Carl Baker
Encyclopedia
Carl Paul Baker is an English
footballer who plays as a winger or as an attacking midfielder for Coventry City
. He has also played for the Middlesex Wanderers touring team.
, Merseyside
, Baker started his career with Liverpool
at schoolboy level before playing for Prescot Cables
. He signed for Southport
in 2003.
Championship winning team in the 2004–05 season. In 2005 he was a member of the Middlesex Wanderers touring team that visited Japan
.
After again playing an important role in helping keep Southport in the Conference National
in the 2005–06 season, Baker signed his first full time contract, for the next season as the club turned fully professional, whilst much of the championship winning, and relegation surviving team, (fan favourites Steve Dickinson, Steve Daly, Earl Davis) all not willing to leave their non-footballing jobs, left unable to make the transition to full time.
Despite Southport's relegation from the Conference National in the 2006–07 season, Baker swept the board with Player of the Year awards, voted on by his fellow players, the fans and local press. He was a fan favourite with the club's fans, being one of only two players left from the 2005 title winning squad. Although only on a year's contract meaning he could move on for free, the club's official website announced he had signed for another year at the club. This meant that any interested team would have to pay for his services.
newcomers, Morecambe for a club record, though undisclosed fee. He signed a three year contract with Morecambe.
In August 2007 Baker scored Morecambes first goal when they beat Football League Championship
club Wolverhampton Wanderers
3–1 in extra time in an Carling Cup match.
In November, Baker was named North West Non-league player of the year, at the North West Football Awards, for his efforts playing for Southport in the 2006–07, beating his new Morecambe team-mate Adam Yates
to the prize.
, with the club paying Morecambe a fee that could rise to a figure of £225,000 for his services.
His 2008–09 season was a in-different one for Baker, he played 27 times for County in his first season, scoring 3 goals, all these were before January, when Baker received a knee injury which required surgery.
The 2009–10 season started well for Baker on the pitch and is now thought to be one of Stockport's main assets. As of Mid-October he's County's leading scorer with 10 goals. Baker became the first County player to score successive away hat-tricks, with stunning performances against Brighton & Hove Albion
& Crewe
. Baker scored his 10th goal-of-the-season for Stockport from the penalty spot in the game away to Tranmere Rovers
, which was live on Sky
– dedicating the goal to his brother Mike whose name he bears on his shirt collar.
Baker added to his goals tally by scoring a penalty in the game against Tooting & Mitcham.
On 26 December 2009, Gary Ablett told reporters that Baker has signed a deal with Championship side Coventry City
. Baker's last game for Stockport County was against League 1 leaders Leeds United
in which he scored a freekick. The goal was his 13th goal of the season.
In February 2010, Manager Chris Coleman praised Baker for his impressive performances since joining the club, likening his playing style to that of Sky Blue legend Tommy Hutchinson.
On 10 August 2010, Baker returned to former club Morecambe
, in a League Cup
First Round tie. Coventry fell to a 2–0 defeat.
. However he was called up again for a match against Italy on 15 February 2006, which England won 3–1. He played for England C in their 1–0 win over Finland on 1 June 2007.
In October 2006 he was suspended for a week and fined by Southport for what was described as a "serious breach of club discipline".
On 16 September 2009 it was confirmed that Baker's older brother (Michael) had died of leukemia
; despite that Carl went on to play just two days later and score 2 goals in Stockport's 2–2 draw with Yeovil Town
; his other brother has also been diagnosed with leukemia.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays as a winger or as an attacking midfielder for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He has also played for the Middlesex Wanderers touring team.
Club career
Born in WhistonWhiston, Merseyside
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 13,629...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, Baker started his career with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at schoolboy level before playing for Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
. He signed for Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
in 2003.
Southport
Spotted playing for Prescot by Southport manager, Liam Watson, Baker was quickly snapped up by the Merseyside club, and quickly established himself as one of non-league's exciting talents. He was an important member of the Southport Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
Championship winning team in the 2004–05 season. In 2005 he was a member of the Middlesex Wanderers touring team that visited Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
After again playing an important role in helping keep Southport in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in the 2005–06 season, Baker signed his first full time contract, for the next season as the club turned fully professional, whilst much of the championship winning, and relegation surviving team, (fan favourites Steve Dickinson, Steve Daly, Earl Davis) all not willing to leave their non-footballing jobs, left unable to make the transition to full time.
Despite Southport's relegation from the Conference National in the 2006–07 season, Baker swept the board with Player of the Year awards, voted on by his fellow players, the fans and local press. He was a fan favourite with the club's fans, being one of only two players left from the 2005 title winning squad. Although only on a year's contract meaning he could move on for free, the club's official website announced he had signed for another year at the club. This meant that any interested team would have to pay for his services.
Morecambe
On 11 July 2007 he signed for Football League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
newcomers, Morecambe for a club record, though undisclosed fee. He signed a three year contract with Morecambe.
In August 2007 Baker scored Morecambes first goal when they beat Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
3–1 in extra time in an Carling Cup match.
In November, Baker was named North West Non-league player of the year, at the North West Football Awards, for his efforts playing for Southport in the 2006–07, beating his new Morecambe team-mate Adam Yates
Adam Yates
Adam Paul Yates is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a full back. He is a former semi-pro international with England....
to the prize.
Stockport County
On 22 July 2008, Baker signed a three-year contract at Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, with the club paying Morecambe a fee that could rise to a figure of £225,000 for his services.
His 2008–09 season was a in-different one for Baker, he played 27 times for County in his first season, scoring 3 goals, all these were before January, when Baker received a knee injury which required surgery.
The 2009–10 season started well for Baker on the pitch and is now thought to be one of Stockport's main assets. As of Mid-October he's County's leading scorer with 10 goals. Baker became the first County player to score successive away hat-tricks, with stunning performances against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
& Crewe
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. Baker scored his 10th goal-of-the-season for Stockport from the penalty spot in the game away to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, which was live on Sky
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
– dedicating the goal to his brother Mike whose name he bears on his shirt collar.
Baker added to his goals tally by scoring a penalty in the game against Tooting & Mitcham.
On 26 December 2009, Gary Ablett told reporters that Baker has signed a deal with Championship side Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. Baker's last game for Stockport County was against League 1 leaders Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in which he scored a freekick. The goal was his 13th goal of the season.
Coventry City
Coventry confirmed Baker as the club's fourth permanent signing in the January 2010 transfer window on 8 January 2010. Baker joined Coventry for an undisclosed fee, which was confirmed by him in person as being £300,000.In February 2010, Manager Chris Coleman praised Baker for his impressive performances since joining the club, likening his playing style to that of Sky Blue legend Tommy Hutchinson.
On 10 August 2010, Baker returned to former club Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
First Round tie. Coventry fell to a 2–0 defeat.
International career
In November 2005 Baker was called up to the England C squad, but was recalled by Southport due to an FA Cup replay against WokingWoking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
. However he was called up again for a match against Italy on 15 February 2006, which England won 3–1. He played for England C in their 1–0 win over Finland on 1 June 2007.
Personal life
On 21 August 2006, Baker pleaded guilty at North Sefton Magistrates Court to failing to provide a specimen for analysis, after he had been stopped on 13 August by police who suspected Baker had been drink driving. Magistrates disqualified him from driving. Baker made a public apology.In October 2006 he was suspended for a week and fined by Southport for what was described as a "serious breach of club discipline".
On 16 September 2009 it was confirmed that Baker's older brother (Michael) had died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
; despite that Carl went on to play just two days later and score 2 goals in Stockport's 2–2 draw with Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
; his other brother has also been diagnosed with leukemia.