Jim Baker (footballer)

Jim Baker

Personal information
Full name	James William Baker
Date of birth	15 November 1891
Place of birth	Ilkeston, England
Date of death	13 December 1966 (aged 75)
Place of death	Leeds, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Central defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1910–1912	Derby County
1912	Portsmouth
1912–1914	Hartlepool United
1914–1920	Huddersfield Town	56	(3)
1920–1926	Leeds United	208	(2)
1926–1927	Nelson	28	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

James William "Jim" Baker (15 November 1891 – 13 December 1966) was a professional footballer most notable for being the first captain of Leeds United A.F.C. He was always however in the shadow of his more talented younger brother Alf Baker who played for Arsenal. Another brother Aaron Baker also played football professionally and briefly played for Leeds with Jim.

Jim was born in Ilkeston and started his career at Hartlepool United, and played at Portsmouth before moving to Huddersfield Town, where he played under future Leeds manager Arthur Fairclough. When Fairclough moved to the newly formed Leeds United A.F.C. to become its first manager, Jim followed him and was handed the captain's armband to command from the center of defence. Jim played for six seasons at Elland Road being captain for the whole period, and even helped Fairclough guide the team to their first silverware and Second Division championship in 1923–24, being a rock at the heart of the Leeds defence along with Ernie Hart. Jim left Leeds after two seasons of just surviving in the First Division at the end of the 1925–26 season, moving to Nelson.

He later became a director at Elland Road.

References

• Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson F.C. in the Football League: A Complete Record 1921–31. SoccerData. p. 13.