Stephen Baxter (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Baxter is a football manager and ex-player from Northern Ireland
. He is the current manager of Crusaders
, whom he previously played for as a player.
) started out as a player with Glentoran
before signing for Ards
in 1985. His goalscoring exploits caught the notice of giants Linfield
and he signed for them in 1987, winning two Irish League
championships, three Gold Cup
s and a League Cup. He scored 102 goals in 219 games for the Blues, of which 169 were starts.
Unable to hold down a regular starting place, however, he signed for Crusaders in 1994. Baxter became one of the key players of Crusaders' golden team of the 90's, again winning two Irish League championships, a Gold Cup and League Cup. In 1995/96, he was named in the Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year, and in 1996/97 he was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year
. He then moved to Glenavon for a successful period before returning to Seaview
for a second two-year spell in 2000.
Whilst Crusaders had experienced a downturn in fortunes and were fighting for survival, Baxter was memorable for his hat-trick in a relegation play-off against Lisburn Distillery
, thus ensuring the Crues' survival. Baxter left Seaview a firm fan-favourite and legend status for a short spell at Bangor
, where he coached briefly, before retiring from football completely and opening a sports shop in Newtownards
. He played a total of 650 games in his career, and scored 303 goals.
, Baxter was installed as manager at Seaview, yet was unable to keep the Hatchetmen in the top division. After winning virtually every intermediate trophy in sight the following season, under Baxter's leadership the Crues returned to the Irish League and lead the table briefly, before finishing in a very creditable 6th position in 2006-07. Since then, he led the club to their first top 3 finish for a decade in 2008-09, and also the teams first Irish Cup
victory in 41 years. He then led the club to County Antrim Shield
success the following season.
Lisburn Distillery
Crusaders
Glenavon
Individual
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He is the current manager of Crusaders
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
, whom he previously played for as a player.
Playing career
'Stanley' (as he would later be nicknamed after the Scottish comedianStanley Baxter
Stanley Baxter is a Scottish comic actor and impressionist, best known for his British television shows. He worked in radio, theatre, television and film.-Early life:...
) started out as a player with Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
before signing for Ards
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
in 1985. His goalscoring exploits caught the notice of giants Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and he signed for them in 1987, winning two Irish League
Irish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
championships, three Gold Cup
Gold Cup
Gold Cup may refer to:In art and archaeology:* Royal Gold Cup, 14th century French cup in the British Museum* Rillaton Gold Cup, late Neolithic, from Rillaton Barrow in England* Ringlemere Cup, Bronze Age from EnglandIn horse racing:...
s and a League Cup. He scored 102 goals in 219 games for the Blues, of which 169 were starts.
Unable to hold down a regular starting place, however, he signed for Crusaders in 1994. Baxter became one of the key players of Crusaders' golden team of the 90's, again winning two Irish League championships, a Gold Cup and League Cup. In 1995/96, he was named in the Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year, and in 1996/97 he was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year
Ulster Footballer of the Year
The Ulster Footballer of the Year is the older of two association football player of the year awards in Northern Ireland. It is awarded by Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters' Club to the player who is adjudged by an independent committee to have been the best of the season in the IFA Premiership...
. He then moved to Glenavon for a successful period before returning to Seaview
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
for a second two-year spell in 2000.
Whilst Crusaders had experienced a downturn in fortunes and were fighting for survival, Baxter was memorable for his hat-trick in a relegation play-off against Lisburn Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
, thus ensuring the Crues' survival. Baxter left Seaview a firm fan-favourite and legend status for a short spell at Bangor
Bangor F.C.
Bangor Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1918, hails from Bangor and plays its home matches at Clandeboye Park. Club colours are gold and royal blue...
, where he coached briefly, before retiring from football completely and opening a sports shop in Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
. He played a total of 650 games in his career, and scored 303 goals.
Managerial career
Following the sacking of Alan DornanAlan Dornan
Alan Dornan is a retired Northern Irish footballer and manager. In an illustrious playing career, 'Bap' played over 1000 games, for Ards, Linfield and Crusaders. He also had a short but unsuccessful spell in charge of the latter...
, Baxter was installed as manager at Seaview, yet was unable to keep the Hatchetmen in the top division. After winning virtually every intermediate trophy in sight the following season, under Baxter's leadership the Crues returned to the Irish League and lead the table briefly, before finishing in a very creditable 6th position in 2006-07. Since then, he led the club to their first top 3 finish for a decade in 2008-09, and also the teams first Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
victory in 41 years. He then led the club to County Antrim Shield
County Antrim Shield
The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
success the following season.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Crusaders Crusaders F.C. Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005... |
 |
14 February 2005 | present | 280 | 149 | 49 | 82 | |
| Total |
||||||||
Player
Linfield- Irish LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
(2): 1988-89Irish League 1988-89-League standings:-References:*...
, 1992-93 - Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
(3): 1987-88, 1988–89, 1989–90 - Irish League Cup (1): 1991-92
Lisburn Distillery
- Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
(1): 1993-94
Crusaders
- Irish LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
(2): 1994-95Irish League 1994-95-League standings:-References:*...
, 1996-97 - Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
(1): 1995-96 - Irish League Cup (1): 1996-97
Glenavon
- Mid-Ulster CupMid-Ulster CupThe Mid-Ulster Cup is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Mid-Ulster Football Association.First held in 1887, the inaugural edition was won by Milford. For 30 seasons, from 1947/48 to 1977/78, while remaining a senior competition, senior clubs declined to take part, instead...
(1): 1998-99
Individual
- NI Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year: 1995/96
- Ulster Footballer of the Year: 1996-97
- NI Football Writers’ Player of the Year: 1996-97
Manager
Crusaders- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
(1): 2008-09 - County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
(1): 2009-10 - IFA Intermediate League (1): 2005-06
- IFA Intermediate League Cup (1): 2005-06
- Steel & Sons CupSteel & Sons CupThe Steel & Sons Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association . The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Christmas Day...
(1): 2005-06