William Baker (footballer)

William James Baker MM (1882 – 22 October 1916) was an English professional footballer who made 202 appearances as a wing half in the Southern League and FA Cup for Plymouth Argyle between 1909 and 1915.[3] He also played in the United States and South Africa.[3]

William Baker
Personal information
Full name William James Baker[1]
Date of birth 1882[2]
Place of birth Plymouth, England
Date of death (aged 33)[1]
Place of death Serre-lès-Puisieux, France
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Green Waves
De Beers
0000–1909 Green Waves
1909–1915 Plymouth Argyle 193 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

Baker was married.[4] He served in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War and rose to the rank of sergeant.[1] He was wounded in action at Vimy Ridge in June 1916 and received the Military Medal.[5] On 22 October 1916, Baker was killed by German artillery fire near Serre-lès-Puisieux during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated at Sucrerie Military Cemetery at Colincamps.[1][6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Plymouth Argyle 1909–10[3] Southern League First Division 37 0 2 0 39 0
1910–11[3] 31 1 1 0 32 1
1911–12[3] 33 0 1 0 34 0
1912–13[3] 35 0 2 0 37 0
1913–14[3] 36 0 2 0 38 0
1914–15[3] 21 0 1 0 22 0
Career total 193 1 9 0 202 1

References

  1. "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  2. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915
  3. "William Baker". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  4. "William James Baker | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  5. Riddoch, Andrew; Kemp, John; Holmes, Richard (20 November 2008). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War (1st ed.). Sparkford: Haynes Publishing. pp. 105–107. ISBN 9781844256563.
  6. Riddoch 2008, p. 155.


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