Tom Baker (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas George Baker was a Welsh
international footballer. He was widely known as George Baker.
as a teenager in the early 1950s. He made his first team debut in October 1954, but appeared sporadically over the next three years, as he developed his game playing for the club's reserve team in the Plymouth & District
, Devon Wednesday, and Football Combination Leagues. He became a first team regular in 1958, and played an important part in the club's Third Division
title campaign a year later. After that success, Baker sustained a knee injury which eventually brought his career at Home Park
to an end. He scored 17 goals in all competitions for the club and made 83 appearances. He joined Shrewsbury Town
in 1961, who were under the management of Arthur Rowley
. He played in the match where Rowley broke Dixie Dean
's record for most goals scored in the Football League. After 5 goals in 52 appearances, Baker returned to South Wales in 1962 to play for Barry Town
, where he finished his career playing in the Southern League
.
squad which participated in the 1958 FIFA World Cup
in Sweden
. Wales progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they were knocked out by Brazil
, but Baker was an unused substitute in all five matches. He played twice for his country at under-23 level, against England
in 1958, and Scotland
in 1959.
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international footballer. He was widely known as George Baker.
Club career
Originally a winger, Baker joined Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
as a teenager in the early 1950s. He made his first team debut in October 1954, but appeared sporadically over the next three years, as he developed his game playing for the club's reserve team in the Plymouth & District
Plymouth and West Devon Combination
The Plymouth and West Devon Combination is a football competition based in Devon, England. The league's top division, the Premier Division, sits at level 12 of the English football league system....
, Devon Wednesday, and Football Combination Leagues. He became a first team regular in 1958, and played an important part in the club's Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title campaign a year later. After that success, Baker sustained a knee injury which eventually brought his career at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
to an end. He scored 17 goals in all competitions for the club and made 83 appearances. He joined Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in 1961, who were under the management of Arthur Rowley
Arthur Rowley
George Arthur Rowley, , nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his explosive left-foot shot, was an English football player and cricketer. He holds the record for the most goals in the history of English league football, scoring 434 from 619 league games. He was the younger brother of Manchester United...
. He played in the match where Rowley broke Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
's record for most goals scored in the Football League. After 5 goals in 52 appearances, Baker returned to South Wales in 1962 to play for Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
, where he finished his career playing in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
International career
He was a member of the WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
squad which participated in the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Wales progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they were knocked out by Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, but Baker was an unused substitute in all five matches. He played twice for his country at under-23 level, against England
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
in 1958, and Scotland
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
in 1959.
Honours
Plymouth Argyle- Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
: 1958–59