He later worked as a journalist for the North West Evening Mail, based in Barrow-in-Furness, before joining the BBC's sports department in 1979. He was a producer of Football Focus and editor of Match of the Day. He was senior editor of the BBC's coverage of the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. Aside from football, Barwick was also the senior editor for the BBC's broadcasting of several other sporting events including the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and the European and World Athletics Championships. He was also the editor of Sports Review of the Year. In 1995, he became BBC's Head of Sport.
In November 2004, Barwick was named as the chief executive of the Football Association and began the role in January 2005. He had worked with the FA before joining as the chief executive, negotiating a number of TV rights deals for both the BBC and ITV. Barwick worked with three England managers during his time at the FA – Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello. Barwick also oversaw the completion of the new Wembley Stadium and launched the FA's Respect Campaign. He stepped down from his role in August 2008 and left the organisation at the end of that year.
Rugby League
After launching his own sport and media consultancy, Barwick was approached to become the new Chairman of the Rugby Football League in January 2013. He also took up the post as Chairman of the sport's Super League Europe. He also sat on the Rugby League International Federation as England's representative. Barwick was also Chairman of the RFL's 2021 Rugby League World Cup bid and has subsequently been made the Chairman of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Board.
The National League
Barwick was appointed the new Chairman of football's National League in June 2015 and is also a member of the FA Council. During his tenure he presided over the embarrassing debacle of promotion and relegation when the National League Board tried to stop the National League South and National League North clubs being allowed to take part in play-off matches, blaming government policy, when in fact it there were no such restrictions.. In a subsequent climb-down they allowed the members clubs to vote on the issue, although in a somewhat bizarre resolution put before members they refused to state any other options and referred all subsequent decisions back to the "Board".
Other appointments
Barwick was appointed Chairman of the City of Liverpool's 2022 Commonwealth Games Bid in April 2017. Barwick was visiting professor of strategic leadership at the Management School of the University of Liverpool between January 2009 and June 2017. He has also been chairman of the advisory board of UCFB – a higher-education establishment working in football business industries. He was made an honorary doctorate by Buckinghamshire New University in September 2015 in recognition of his career in broadcasting and sport, and in August 2017 was made a member of the Liverpool Hope University's Business School's advisory board.
Writing
He has had three books published – "The Great Derbies - Everton v Liverpool", an autobiography, "Anfield Days and Wembley Ways" and "Are You Watching the Match Tonight", a history of football on television. He writes regularly in local and national media on sports broadcasting and life in general and has a column "Life of Brian" in the Liverpool Echo. His interests include British comedy, swimming and popular music.
