Barnes was active between 1996 and 2019, spending his first thirteen seasons in professional football in a career that began at Rotherham United, although he first made a name for himself as Blackpool. He notched up 141 league appearances during his spell with the Tangerines which earned him a move to Sheffield United, spending time on loan with Torquay United and Queens Park Rangers before joining Grimsby Town.
Barnes was active from 1996 to 2019, spending his initial thirteen years in professional football at Rotherham United before gaining recognition as a Blackpool player. He made 141 league appearances during his time with the Tangerines, which led to a move to Sheffield United, where he spent time on loan with Torquay United and Queens Park Rangers before joining Grimsby Town.