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 had a professional football career from 1996 to 2019. He started at Rotherham United for the first thirteen years of his career, where he was known as a player for Blackpool. His performance with Tangerines led to a move to Sheffield United, and he spent time on loan with Torquay United and Queens Park Rangers before joining Grimsby Town.