700 UP FOR RICHIE
37 year old Richie Baker has now made 700 competitive career appearances.
The 37-year-old Burnley born midfielder, enjoying his second spell with Ramsbottom United, was a fresh-faced 18-year-old when he made his debut at the original Bury FC in the 2006/07 season in League Two, coming off the bench against Wycombe Wanderers 19 years and four days ago – 19 August 2006 under Chris Casper.
He was due to start that match. “On the Friday, Chris told me I was starting which surprised me as I had only just joined. I rang my parents, and they brought two cars down from Burnley to be there!
“But, two hours before the game, Chris had changed his mind and told me he was going to leave me out. I was gutted but, in hindsight, he was right as he protected me as Wycombe hammered us! I came on in the second half and had a blinder! That is one of the highlights of my career.”
Richie started the next game in the League Cup at home to Sunderland three days later which they won 2-0 and went on to play 158 games for the Shakers before moving on to Oxford United under former Bury assistant manager Chris Wilder. Wanting to head closer to home, he took the decision to drop out of the Football League and signed for Barrow in February 2011 on a full-time contract. It was a decision he regrets to a point as getting back into the ‘big time’ proved difficult.
A relegation with Barrow left him searching for another club and, after a short spell with Tamworth, Conference North side Stockport County offered him a place, a club he enjoyed being with, especially with their huge fan base that saw them pack in 7,000 to Edgeley Park for an FA Cup against Chester.
Dave Challenor’s AFC Fylde soon came knocking and made Richie a part of their huge project that would take them up the leagues from 2015 to 2017. He would play 121 times for The Coasters before a short spell with FC United of Manchester, Curzon Ashton and Lancaster City took him into his 30s. Some time with Colne came before he joined Chris Willcock’s Ramsbottom United in November 2019, joining up with great friend and former Bury team-mate Tom Kennedy. “We had a great team and should have got promoted that season but for Covid,” he admitted.
“The players we had – Nic, Ruben, Jamie and TK was still fit – we had a really good set of lads and it was great fun, the great camaraderie we had but it was a real shame that the season had to stop when it did as we are on a roll.”
Returning to the club after the enforced break, things had changed with players leaving and Kennedy contemplating retirement and he switched to Clitheroe under former Rammy duo Billy Priestley and Gary Stopforth.
But he returned to the Rammy fold in November last year under Steve Wilkes and we are delighted that he has, and we can celebrate his 700 appearances.
Congratulations, Richie!
