achievements to date, when you consider his age and some off the players in the tournament he beat to get this title it has to be considered as a real honour." Fan's favourite Davy Hayes finished runner up to Barney on Saturday, many people where very shocked by this as Davy put a textbook display of football on, rolling back the years. Including a fantastic lob when he spotted the keeper off his line and a thunderous penalty against his former club Orangefield. He also did a Van Basten esq turn to fool Kurt Bowes (Head of the Clondoff UVF)

Barney was seen celebrating Saturday in the Eastenders Bar, Cregagh Road with friends and family. He also celebrated in typical Bowers fashion with a liver busting amount off alcohol. He round off the night celebrating with his favourite son Glen in the King Richard Bar, Castlereagh, with some off the most ruthless gunmen in the East off Belfast.