David Barnes (born 16 November 1961) is an English former footballer who played as a left-back in the Football League for Coventry City, Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aldershot, Sheffield United, Watford and Colchester United. He was forced to retire in 1997 following a succession of injuries. Barnes represented England at under-19 level. Club career Early career Born in Paddington, Barnes was brought up in the Felixstowe area as a Barnardo's Boy. He featured for junior side South Suffolk Old Boys and was on the books at Ipswich Town as a schoolboy. However, he joined Coventry City as an apprentice in May 1979, and was converted from a striker to a full-back role. Coventry City While with Coventry, Barnes received England youth caps and honours while also making nine top-flight appearances at Highfield Road. He left in April 1982 to rejoin Ipswich on a free transfer. Ipswich Town Rejoining his boyhood club, Barnes spent two years at Portman Road where he made 17 appearances. He made his debut for the club in the First Division match against Swansea City on 27 November 1982 and made six first-team appearances during his first season with Town. He made a further ten starts and one substitute showing in his second season, before playing his final game in the East Anglian derby on 23 April 1984. Wolverhampton Wanderers Barnes secured a £35,000 transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1984 where he became a first-team regular, making 88 appearances in three seasons at Molineux. However, he joined just as Wolves were on a free-fall through the Football League, suffering two successive relegations to Division Four. He faced his future club Colchester United in the Football League play-offs at the semi-final stage in the 1986–87 season, overcoming Colchester to reach the final, but the club lost out to another of Barnes' future clubs, Aldershot, in the final at Wembley. Aldershot A move to play-off winners Aldershot was the next destination for Barnes for a £25,000 fee, where he spent two years playing in the Third Division, making 69 league appearances. In his second season with the club, their second in the Third Division, Aldershot finished rock-bottom of the league, allowing Sheffield United to buy the player for £50,000 in July 1989. Sheffield United Barnes made the step up to Second Division football with Sheffield United, who had just been promoted to the league. He did not look