Tom Baker (footballer, born 1905)

Thomas William Baker (17 August 1905 – 30 March 1975), sometimes known as Billy Baker, was an English professional football goalkeeper who played in the Football League for Brentford, Southport, Northampton Town and Rochdale.

Tom Baker
Personal information
Full name Thomas William Baker[1]
Date of birth (1905-08-17)17 August 1905
Place of birth Seaham Harbour, England
Date of death 30 March 1975(1975-03-30) (aged 69)[2]
Place of death Shotton Colliery, England
Playing 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
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

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 Harry Curtis as cover for Dave Smith,[3] Baker quickly became manager Harry 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

During his amateur football career, Baker worked as a miner.[2]

Honours

Brentford

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League League FA Cup Other Total
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[lower-alpha 1] 0 40 0
Career Total 161 0 8 0 1 170 0
  1. Appearance in Third Division North Cup
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References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 15. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. "Billy Baker (Player Profile)". 17 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 372. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. "Player Details". Port Online. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. "Player Details". Port Online. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. "Player Details". Port Online. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  8. Phillipps, Steven (2001). Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore. ISBN 1-874427-09-7. OCLC 48531524.
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