Baker: Aaron

1927-1928 (Player Details)

Right Half

Born: Basford Green, Staffordshire: 1904

Debut v Swansea Town: 08-10-1927

5’9” 11st 4lb (1925)

Aaron was the least known of a trio of brothers who played in the Football League. Alf played for Arsenal and England, while Jim was a stalwart and Captain of the Leeds team for many years. Aaron played in local Junior football with Ebenezer Methodist FC. Due to Jim Baker's influence at Leeds, he was given a trial and was eventually signed by Leeds. "It was not an easy path for the younger Baker to travel and he started with a game at Centre Forward in a Friendly against Brodsworth in March 1922. He must have impressed enough, as he was given a further chance in the pre-season trials in August 1922 in the lead up to the 1922-23 season. He played in the Midweek League side on a few occasions at Centre Forward and managed to net the odd goal every now and again. In the 1923-24 season he was switched to Wing Half and in March 1924 he was promoted to the Central League side. He was retained at the end of the 1923-24 season and started to become a Central League regular in the 1925-26 season." (Information courtesy of Neil Roche). He finally made the first team when the brilliant Willis Edwards, who along with Ernie Hart, Tom Townsley and several others had stifled his attempts to play first team football, was injured and he played twice in quick succession in October 1927. It was always a struggle for Baker to make the Leeds first team and his stay was mainly confined to playing for the Leeds United Reserves. He left for Sheffield Wednesday in December 1928. The competition at Hillsborough was even more fierce than at Elland Road and he failed to play for the Wednesday first team. He, therefore, left for Luton Town in 1929-30 where he played but one game. Like his brother Jim, he finished his League career with Nelson in 1930-31. He returned to Ilkeston, where he became Captain and Centre-Half for Ilkeston United and stayed there until he retired from football in 1933. He died on 18th October 1963 in Nottingham at the age of fifty-nine.