For the VIP who turned up at his bedside in Macclesfield General Hospital was his inspirational ex-City team-mate and one of his best pals, Bert Trautman.
Former German POW Trautman, 85, entered football folklore when in the 1956 FA Cup Final he played on despite a broken neck to help City beat Birmingham 3-1.
Barnes, or Beaky as goalie Bert called him, starred in the same Cup Final team during the 10 years they were together at Maine Road.
Trautman, who now lives in Spain and jetted over for Barnes' 80th surprise birthday that had to be cancelled, said: "I will be repeating some of the speech I was going to give at his party. My address was going to begin, `well Mr Kenneth Barnes or should I say Beaky!'
"There was great comradeship in the City team at that time. We were like brothers. I am very fond of him and like everyone else. It was terrible that he should have the accident just before his birthday."
Player
Ken was shopping in Macclesfield, near his home, when he slipped on moss and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance. He had an operation after fracturing his hip in three places and breaking his femur.
Trautman added: "Ken never seemed to get injured as a player. He always seemed to come out of the mêlée with the ball."
During the last 12 days he's been on the orthopaedic ward, Ken's been visited by son, Peter, the former City, United and England international, together with stars of yesteryear Denis Law, Tommy Booth and Paul Lake.
Ken who had more than 300 appearances for City was regarded as the best wing-back never to play for England. He has also been City's coach, chief scout and helped pioneer the much revered youth team at the club.
Ken said: "A lot of people have been in touch asking about how I am. What does cheer me up is City winning matches."
Trautman fought on the Eastern Front for five years after joining the Luftwaffe in World War II. The paratrooper earned five medals including an Iron Cross.
After being captured by the British on the Western Front he was imprisoned at a POW camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield. He opted not to return to Germany on his release in 1948 combining work with the bomb disposal squad with playing for St Helen's Town.
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Best wishes Ken, Hope your up and about soon. You were a fantastic servant to the club
Behold truly GREAT men and players - Barnes and Trautmann. The word is used to lightly these days.
We bow in honour and respect.
These guys illustrate what greatness really is.
Sometimes the word LEGEND is used too often now. Not with these two. I say again LEGENDS
fought in the war, medals for gallantry, broke his neck, pow, city stalwart, looks good at 85 and genuine good egg.....want apint of whatever bert is on....and best wishes mr barnes....
I first watched City in 1952, Bert Trautmann has been one of the greatest goalkeepers at this club, dedicated to City in a way that no modern day football could even comtemplate. I wish both Barnes and Trautmann well and thank them for making a young boys dreams come true.
Best wishes to both Ken and Bert.......thanks for some wonderful times.
Hope you get well soon Ken and Bert I want whatever your on coz you look great : )
Bad news about Kens problems but what a nice story. Get well soon Ken. Both big heroes to a young boy.
I was just 8 at the time but I remember the 1956 Final as though it were yesterday. My dad had got a ticket but then you had to be 12 to be able to get one, so my mum and I had to watch it on the tele. I remember the opening goal, beginning with a throw out by Bert and ending with a flick through Revie's legs to Joe Hayes to hammer it in. Pandemonium in our house! Then Birmingham came back strongly and Bobbie Johnson looked as though he'd struggle to come out for the second half. But what a display in that second half, with two goals from the little Scottish maestro. Then horror! Bert went down to make one of his usual, brave saves, but was clearly hurt... The rest is legend. What a lovely photo of them together now. Best wishes, Ken, for a speedy and full recovery. And keep coming back, Bert - I'm a grandpa now, but you're still my hero!
Bert is my Hero, Cheshire,
Thanks for that little resume.I started following City in 1953, like you I'm a grandad & Bert is also still my hero. What a star, what a legend. Great photo. Best wishes to Ken for a swift recovery.
I'm 64 and Bert was my absolute hero. I was only about 2 foot nothing at junior school but always wanted to play in goal like my hero and Ken was the penalty king. Happy happy memories thanks for making a young boy very happy, two true Gentlemen, a term you would not apply to many men today. Wonderful.
What a great picture - two legends. It was great to see Bert looking so well. Get well soon, Ken.
Jack Dyson scored one of the goals in the second half. Johnstone got the other.
Get well soon Ken you are one of my CITY legends and I will never forget the hat trick of penalties you scored against Everton in the late fifties all at the GREEN scoreboard end of Maine Road - just like your son you are a gentleman who knows the game inside out --THANK YOU!
My first memories of supporting City as a 13 year old, were Bobby Johnstone, Roy Paul, Ken Barnes etc., and lifting that Cup in 1956. That was it. I was hooked. Sadly the team started to break up a bit after that, but WOW what memories. A lovely, lovely picture of Bert T and Ken Barnes. Both in their eighties and looking great. Thank you so much for the memories.
Bert Trautmann is the reason why I'm a City fan in far off New Zealand. As a boy I read his book, From The Steppes To Wembley and have been wearing blue ever since!
Great photo of two great players and human beings. Brought back lots of wonderful memories of my younger days of watching these two legends when I was not playing for St Helens Town. Get well Ken, Stay well Bert and my Best Wishes to you both.
Two great footballing legends and team players, and not only players but also friends A great inspiration, but I wonder if in 30- 40 years time we shall be reading similar articles about to-days players?
As a Moss Side Boy who grew up in the 60s I now know why I am a Blue and CTID means so much to me, my family and all who in life, in friendship and support of this "massive" club understand WHY. Seeing this photo cements my feeling of being a Maine Roader like these legends it is for life win lose or draw.
Graham Whittingham
A couple of stars from my youth, really wonderful players. As a young teenager I remember Bert's testimonial in 64 with Maine Road packed to the rafters. A great night, happy days. Get well soon Ken. It's great that the old team friendships still remain to this day.
Nice to see these two "legends" together again, although Ken has had a rough time recently, hopefully he will return to full "fitness" a.s.a.p.
Bert has never changed, and at 85 looking as fit as ever, hope he continues to thrive on his fitness.
Finally, the reporter has spelled Bert's name wrong, as there is a double "n" on the end - Trautmann, but then all the old City fans are well aware of that, particularly when they got his autograph like I did back in the 1950's.
What a great pair of "Old Blues." I watched and admired Bert Trautmann from when he joined the club from St. Helen's Town and was at Wembley in 1955 for the Newcastle defeat. (Meadows injured and off after nineteen minutes on a boiling afternoon and no substitutes then - otherwise I am still convinced we would have won it.) I was back at Wembley in 1956 for our victory over Birmingham City and it was all the sweeter following on after the previous season's bad luck. Of course, Bert was a hero in that final, getting badly injured by Murphy who would be red=carded for what he did in today's game. However, Bert's best ever save, in my opinion, came in a night match against Wolverhampton Wanderers - one of the greatest saves ever and for me ranks with Gordon Banks' save against Brazil in the World Cup.
Great story. Get well soon Ken.
Spot the Ball - spot on about Dyson! My other great memory of the summer of '56 is of playing football on the local park. Everyone wanted to play in goal. Everyone ended up on the floor (as usual). Everyone got up holding their neck in imitation of the great man.