Carl Baker

Carl Paul Baker (born 26 December 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or as an attacking midfielder for Quorn.

He has made over 450 professional career appearances in the Football League and Conference as well as domestic cup competitions, including 160 appearances for Coventry City.

Born on 26 December 1982 in Prescot, Merseyside, Baker came up through the Liverpool Academy before moving to Prescot Cables.

Shortly after, he moved to Southport in 2003, with whom he helped win the Conference North title.

An impressive four-year spell saw him earn a move into the Football League with Morecambe, where he found the net 11 times in 48 appearances.

He signed for Southport in 2003.

Baker's career was forged at Southport.

Spotted playing for Prescot by Southport manager Liam Watson, Baker was quickly snapped up by the Merseyside club, and soon established himself as one of non-league's exciting talents.

He was an important member of the Southport Conference North Championship winning team in the 2004–05 season.

In 2005, he was a member of the Middlesex Wanderers F.C. that visited Japan.

After again playing an important role in helping keep Southport in the Conference National in the 2005–06 season, Baker signed his first full-time contract, for the next season as the club turned fully professional, whilst much of the championship winning, and relegation surviving team, (fan favourites Steve Dickinson, Steve Daly, Earl Davis) all not willing to leave their non-footballing jobs, left unable to make the transition to full-time.

He was a fan favourite with the club's fans, being one of only two players left from the 2005 title winning squad.

Although only on a year's contract meaning he could move on for free, the club's official website announced he had signed for another year at the club.

This meant that any interested team would have to pay for his services.

Despite Southport's relegation from the Conference National in the 2006–07 season, Baker swept the board with Player of the Year awards, voted on by his fellow players, the fans and local press.

In November, Baker was named North West Non-league player of the year, at the North West Football Awards, for his efforts playing for Southport in 2006–07, beating his new Morecambe teammate Adam Yates to the prize.

On 11 July 2007, he signed for Football League Two newcomers Morecambe for a club record, though undisclosed fee.

He signed a three-year contract with Morecambe.

In August 2007 Baker scored Morecambe's first goal when they beat Football League Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 in extra time in a League Cup match.

On 22 July 2008, Baker signed a three-year contract at Stockport County, with the club paying Morecambe a fee that could rise to a figure of £225,000 for his services.

His 2008–09 season was a in-different one for Baker, he played 27 times for County in his first season, scoring 3 goals, all these were before January, when Baker received a knee injury which required surgery.

The 2009–10 season started well for Baker on the pitch and he was seen to be one of Stockport's main assets.

By mid-October he was County's leading scorer with 10 goals.

Baker became the first County player to score successive away hat-tricks, with stunning performances against Brighton & Hove Albion & Crewe.

On 26 December 2009, Gary Ablett told reporters that Baker has signed a deal with Championship side Coventry City.

Baker's last game for Stockport County was against League 1 leaders Leeds United in which he scored a freekick.

Two years at Stockport County followed prior to completing a switch to then-Championship club Coventry City in the summer of 2010.

He went on to play 182 times for Steven Pressley's men and was captain for the final two years of his four-year stay.

Baker scored his 10th goal-of-the-season for Stockport from the penalty spot in the game away to Tranmere Rovers, which was live on Sky – dedicating the goal to his brother Mike whose name he bears on his shirt collar.

Baker added to his goals tally by scoring a penalty in the game against Tooting & Mitcham.

Coventry confirmed Baker as the club's fourth permanent signing in the January 2010 transfer window on 8 January 2010.

Baker joined Coventry for an undisclosed fee, which was confirmed by him in person as being £300,000.

The goal was his 13th goal of the season.

In September 2014, he signed for Milton Keynes Dons, after being released by Coventry.

Baker signed for Portsmouth in June 2016.

He signed with Indian Super League franchise ATK in the following year but was released without playing in any match due to an injury which ruled him out of the entire season.

On 9 March 2018, Carl returned to Coventry City on a short-term deal until the end of the 2017-18 English Football League Two season.

On November 21, 2021, Baker was appointed Assistant Manager at AFC Telford United alongside new First Team Manager Paul Carden.

He has represented England at semi-professional level playing for England C.

Born in Prescot, Merseyside, Baker started his career with Liverpool at schoolboy level before playing for Prescot Cables.