Alfred Joseph Baker
Encyclopedia
Alfred Joseph Baker was an English amateur sports
man who scored England's goal in the first representative match
against a Scottish XI in March 1870. By profession, he was an auctioneer.
, London, the son of Henry Baker and Margaret Puddicombe. On his baptism record, his father's occupation was given as "auctioneer".
He married Marion Ellen Sayers on 16 September 1871. They had several children, including:
of Kilburn; in January 1867, he was selected to represent Kent in a match against Surrey, which finished 0–0. He also played for Middlesex against Both Surrey and Kent later that year and was a member of the Football Association committee in 1872.
In March 1870, he was one of only two players not from a public school background (the other being Alexander Nash
) selected to represent England against a Scottish side in the first of a series of matches
between the two countries organised by C. W. Alcock
and Arthur Kinnaird
. The match was played at the Oval on 5 March; the Scots scored first when Robert Crawford
lobbed the ball into an open goal. With a minute left to play, Baker made a "brilliant run" which "effected the surrender of the Scottish goal" and the game ended in a draw. Baker's run was described in the Sporting Gazette'" as "one of the finest runs that have ever been witnessed".
Baker retained his place for the next game, played on 19 November 1870; R.S.F. Walker scored an early goal for England and, despite energetic play by the Scots, there was no further score. The report in "Bell's Life" on 26 November said: "Ends being changed, Mr. Baker made a good attempt to reach the Scotch goal, but failed in effecting a twist when within a few yards of it" and "Mr. Baker having brought it to bear at once drove it under the line, but it was disallowed."
Baker also appeared for the England XI in the third match played on 25 February 1871; the Scotsman newspaper of 27 February reports that Baker kicked off for the England XI. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with goals from Charles Nepean
and R. S. F. Walker.
Baker was also a member of the Wanderers
club, for which made his first appearance on 12 November 1864, aged 18; his last was on 25 March 1871. Altogether, he made 58 appearances and scored 15 goals.
, Surrey, and in November 1894, they were auctioning a plot of land at Egham.
Baker collapsed and died on 3 January 1900 while running to catch a train at Willesden Junction station
.
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
man who scored England's goal in the first representative match
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
against a Scottish XI in March 1870. By profession, he was an auctioneer.
Family
He was born in WillesdenWillesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, London, the son of Henry Baker and Margaret Puddicombe. On his baptism record, his father's occupation was given as "auctioneer".
He married Marion Ellen Sayers on 16 September 1871. They had several children, including:
- Maud Marion Baker (1872–1960)
- Alfred Henry Baker (1873–1903)
- Beatrice Ellen Baker (born c.1874)
- Ralph Baker (b.1875), educated at HarrowHarrow SchoolHarrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Tonbridge SchoolTonbridge SchoolTonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
s. - Marion Kate Baker (b.1877)
- Hubert Samuel Baker (1886–c.1973)
Athletics
Baker was a champion athlete who won the 100 yard dash at the 1870 AAA Championships; his achievement "raised himself to the first rank of sprint runners". In 1894, he was described as "probably the fastest Londoner over the distance until quite recent times"; his style was described as "a sprinter pure and simple (who) 'ran low', in what is to our mind the best and most workmanlike sprinting style, with his body bent well forward".Football
Baker was a member of the No Names ClubNo Names Club
N.N. Club or N.N. Kilburn, N.N. thought to mean No Name, was an English football club based in the Kilburn district of London. The club was one of the dozen founding sides of the Football Association on October 28, 1863, and were represented by club member Arthur Pember who was elected as the FA's...
of Kilburn; in January 1867, he was selected to represent Kent in a match against Surrey, which finished 0–0. He also played for Middlesex against Both Surrey and Kent later that year and was a member of the Football Association committee in 1872.
In March 1870, he was one of only two players not from a public school background (the other being Alexander Nash
Alexander Nash (footballer)
Alexander Nash was an English amateur footballer who played for England in the first representative match against Scotland in March 1870. Little is known about his full identity....
) selected to represent England against a Scottish side in the first of a series of matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
between the two countries organised by C. W. Alcock
C. W. Alcock
Charles William Alcock was an influential English sportsman and administrator. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of the FA Cup....
and Arthur Kinnaird
Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird KT was a principal of The Football Association and a leading footballer....
. The match was played at the Oval on 5 March; the Scots scored first when Robert Crawford
Robert Copland-Crawford
Robert Erskine Wade Copland-Crawford was a Scottish soldier and amateur sportsman.He served in the Afghan War from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches...
lobbed the ball into an open goal. With a minute left to play, Baker made a "brilliant run" which "effected the surrender of the Scottish goal" and the game ended in a draw. Baker's run was described in the Sporting Gazette'" as "one of the finest runs that have ever been witnessed".
Baker retained his place for the next game, played on 19 November 1870; R.S.F. Walker scored an early goal for England and, despite energetic play by the Scots, there was no further score. The report in "Bell's Life" on 26 November said: "Ends being changed, Mr. Baker made a good attempt to reach the Scotch goal, but failed in effecting a twist when within a few yards of it" and "Mr. Baker having brought it to bear at once drove it under the line, but it was disallowed."
Baker also appeared for the England XI in the third match played on 25 February 1871; the Scotsman newspaper of 27 February reports that Baker kicked off for the England XI. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with goals from Charles Nepean
Charles Nepean
The Rev. Charles Edward Burroughs Nepean was an English amateur cricketer and footballer who later became a vicar in the Church of England...
and R. S. F. Walker.
Baker was also a member of the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
club, for which made his first appearance on 12 November 1864, aged 18; his last was on 25 March 1871. Altogether, he made 58 appearances and scored 15 goals.
Professional career
Like his father, Baker was by profession an auctioneer, trading as Baker & Sons In July 1875, the firm is listed as selling a property known as The Forge at EghamEgham
Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, Surrey, and in November 1894, they were auctioning a plot of land at Egham.
Baker collapsed and died on 3 January 1900 while running to catch a train at Willesden Junction station
Willesden Junction station
Willesden Junction station is a Network Rail station in Harlesden, northwest London, UK. It is served by both London Overground and the Bakerloo line of the London Underground.-History:The station developed on three contiguous sites:...
.