Clive Baker thread.....

Clive Baker, a recent signing by manager Bobby Collins from Norwich City, made his debut on this day in 1984 - in a 2-0 Division 2 victory against Notts County at Oakwell. He immediately became the first choice keeper and remained so for the next 6 seasons. Including this game, the Reds were unbeaten for 15 games, the longest run without defeat at the start of any Barnsley players’ career - credit for this fact to David Wood.

In total Baker played 291 league games and a further 46 cup games before moving to Coventry City in 1990. (Correction - he left in 1991)

His name doesn't come up too often when top goalkeepers are discussed but he's surely in the top group over the last 50-60 years.....

 

A good servant and a fine shot-stopper. His downfall was that he wasn’t physically imposing enough. Any slow, looping header in our penalty box from 1984-1997 (under a variety of keepers) would usually nestle in the back of the net.

 

I'd put him up there among the best keepers I've seen play for us. He was short for a goalkeeper, from memory about 5'10", but was a very reliable player for us.

 

Correction - someone's just pointed out he left in 1991 not 1990.

 

And a year later he was playing for Ipswich in the Premier League, while Lee Butler stood and watched the ball slowly trundle past him. Again.

 

And we let him go on a free transfer at that

 

Clive Baker was a great keeper. Yes he was smaller than the usual but had a great leap and there wasn't a deluge of headed goals from crosses that some suggest.

He was a Premier League standard goalkeeper. If he was taller, he'd have been almost England international standard, not because he was scared of crosses but just because it would have given managers more confidence in signing him further up the tree.

He's a top bloke as well and was a fine cricketer

 

My first keeper watching us, before we moved on to Lee Butler and Phil Whiteside in competition.

He was a good keeper for his size. We've had many better and many worse since.

 

Used to live in the house where my parents live now.

 

Excellent keeper was Baker. If we had an identikit playing in goal for us now we'd all be singing his praises.

 

I remember the game at Leeds when he bravely dove at the strikers feet and ended up losing 4 or 5 teeth.I can't remember the Leeds player but I think nowadays he would have been sent off.

 

Many better?

Name them

Because I can probably name 2 that are questionably better.

Watson
Muller

 

Lee Butler loved the stand and watch also!

 

Solidly dependable keeper, who, I thought, kept our record number of consecutive clean sheets soon after arriving. I also recall that he planned his career beyond his playing days well by taking a degree course. I think that he became significant within the PFA as a result. Shows the nature of the character of Clive. A good egg and very dependable keeper all round. (Just checked - he was on the PFA Executive Committee after finishing playing.)

 

They'd be the only two for me also. And I'm not entirely convinced they were.

 

The brilliant Paul Futcher must take a lot of credit for the superb defensive record too during Baker's time.

 

A really good keeper. Was a shame we decided to freshen things up and go with Butler who wasn't remotely close to being in Bakers class.

I'd say Watson was better, just, but they are by far the best two shot stoppers I've seen play for us.

 

It was Phil Whitehead, not Whiteside.

 

I'd add Luke Steele to the list, like others had his faults but would put him in the top keepers to have played.

 

And let's be honest, whilst Lee Butler was never in the same league, we've had a hell of a lot worse than him since as well!