Drew Baker

Andrew Macdonald Baker (born 8 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays for Irish club Waterford on loan from Fleetwood Town, as a centre-back.

Drew Baker
Personal information
Full name Andrew Macdonald Baker[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-08) 8 October 2002
Place of birth Cheshire, England
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Waterford (on loan from Fleetwood Town)
Number 16
Youth career
2007–2017 Manchester City
2017–2019 Crewe Alexandra
2019–2021 Oldham Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 FC United of Manchester 20 (1)
2022– Fleetwood Town 8 (0)
2023 → Bohemians (loan) 1 (0)
2023– → Waterford (loan) 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:36, 21 August 2023 (UTC)

Career

Baker was born in Cheshire but attended Manchester Grammar School.[2] Whilst at the school, he was called up in November 2019 to the England Independent Schools Under-18 age group matches against Wales Colleges and England Colleges.[3] He started his youth career in the Academy at Manchester City where he played for ten years from the under-4 to under-14 level, winning the Premier League Championship three times.[2] He subsequently spent two years in the youth team at Crewe Alexandra before signing a two-year scholarship at EFL League Two side Oldham Athletic.[2] In May 2021, it was announced that he would not be offered a professional contract at Oldham and that he would be released at the end of his scholarship.[4]

He dropped down to Non-League when he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division side FC United of Manchester for the 2021–22 campaign, following a trial during pre-season.[5] As the club only trained part-time, he also worked as an IT Consultant.[6] He was an ever-present in the backline going onto make twenty-seven appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 3–1 win over Witton Albion.[5]

On 4 January 2022, he signed for EFL League One side Fleetwood Town on a deal until the summer of 2023, with the club holding an option for another one-year extension.[5] Upon signing, he was immediately placed into the Development Squad.[5] On 23 August 2022, he made his professional debut at the age of 19, when he started in the 1–0 EFL Cup second round defeat at home to Premier League side Everton.[6] On 3rd September he made his League One Debut against Wycombe Wanders in a 1-1 draw.

On 16 February 2023, Baker signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemians on loan until the end of June.[7]

On 4 July 2023, Baker signed for League of Ireland First Division side Waterford, sister club of Fleetwood Town, on loan until the end of their season in November.[8]

Career statistics
As of match played 21 August 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC United of Manchester 2021–22[9] NPL Premier Division 20140—3[lower-alpha 1]0271
Fleetwood Town 2022–23[10] League One 80101020120
Bohemians (loan) 2023[10] LOI Premier Division 10——1[lower-alpha 2]020
Waterford (loan) 2023[10] LOI First Division 4020—0060
Career total 331701040471
  1. Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Fenix Trophy
  2. Appearance in Leinster Senior Cup

References
  1. "CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  2. "DREW BAKER '21 RECRUITING PROFILE". Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via NCSA.
  3. "England call-up for talented footballer Drew". 25 November 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Manchester Grammar School.
  4. Geldard, Suzanne (27 May 2021). "Oldham youth team trio sign first professional contracts". Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Oldham Times.
  5. "Young centre-half Drew Baker joins Town's Development Squad". 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Fleetwood Town FC.
  6. "Baker: It was a proud moment for me and my family". 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Fleetwood Town FC.
  7. https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2023/february/baker-moves-on-loan-to-loi-side-bohemians/
  8. https://waterfordfc.ie/baker-joins-loan/
  9. "Drew Baker". FC United Fan. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  10. "D. Baker Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
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