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1992-1996
DATE OF BIRTH Sunday, 25th March 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH Lewisham, London
DEBUT Saturday, 12th September 1992 in a 3-2 defeat at home to Norwich City (Aged: 19)
CLUB CAREER 12 League apps (+2 as sub), 0 goals
Nice-guy Anthony Barness was a surprise addition to Chelsea's squad when he joined the Blues
from Charlton Athletic for £350, 000 in September 1992, to begin what would prove to be a
tortuous four-year spell at Stamford Bridge. The match in which he made his debut for the club
might have given some indication of the rough ride ahead as he took his place in the Chelsea
side which capitulated to a 3-2 defeat at home to Norwich City after leading 2-0 at half-time. Whilst
the following day's headlines concentrated on a disastrous day for keeper Dave Beasant and
manager Ian Porterfield, Barney's debut was largely overlooked but he had reason to be pleased
with his own performance, if not for the injury which he picked up in that game which would keep
him on the sidelines for a long spell. By the time he returned to the side Chelsea had a new
caretaker manager, David Webb, who selected him for his first match in charge, a 2-0 defeat at
Blackburn, after which Webb opted for his more experienced players and consigned Anthony to
the reserves for the remainder of the campaign. Barney's excitement at the arrival of his hero,
Glenn Hoddle, as player/manager in the summer of 1993 was eventually tempered by the fact that
his new boss failed to select him at all during his first season in charge but he suddenly,
dramatically, found himself back in favour when Hoddle needed as many English players as he
could muster for deployment in the European Cup Winners Cup matches, a bizarre FIFA ruling
having decreed that Scottish, Welsh and Irish players must be counted amongst the three
permitted foreign players selected for European matches. Barney's return came in a 0-0 draw in
Jablonec against Czech side Viktoria Zizkov, Chelsea progressing 4-2 on aggregate, and his form
was such that he kept his place in the side throughout much of the autumn, playing not only at
left-back but also on the right of the back four and in midfield. Most memorably he was a member
of the young side who memorably fought against the odds in Vienna to clinch an away goals
victory over Austria Vienna. Sadly for Barney, though, it was not to last and by Christmas he was
back in the stiffs, making just a single substitute appearance throughout the final five months of
the season. An appearance in a surprise League Cup defeat at the hands of Stoke City early in the
1995/96 season proved to be Barney's last game for Chelsea. A brief spell on loan at Southend at
least gave him the opportunity to play some football again and in the summer of 1996 his
frustrations were brought to an end when, having made less than 20 appearances in four
seasons with Chelsea, he returned to Charlton Athletic for £165, 000.
1992-1993 Played 2 Scored 0 goals
1993-1994 Played 0 Scored 0 goals
1994-1995 Played 12 Scored 0 goals
1995-1996 Played 0 Scored 0 goals
DATE OF BIRTH Sunday, 25th March 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH Lewisham, London
DEBUT Saturday, 12th September 1992 in a 3-2 defeat at home to Norwich City (Aged: 19)
CLUB CAREER 12 League apps (+2 as sub), 0 goals
Nice-guy Anthony Barness was a surprise addition to Chelsea's squad when he joined the Blues
from Charlton Athletic for £350, 000 in September 1992, to begin what would prove to be a
tortuous four-year spell at Stamford Bridge. The match in which he made his debut for the club
might have given some indication of the rough ride ahead as he took his place in the Chelsea
side which capitulated to a 3-2 defeat at home to Norwich City after leading 2-0 at half-time. Whilst
the following day's headlines concentrated on a disastrous day for keeper Dave Beasant and
manager Ian Porterfield, Barney's debut was largely overlooked but he had reason to be pleased
with his own performance, if not for the injury which he picked up in that game which would keep
him on the sidelines for a long spell. By the time he returned to the side Chelsea had a new
caretaker manager, David Webb, who selected him for his first match in charge, a 2-0 defeat at
Blackburn, after which Webb opted for his more experienced players and consigned Anthony to
the reserves for the remainder of the campaign. Barney's excitement at the arrival of his hero,
Glenn Hoddle, as player/manager in the summer of 1993 was eventually tempered by the fact that
his new boss failed to select him at all during his first season in charge but he suddenly,
dramatically, found himself back in favour when Hoddle needed as many English players as he
could muster for deployment in the European Cup Winners Cup matches, a bizarre FIFA ruling
having decreed that Scottish, Welsh and Irish players must be counted amongst the three
permitted foreign players selected for European matches. Barney's return came in a 0-0 draw in
Jablonec against Czech side Viktoria Zizkov, Chelsea progressing 4-2 on aggregate, and his form
was such that he kept his place in the side throughout much of the autumn, playing not only at
left-back but also on the right of the back four and in midfield. Most memorably he was a member
of the young side who memorably fought against the odds in Vienna to clinch an away goals
victory over Austria Vienna. Sadly for Barney, though, it was not to last and by Christmas he was
back in the stiffs, making just a single substitute appearance throughout the final five months of
the season. An appearance in a surprise League Cup defeat at the hands of Stoke City early in the
1995/96 season proved to be Barney's last game for Chelsea. A brief spell on loan at Southend at
least gave him the opportunity to play some football again and in the summer of 1996 his
frustrations were brought to an end when, having made less than 20 appearances in four
seasons with Chelsea, he returned to Charlton Athletic for £165, 000.
1992-1993 Played 2 Scored 0 goals
1993-1994 Played 0 Scored 0 goals
1994-1995 Played 12 Scored 0 goals
1995-1996 Played 0 Scored 0 goals
| Other Chelsea Left Backs |
| ANTHONY BARNESS |