Graham Baker

Infobox Football biography
playername = Graham Baker


fullname = Graham Edgar Baker
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|12|3
cityofbirth = Southampton
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
nickname =
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1973-1976
youthclubs = Southampton
years = 1976-1982
1982-1987
1987-1990
1990
1990-1992
clubs = Southampton
Manchester City
Southampton
→ Aldershot (loan)
Fulham
caps(goals) = 113 (22)
117 (19)
060 (11)
007 0(2)
010 0(1)
nationalyears = 1980
nationalteam = England U-21
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 0(0)

Graham Baker (born 3 December, 1958 in Southampton) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Southampton, Manchester City and Fulham.

Playing career

outhampton

Graham Baker started his football career when he signed for Southampton as a junior in 1973. His first team debut came on 12 November 1977, a Division Two match against Blackpool, in which he scored in the opening minute. Baker made only two further appearances that season, in which Southampton were promoted to the First Division, the highest in English football.

He was a hard-tackling, hustling type of player who could pass and shoot and was one of the most industrious performers in Southampton's successful quest to re-establish themselves in Division 1. In the 1978-79 season he established himself in the first team, making 22 League appearances in midfield, playing alongside Steve Williams, Alan Ball and Nick Holmes. Although Southampton played in the League Cup final in 1979, Baker only made one substitute appearance during the whole run, with either Trevor Hebberd or Austin Hayes generally being preferred.

Over the next three seasons, he continued to be a regular in Saints' midfield, and in 1980-81 he was a virtual ever-present making 39 appearances (scoring 8 goals), now playing alongside Kevin Keegan and Mick Channon, as Saints finished in 6th place in Division 1, then their highest league finish.

During his time at Southampton he was twice capped by England at under-21 level, playing against Norway and Romania in 1980. He made 113 League appearances for Southampton before being sold to John Bond's Manchester City for £350,000 in the 1982 close season, as Lawrie McMenemy needed to raise funds to finance the signing of Peter Shilton.

Manchester City

Baker's Manchester City career started well; the team won four of their first five games, including a 2-1 win over Tottenham in which Baker scored both goals, and City became early league leaders. However, the good form did not last and the season turned into a struggle in the bottom half of the table, culminating in relegation on the final day of the season.

The 1983-84 season was a reasonably prosperous one for Baker as he scored 8 goals in 36 games, equalling the highest goalscoring return of his career, though Manchester City finished one place short of promotion. Injuries dusrupted Baker's next season, in which he made 29 appearances in a promotion winning side. On his return to the top flight, Baker made few appearances - nine in the 1985-86 season and thirteen in 1986-87. In 1987 Manchester City were again relegated, and Baker was sold back to Southampton on a free transfer, having made 135 Manchester City appearances in five years.

Return to Southampton

By now Southampton were under the management of Chris Nicholl and the "glory days" of McMenemy were becoming a distant memory. At first Baker was again a first-choice player, making 36 appearances in 1987-88, alongside Jimmy Case, Glenn Cockerill and Andy Townsend with the emeging talents of Danny Wallace and Alan Shearer up front. Gradually however his career at Southampton was disrupted by injury, and in 1990 he went to Fulham on a free transfer after losing his place in midfield to Barry Horne.

After football

He had a brief spell in 1994 as manager at Petersfield Town and from 1995 to 2003 he was a coach with Carshalton Athletic. In 2005 became Youth Development Officer at Woking, under the management of former Southampton colleague, Glenn Cockerill. Glenn Cockerill departed in March 2007 and Graham Baker was appointed joint caretaker manager with club captain Neil Smith.

After retiring from football he became a driving instructor in Cheam.

References

*cite book
author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk
title=In That Number - A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC
publisher=Hagiology
year=2003
id=ISBN 0-9534474-3-X
*cite book
author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk
title=The Alphabet of the Saints
publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing
year=1992
id=ISBN 0-9514862-3-3
*cite book |last=Clayton |first=David |title=Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more! |publisher=Mainstream publishing |location=Edinburgh |date=2002 |id=ISBN 1-84018-687-9

External links

*cite web | url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=5439 | title=Graham Baker - Southampton | work=Football Heroes | accessdate=2007-01-27
*cite web | url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=9467 | title=Graham Baker - Southampton (part 2) | work=Football Heroes | accessdate=2007-01-27