George Baker RIP

Former Argyle forward George Baker has died at the age of 88.

Baker played 83 times for the Pilgrims, between 1954 and 1959, scoring 17 goals. Although born in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, Baker signed for Argyle aged 16, developing in local football.

Starting off as a winger, Baker had only played 18 times in his first three seasons, before Jack Rowley picked him in a deep-lying centre forward role at Newport on Christmas Day, 1957.

Baker played in the remaining 23 games of the 1957/58 campaign and was a regular in the 1958/59 promotion season. In the summer of 1960, Baker left for Shrewsbury, where he made another 65 appearances, scoring five times. He also played for Barry Town.

Baker played twice for Wales under-23s, and stories say that he was picked for the 1958 World Cup, but never travelled to the tournament.

Everyone at Argyle sends their best wishes to George’s friends and family.