Nathan Baker (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Luke Baker is an English professional footballer who is contracted to Premier League side Aston Villa as a central defender or left back. However, he is currently on loan at Millwall
of the Football League Championship
.
debut in 2007. He was a pivotal figure in the centre of defence alongside Ciaran Clark
in the 2007/08 season, as Villa clinched the national title, defeating Manchester City in the final. Baker finished the season with 1 goal from 23 appearances for the Academy
team, and 2 goals from 7 appearances for the Reserves
, who also tasted success by clinching the Premier Reserve League South.
The defender progressed to the first-team in the summer of 2008 by making the squad for the tour of Switzerland
, of which Baker played in both matches against FC Wil
and FC Zürich. In July 2008, Baker was named on the bench for the second leg of the UEFA Intertoto Cup
tie against Odense Boldklub. A week later he was again named on the bench, this time for the trip to Icelandic side Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
in the Second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.
On October 23, 2009, Baker signed for Lincoln City
on a month-long loan deal alongside fellow defender Eric Lichaj
. Lincoln City manager and former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton
handed Baker his league debut at Sincil Bank
on October 24, 2009, in a 0–0 draw with Torquay United
. Baker impressed at Lincoln, and his loan deal was eventually extended to the end of the 2009–10 season.
Baker was banned from attending Aston Villa's League Cup final
against Manchester United
at Wembley Stadium
on 28 February 2010 after being caught trying to sell his allocation of tickets via the social networking website Facebook
. The 18-year-old defender attempted to sell five tickets at a price of £200 each, but later said that he regretted his actions.
on 16 January 2011. He was an unused substitute as Villa drew 1–1. Baker made his starting debut against Wigan Athletic
on 25 January 2011 at DW Stadium. On 29 January 2011, his second ever start, Baker gained an assist for the third goal but was then sent off for a dangerous tackle in an FA Cup Fourth Round
tie against Blackburn Rovers
. On 26 February, Baker made his second league start for Villa against Blackburn Rovers, but went off injured in the first half after a collision with goal keeper Paul Robinson
.
Villa announced on 2 June 2011 that Baker had signed a new three-year contract with the club.
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
of the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Early career
Baker signed for Villa as a 13 year-old in 2004, and rose through the ranks at the club, making his AcademyAston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
debut in 2007. He was a pivotal figure in the centre of defence alongside Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team...
in the 2007/08 season, as Villa clinched the national title, defeating Manchester City in the final. Baker finished the season with 1 goal from 23 appearances for the Academy
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
team, and 2 goals from 7 appearances for the Reserves
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
, who also tasted success by clinching the Premier Reserve League South.
The defender progressed to the first-team in the summer of 2008 by making the squad for the tour of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, of which Baker played in both matches against FC Wil
FC Wil
FC Wil, also known as FC Wil 1900, is a Swiss football club, playing in the town of Wil, Canton St. Gallen in the east of Switzerland. The club was founded in 1900, hence the name....
and FC Zürich. In July 2008, Baker was named on the bench for the second leg of the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
tie against Odense Boldklub. A week later he was again named on the bench, this time for the trip to Icelandic side Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, commonly referred to as FH, is Icelandic football club based in Hafnarfjörður.- Overview :The team are perhaps best known outside Iceland for beating Scottish side Dunfermline in the qualifying rounds of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup 4–3 on aggregate...
in the Second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.
Lincoln City (loan)
On October 23, 2009, Baker signed for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on a month-long loan deal alongside fellow defender Eric Lichaj
Eric Lichaj
Eric Joseph Lichaj is an American soccer player who plays for Aston Villa. Lichaj also plays for the United States men's national team. He started his youth career playing for Chicago Magic and participated in the youth residency program at IMG Soccer Academy. He later played college soccer for...
. Lincoln City manager and former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
handed Baker his league debut at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
on October 24, 2009, in a 0–0 draw with Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
. Baker impressed at Lincoln, and his loan deal was eventually extended to the end of the 2009–10 season.
Ticket Controversy
Baker was banned from attending Aston Villa's League Cup final
2010 Football League Cup Final
The 2010 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2009–10 Football League Cup, the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League. The match, played at Wembley Stadium on 28 February 2010, was won by...
against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 28 February 2010 after being caught trying to sell his allocation of tickets via the social networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The 18-year-old defender attempted to sell five tickets at a price of £200 each, but later said that he regretted his actions.
2010–11 season
Baker was brought in to the Aston Villa squad for the derby match against Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 16 January 2011. He was an unused substitute as Villa drew 1–1. Baker made his starting debut against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 25 January 2011 at DW Stadium. On 29 January 2011, his second ever start, Baker gained an assist for the third goal but was then sent off for a dangerous tackle in an FA Cup Fourth Round
2010–11 FA Cup
The 2010–11 FA Cup was the 130th season of the world's oldest association football knock-out competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short...
tie against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. On 26 February, Baker made his second league start for Villa against Blackburn Rovers, but went off injured in the first half after a collision with goal keeper Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (goalkeeper)
Paul William Robinson is an English footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a goalkeeper in the Premier League. He had also been an England international and he earned 41 caps between 2003 and 2007 before his retirement from international football in August 2010.He joined Leeds United at 16...
.
Villa announced on 2 June 2011 that Baker had signed a new three-year contract with the club.