Kevin Baron
Encyclopedia
Kevin Baron was a professional footballer who played for Liverpool
in the post-war
years.
, Baron played as an amateur for hometown club Preston
before he was signed for Liverpool by George Kay
in August 1945. He made his debut on 5 January 1946 in Liverpool's first competitive game after the conclusion of World War ll; it was an FA Cup
3rd round 1st leg match at Sealand Road Chester
, and was a debut to remember for Baron. Not only did the Reds beat Chester City
2-0, Baron made his debut alongside Liverpool legend Billy Liddell
. Baron's first goal came on 8 November 1947 in a league match at Anfield
. Grimsby Town
were the visitors and Baron's 77th-minute strike secured the points in a 3-1 victory.
Being a youngster didn't help Baron during the championship winning season of 1946/47 as the side was pretty much stable and it would have taken something extraordinary to break into it. The following season wasn't much better either, as Baron was only able to play six times.
Baron finally established himself as a first team regular in the 1949/50
season, the inside-forward only missed 4 of the 42 league games scoring 7 times, he also appeared in all 7 FA Cup
ties scoring in the 3-1 4th round win over Exeter City
at Anfield. The final was a mixture of emotions for Baron and the Reds, from being on a high for being part of the squad that took Liverpool to their first ever Wembley
final to feeling the heartache of defeat after Arsenal
won the match 2-0.
Baron's appearances took a downward turn during the 1950/51 season, but he won his spot back for the following campaign and only finished second to Liddell in the appearance chart, Liddell with 43 (40 league, 3 cup) and Baron with 41 (40 league, 1 cup). Kevin also chipped in with 6 goals.
He went on to appear another 44 times over the next 2 seasons without really setting Anfield alight. Baron was allowed to leave Liverpool in May 1954; he moved on to Southend
. He later played for Northampton Town
, before dropping into non-league football with Gravesend & Northfleet, Wisbech Town, Aldershot, Cambridge City, Bedford Town and Maldon Town.
He died in June 1971, when still only 44 years old.
on 15 April 1989, when 94 Liverpool
fans were crushed to death at the FA Cup
semi-final (the death toll eventually reached 96).
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...
in the post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years.
Life and playing career
Born at Preston, Lancashire, EnglandEngland
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...
, Baron played as an amateur for hometown club Preston
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
before he was signed for Liverpool by George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
in August 1945. He made his debut on 5 January 1946 in Liverpool's first competitive game after the conclusion of World War ll; it was an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
3rd round 1st leg match at Sealand Road Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, and was a debut to remember for Baron. Not only did the Reds beat Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
2-0, Baron made his debut alongside Liverpool legend Billy Liddell
Billy Liddell
William Beveridge "Billy" Liddell was a Scottish footballer, who played his entire professional career with Liverpool. He signed with the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961, having scored 228 goals in 534 appearances...
. Baron's first goal came on 8 November 1947 in a league match at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
were the visitors and Baron's 77th-minute strike secured the points in a 3-1 victory.
Being a youngster didn't help Baron during the championship winning season of 1946/47 as the side was pretty much stable and it would have taken something extraordinary to break into it. The following season wasn't much better either, as Baron was only able to play six times.
Baron finally established himself as a first team regular in the 1949/50
1949-50 in English football
The 1949–50 season was the 70th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth retained the First Division title by one of the narrowest margins in history ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C....
season, the inside-forward only missed 4 of the 42 league games scoring 7 times, he also appeared in all 7 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
ties scoring in the 3-1 4th round win over Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
at Anfield. The final was a mixture of emotions for Baron and the Reds, from being on a high for being part of the squad that took Liverpool to their first ever Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
final to feeling the heartache of defeat after Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
won the match 2-0.
Baron's appearances took a downward turn during the 1950/51 season, but he won his spot back for the following campaign and only finished second to Liddell in the appearance chart, Liddell with 43 (40 league, 3 cup) and Baron with 41 (40 league, 1 cup). Kevin also chipped in with 6 goals.
He went on to appear another 44 times over the next 2 seasons without really setting Anfield alight. Baron was allowed to leave Liverpool in May 1954; he moved on to Southend
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. He later played for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, before dropping into non-league football with Gravesend & Northfleet, Wisbech Town, Aldershot, Cambridge City, Bedford Town and Maldon Town.
He died in June 1971, when still only 44 years old.
Career details
- Liverpool F.C. (1945–1954) - 153 appearances, 32 goals - FA Cup runners-up medal (1950).
Family
18 years after Kevin's death, his older brother Gerard was the oldest victim of the Hillsborough disasterHillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
on 15 April 1989, when 94 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...
fans were crushed to death at the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final (the death toll eventually reached 96).