Rocky Baptiste
Encyclopedia
Rocky Baptiste is a football striker currently playing for Kingstonian
.
, London
, he went to secondary school at Neasden High School. Baptiste was a junior at Chelsea
and Brentford
, but failed to earn a professional contract.
, Baptiste made his breakthrough with Hayes
in 2000, where he scored six goals in 14 league games and caught the eye of Luton Town
. At a struggling Luton, he made three league substitute appearances without scoring. When Joe Kinnear
became manager, Baptiste fell out of favour and made a return to Hayes on loan for the rest of the season.
, where he stayed for two years scoring a total of 30 goals in 49 appearances, including Farnborough's lone strike in the FA Cup
fourth round defeat to Arsenal
.
, following manager Graham Westley
's move, where he stayed until February 2004 scoring fpur league goals. Baptiste moved on to Margate
, scoring five goals.
that forced a replay with Swansea City
in the third round of the 2008 FA Cup
. He also went on to score in the shock 4–2 replay victory that helped them into the fourth round against Liverpool
.
In September 2008, he left Havant & Waterlooville to play for Maidenhead United
, spending the first half of the season there before signing for AFC Wimbledon
on 31 March 2009.
in the summer of 2009. While playing for Harrow, Baptiste infamously missed an open goal after taking the ball past the opposition defence and goalkeeper. He was inside the six-yard box and just a few inches from the goal line when he smashed the ball on to the left-hand post. At the end of both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons he finished as top scorer for Borough, scoring 22 league goals in each season. In 2010–11, he led Boro to the playoffs where he scored twice but Boro lost in extra time. He scored a total of 28 goals for Borough in the 2010–11 season.
He left Harrow Borough in the summer of 2011 joining Thurrock of the Conference South. However, before the end of August he was back in the Isthmian Premier League with Kingstonian.
Kingstonian F.C.
Kingstonian Football Club are an English, semi-professional football club that are playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division for the 2011–12 season. The club has played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames since 1989, after leaving their traditional Richmond Road ground...
.
Career
Born in NeasdenNeasden
Neasden is an area in northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent.-History:The area was recorded as Neasdun in 939 AD and the name is derived from the Old English nēos = 'nose' and dūn = 'hill'. It means 'the nose-shaped hill' referring to a well-defined landmark of this area...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he went to secondary school at Neasden High School. Baptiste was a junior at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, but failed to earn a professional contract.
Hayes to Luton
After initially playing for WealdstoneWealdstone F.C.
Wealdstone Football Club are an English semi-professional football club who formed in Wealdstone, in the London Borough of Harrow, but are currently based a few miles away in Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. At present, the club are members of the Isthmian League Premier Division. They...
, Baptiste made his breakthrough with Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
in 2000, where he scored six goals in 14 league games and caught the eye of Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. At a struggling Luton, he made three league substitute appearances without scoring. When Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
became manager, Baptiste fell out of favour and made a return to Hayes on loan for the rest of the season.
Farnborough
During the close season, Baptiste signed for Farnborough TownFarnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
, where he stayed for two years scoring a total of 30 goals in 49 appearances, including Farnborough's lone strike in 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...
fourth round defeat to 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...
.
Stevenage and Margate
In the summer of 2003, Baptiste joined Stevenage BoroughStevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
, following manager Graham Westley
Graham Westley
Graham Neil Westley is an English former footballer and is currently manager of League One side Stevenage, where he has been in charge since 2008, his second spell at the club....
's move, where he stayed until February 2004 scoring fpur league goals. Baptiste moved on to Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
, scoring five goals.
Gravesend & Northfleet and Havant & Waterlooville
After a short spell with Gravesend & Northfleet, Baptiste moved to in August 2005. Baptiste scored the equaliser at the Liberty StadiumLiberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
that forced a replay with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in the third round of the 2008 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...
. He also went on to score in the shock 4–2 replay victory that helped them into the fourth round against 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...
.
In September 2008, he left Havant & Waterlooville to play for Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
, spending the first half of the season there before signing for AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
on 31 March 2009.
Harrow Borough
He joined Harrow BoroughHarrow Borough F.C.
Harrow Borough Football Club is a semi-professional English association football club based in Harrow, in Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Earlsmead Stadium....
in the summer of 2009. While playing for Harrow, Baptiste infamously missed an open goal after taking the ball past the opposition defence and goalkeeper. He was inside the six-yard box and just a few inches from the goal line when he smashed the ball on to the left-hand post. At the end of both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons he finished as top scorer for Borough, scoring 22 league goals in each season. In 2010–11, he led Boro to the playoffs where he scored twice but Boro lost in extra time. He scored a total of 28 goals for Borough in the 2010–11 season.
He left Harrow Borough in the summer of 2011 joining Thurrock of the Conference South. However, before the end of August he was back in the Isthmian Premier League with Kingstonian.