Gemma Baker

**Last statistical update: 22:03, 23 January 2024 (UTC)**

**Gemma Baker** is a footballer who plays for **Hashtag United** (women).

Baker, after a stint with Barking, came through the youth ranks at West Ham United. She made her senior debut on 8 March 2015 after replacing Adele Sale off the bench in a National League - Premier Division, Southern Division goalless draw away to Plymouth Argyle. In 2014–15, Baker would feature 19 times and score 6 goals for their reserve team. In 2015–16, Baker would become a first-team member after participating in 17 senior matches and just 2 for the reserves. In pre-season ahead of the 2016–17 campaign, Baker suffered a serious injury whilst West Ham were on tour in the Netherlands - she would not play for them again.

AFC Basildon
In 2017–18, Baker started featuring for C & K Basildon - a team that would later be renamed AFC Basildon and merge with HTU. She played for the reserves in her first season, notably netting 5 goals in 16 matches; and was an unused substitute for the first-team on one occasion. 2018–19 would see Baker move into the senior set-up, as she ended that season with 3 goals in 18 matches. In the club's final campaign before the merger, Baker would score 2 goals in 12 appearances in a season that was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst with AFC Basildon, Baker appeared at county level for Essex.

### HTU

2020–21
In mid-2020, HTU merged with AFC Basildon and Baker was one of many players to make the switch over. She would soon score HTU's first-ever (non-competitive) goal, as the midfielder netted in a 3–2 pre-season friendly defeat to Crawley Wasps on 9 August 2020; having been assisted by Holly Turner. She'd feature in further friendlies versus Sporting Khalsa (also scored), Haringey Borough, Dulwich Hamlet, Ashford Town (also scored) and West Bromwich Albion, prior to making her official debut in a National League - Division One South East loss away to Ipswich Town on 20 September. In total, Baker featured 6 times in her first few months with *The Tags*, though the season was once again ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021–22
Baker netted a brace in a friendly with Solihull Moors on 8 August 2021, before scoring twice again seven days later in their National League - Division One South East opener away to Cambridge City at the Unwin Ground on 15 August. She followed that up with 3 goals in her next 4 appearances versus Cambridge United, London Seaward and Enfield Town across September and October. On 14 November, Baker scored a brace in HTU's 17–0 win in the FA Cup against Southend United. After a further strike at home to Norwich City on 21 November, the midfielder notched goals versus Kent Football United, Harlow Town and Queens Park Rangers across January and February 2022. On 14 April, Baker scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Billericay Town as *The Tags* won the 2021–22 Essex Senior Cup at Parkside in Aveley, England.

2022–23
Following the announcement of Baker's pregnancy in early September 2022, it meant that HTU were unlikely to have her available for the 2022–23 season.

2023–24
Baker returned to action on 16 July 2023 as HTU defeated Stoke City in a pre-season friendly, with the midfielder netting during the 7–1 win at the Len Salmon Stadium. Another goal came in a 6 August match-up with Millwall. Competitively, Baker scored her 20th overall goal for *The Tags* on 6 September at home to Ipswich Town. She later netted the only goal of a 26 November win at Cardiff City.

## Personal Life

As of around 2020, Baker worked as a police officer. In December 2019, she became engaged with boyfriend Liam Baker, with the two marrying in October 2021. It was announced, on 13 September 2022, that Gemma and Liam were expecting their first child together; with a due date of March 2023, baby Mabel was born on 18 March.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (68)
* List of appearances of Gemma Baker

Goals (22)
* List of goals of Gemma Baker

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "HASHTAG UTD FC WOMEN VS CAMBRIDGE UNITED WOMEN'S FC" , 27 September 2020.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gemma Baker (Abela)" .
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "#tbt to when I played for Barking Ladies U10's!" , 25 September 2014.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Controversial end to Ladies' clash" , 9 March 2015.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "GEMMA ABELA player stats" .
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Gemma Abela player stats" .
7. ↑ "Despite being badly injured I really enjoyed the Holland tour!" , 28 July 2016.
8. ↑ "Good luck to @GraceGillard1, @GemGem\_Abela, @\_cerysadams, Holly Turner, @kelkel1099, @courtneylclarke, and Poppy Binding, all selected for #EssexWomen vs @middxfa Women tonight in the Southern Counties Women’s Cup" , 5 February 2020.
9. ↑ "Last night in Jamaica my best friend asked me if I would marry him" , 2 December 2019.
10. ↑ "WE DID IT!!!" , 3 October 2021.
11. ↑ "Welcoming baby Baker March 2023!" , 13 September 2022.
12. ↑ "Happy Mother’s Day to all of our fans and supporters... Especially @GemGem\_Abela who welcomed baby Mabel into the world yesterday 💛💙 (Gem and the baby are all well)" , 19 March 2023.