# Richie Baker (English footballer)

Richard Peter Baker (born 29 December 1987) is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One West side Ramsbottom, where he plays as a midfielder.

## Early career
### Manchester United

Richie began his career in the highly successful Manchester United Academy, where he played as a right-back, and was understudy to Danny Simpson, which somewhat restricted Baker to much playing time, he also played alongside the likes of Gerard Piqué, Fraizer Campbell and Giuseppe Rossi, during his time at Old Trafford.

## Playing career
### Preston North End

Following the decision by Manchester United to release Baker, he joined EFL Championship side Preston North End as a trainee, but failed to make a breakthrough into the first team and was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.

### Bury

Baker went to join Bury, and made his full debut in the League Cup victory over Sunderland playing as a central midfielder, and after that game established himself as a first-team regular, scoring six goals in 107 appearances.

### Oxford United

Richie joined Oxford United at the start of the 2010–11 season, but failed to win a regular place in the team.

### Barrow

He left Oxford United on 4 January 2011 when his contract expired. Baker then signed for Barrow on 15 February 2011, making his debut against Mansfield Town four days later. In May 2011, he was offered a new contract by Barrow. Baker became a major part of the Barrow team for the subsequent two seasons. However, he left when they were relegated in May 2013.

### Tamworth

Baker joined Tamworth on 24 May 2013.

### Stockport County

Baker signed for Conference North side Stockport County on 3 August 2014, following some impressive displays whilst on trial, in particular scoring a brace in a pre-season friendly against Conference National side Macclesfield Town

### AFC Fylde

Baker signed for Conference North side AFC Fylde on 13 March 2015. He made his debut the next day in a 2–2 draw at local rivals Chorley. On 11 May 2017, it was announced that Baker would leave Fylde upon the expiry of his current deal in June 2017.

### F.C. United of Manchester

In July 2017, he signed for F.C. United of Manchester. He left the club on 2 September by mutual consent.

### Curzon Ashton

On 23 September 2017, he signed for Curzon Ashton

### Lancaster City

On 30 June 2018, it was announced that Baker had dropped down a division to sign for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Lancaster City, managed by Phil Brown.

### Colne

On 11 December 2018, Baker was announced as signing for Colne. He re-joined the club on 23 June 2019.

### Ramsbottom United

On 16 November 2019, he joined Ramsbottom United who were managed by Chris Wilcock. He made 27 appearances for the club over three season.

### Clitheroe

In August 2021, he signed for Northern Premier League Division One West rivals Clitheroe, where he teamed up with former Ramsbottom duo Billy Priestley and Gary Stopforth who were joint-managers. Ramsbottom manager, Lee Donafee, stated that Clitheroe "made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Stopforth is a very good friend of his and they offered him a good deal, maybe helping them out with coaching and that which is a real shame for us."

## Career statistics

    As of match played end of 2021–22 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bury | 2006–07 | League Two | 39 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 6 |
| Bury | 2007–08 | League Two | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| Bury | 2008–09 | League Two | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Bury | 2009–10 | League Two | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Bury | Total | Total | 107 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 129 | 8 |
| Oxford United | 2010–11 | League Two | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Barrow | 2010–11 | Conference Premier | 14 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 5 |
| Barrow | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 39 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 42 | 10 |
| Barrow | 2012–13 | Conference Premier | 38 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 3 | 47 | 14 |
| Barrow | Total | Total | 91 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 103 | 29 |
| Tamworth | 2013–14 | Conference Premier | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Stockport County | 2014–15 | Conference North | 26 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 32 | 7 |
| AFC Fylde | 2014–15 | Conference North | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| AFC Fylde | 2015–16 | National League North | 39 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 49 | 8 |
| AFC Fylde | 2016–17 | National League North | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| AFC Fylde | Total | Total | 76 | 9 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | 91 | 9 |
| F.C. United of Manchester | 2017–18 | National League North | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Curzon Ashton | 2017–18 | National League North | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| Colne | 2019–20 | NPL Division One West | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Colne | 2019–20 | NPL Division One North West | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Colne | Total | Total | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| Ramsbottom United | 2019–20 | NPL Division One North West | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Ramsbottom United | 2020–21 | NPL Division One North West | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Ramsbottom United | 2021–22 | NPL Division One West | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| Ramsbottom United | Total | Total | 22 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| Clitheroe | 2021–22 | NPL Division One West | 33 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 427 | 57 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 4 | 496 | 66 |
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the Football League Trophy
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Appearances in the FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the Conference North play-offs
* ↑ Three appearances in the National League North play-offs, three in FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the Northern Premier League Division One West play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup