Tom Baker (footballer, born 1905)
Thomas William Baker (17 August 1905 – 30 March 1975), sometimes known as Billy Baker, was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Brentford, Southport, Northampton Town and Rochdale.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas William Baker[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 August 1905 | ||
| Place of birth | Seaham Harbour, England | ||
| Date of death | 30 March 1975 (aged 69)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Shotton Colliery, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Usworth Colliery | |||
| Crook Town | |||
| Shotton Colliery Welfare | |||
| Chilton Colliery Recreation | |||
| 1929–1932 | Southport | 59 | (0) |
| 1932–1934 | Brentford | 64 | (0) |
| 1934–1935 | Northampton Town | 13 | (0) |
| 1935–1936 | Rochdale | 38 | (0) |
| Horden Colliery Welfare | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
A goalkeeper, Baker began his career in his native North East with Northern League clubs Usworth Colliery, Crook Town, Shotton Colliery Welfare and Chilton Colliery Recreation.[1] He later earned a move to the Football League with Southport, for whom he made 65 appearances before departing in 1932.[2]
Baker signed for Third Division South club Brentford in 1932 on a free transfer.[3] Originally signed by manager Harry Curtis as cover for Dave Smith,[3] Baker quickly became Curtis' first-choice goalkeeper and held the position until January 1934, when Jack Clough took over.[4] He made 43 appearances during the Bees' 1932–33 Third Division South title-winning season.[4] Baker left Brentford at the end of the 1933–34 season and made 65 appearances in his two years at Griffin Park.[3]
Baker remained in the Third Division South to sign for Northampton Town and made 13 league appearances during the 1934–35 season.[1][3] His final league club was Third Division North club Rochdale and he ended his career with North Eastern League club Horden Colliery Welfare.[3]
Personal life edit
During his amateur football career, Baker worked as a miner.[2]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southport | 1929–30[5] | Third Division North | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 1930–31[6] | 32 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 1931–32[7] | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |||
| Total | 59 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 65 | 0 | |||
| Brentford | 1932–33[4] | Third Division South | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 0 | |
| 1933–34[4] | Second Division | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||
| Total | 64 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 65 | 0 | |||
| Rochdale | 1935–36[8] | Third Division North | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Career Total | 161 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 170 | 0 | |||
- ^ Appearance in Third Division North Cup
Honours edit
Brentford
References edit
- ^ a b c Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 15. ISBN 978-1905891610.
- ^ a b c d "Billy Baker (Player Profile)". 17 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ a b c d e White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 372. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ "Player Details". Port Online. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ "Player Details". Port Online. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ "Player Details". Port Online. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Phillipps, Steven (2001). Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore. ISBN 1-874427-09-7. OCLC 48531524.