RIP Keith "Golden Boots" Barnes (1934 - 2024)

RIP Keith Barnes

RIP Keith Barnes

Condolences to his family and friends

I remember watching him play many times and he could kick them from anywhere dependably,with the old leather balls as well. Dave Bolton was a legend also who produced magic every game.The Tigers never gave up and always came back from behind the score regularly in those days,

RIP Keith Barnes, legend of the game.

Condolences to his family and friends

Gone but you'll never be forgotten.

R.I.P Keith.

I got my first Keith Barnes autograph at, of all places, Lidcombe Oval at the entrance as the players came thru the gates.

Wonderful human and will be missed.

How sad. Remember watching him at the old SCG with my dad. He was something special. Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Those who are old enough and lived in the east may remember him as the Manager of the old Rushcutters Bay 10pin Bowls. I used to go there, hang around and play pool as a kid. I remember seeing Golden Boots there all the time.

RIP, prays go out to his family.

One of the greatest! RIP Golden Boots.

One of Golden Boots' great moments​

Wests Tigers Mon 8 Apr 2024, 10:10 PM

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One of the many memorable moments in the illustrious career of the late Keith Barnes occurred against the Dragons at Leichhardt Oval in 1960.

Barnes, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 89, is a Tigers legend who played 194 games for Balmain between 1955 and 1968, competing in three grand finals.

A goal-kicking maestro, Barnes had a grandstand named in his honour at the ‘eighth wonder of the world' in 2009, and his name is also carried on Wests Tigers Player of the Year award, the Kelly-Barnes Medal.
The Welsh-born fullback, nicknamed Golden Boots, kicked 742 goals for Balmain along with 11 tries and one field goal for a total of 1519 points.

Five of those goals, including one from his own half, were kicked against the Dragons at Leichhardt Oval on 29th May 1960.
Such was the enormity of his impact on the outcome of this game, Barnes was carried from the field by fans.

The amazing goal broke a 15-all deadlock late in the game and he kicked another goal on full-time to secure a 19-15 victory for the Tigers.

It should be remembered that this win was against the all-conquering Dragons team which would string together 11 consecutive premierships, a side that included the likes of Rugby League Immortals Reg Gasnier and Norm Provan.

The iconic moment has been recorded as follows in the official Rugby League Annual, written by David Middleton.

May 29, 1960 – Balmain fullback Keith “Golden Boots” Barnes kicks one of the game’s greatest goals in a club match against St George at Leichhardt Oval. From a penalty, Barnes lines up the kick, six metres inside his own half and out wide. Saints captain Ken Kearney replaces himself on the mark with giant second-rower Norm Provan. Barnes moves back a further three metres and lands the goal with ease. Balmain win 19-15.

Wests Tigers will honour Keith Barnes at Sunday’s match against the Dragons at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Remembering Keith Barnes​

Clubs: Wollongong 1953-54; Balmain 1955-68; Games for NSW: 12 (1956-63); Tests for Australia: 14 (1959-66).
Mon 30 Jul, 2018