Despite an offer from Swindon Town, Barney opted to return to Belfast, and join his boyhood favourites at The Oval in August 1981.
Bowers made his debut in a match against Dundalk at home in August 1981, which finished 0-0.
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.
[4] Bowers scored Ards only goal in their 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign.
In July 2008, the Glentoran Legends team was set up, in which Barney has been a part of since the first match.