Originally debuting for Thames Ironworks, he moved to Sheffield United and scored the winning goal in the 1902 FA Cup final replay.

Later on in his career he won two Southern Football League titles and took part in two Charity Shield matches including the first time it was held.

Later that season, Barnes returned to the Thames Ironworks team as a guest and played in the final of the West Ham Charity Cup.

[4] During the 1908–09 season for Queens Park Rangers, Barnes was the team's top scorer having scored ten goals in both league and cup competitions.

[9] Barnes was named in a list of the top 100 Queens Park Rangers players of all time, constructed by the club's historian in 2007.