The fact both were pinched from cash-strapped local rivals Northampton Town was a neat little bonus for Posh fans.
Posh reportedly paid just £60k in total for a lower division Teddy Sheringham (Adcock) and a dazzling, cocky little winger (Barnes).
Adcock joined in time to make his debut on January 1 and Barnes pitched up a few weeks later.
Turner would admit, after promotion to the old Division One was achieved for the first time in the club’s history, it was the best bit of business he did in his managerial career.
Halsall conceded the pair added the bit of quality a hard-working, efficient and well-organised Posh side needed to get up through the Third Division play-offs (the divisions were re-named that summer enabling Posh to jump two divisions with one promotion)!
“Turner’s style of play suited me,” Adcock told the Peterborough Telegraph earlier this year.
“It wasn’t pure long ball like John Beck used to play at Cambridge United, but he liked the ball to be played forward quickly and then we had licence to play. The more I saw of the ball the better.
“Me and Bobby knew we were were joining a club on the up, but we didn’t expect the level of success so quickly. It was a great time in our careers for both of us.”
Adcock didn’t actually score in the final 20 matches of that promotion season, but his understanding with ‘King’ Ken Charley made him undroppable.
“Tony and Bobby were class players,” Halsall recalled. “We were a fit, strong side capable of holding our own in the Third Division, but they both gave us some quality. Adcock was top class and in Bobby and Worrell Sterling we had two outstanding wingers who were key to our promotion that season.”
Such is the fickle nature of football, and such was the ruthlessness of Turner, Barnes replaced Garry Kimble in the Posh side. A couple of months earlier Kimble had scored the goal that secured Posh a famous League Cup win over Liverpool at London Road.
Adcock and Barnes arrived at Posh in the days before transfer windows became compulsory in the 2002-03 season.
Since then Posh have made some outstanding signings in January, but also some duff one as we recall here...
9.
DWIGHT GAYLE: Signed from Dagenham & Redbridge for £500k in January, 2013, although originally joined on loan in November 2012. Posh apps/goals: 29/13. Left for Crystal Palace for £6 million in July, 2013. Now at Newcastle. BRILLIANT striker who only played Championship football for Posh. A deadly finisher. Photo: Horsham
10.
CALLUM CHETTLE. Signed on a free transfer from Nuneaton in January, 2016. Posh apps'goals: 22/0. Left for Alfreton for free in July, 2018. Now at Basford. Another of Graham Westley's left-field signings. A TIDY enough player for Posh, but short of what was required for a promotion push. Photo: Midlands
11.
RYAN BENNETT: Signed for £500k from Grimsby Town in January, 2010 although had been on loan since October 2009. Posh apps/goals: 100/7. Left for £3 million to Norwich in March 2012. Now at Swansea. OUTSTANDING young centre-back who formed a formidable defensive partnership with Gaby Zakuani. Photo: Midlands
12.
JOE LEWIS. Signed from Norwich City for £400k in January, 2008. Posh apps/goals: 190/0. Left on a free transfer to Cardiff City in May, 2012. A goalkeeper who was a KEY part of two Posh promotions to the Championship and now a star man in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen. Photo: Midlands