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	22 October 1916 (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. sfn error: no target: CITEREFRiddoch2008 (help)