| William Baker | |
| Fullname: | William James Baker |
| Birth Date: | 1882[1] |
| Birth Place: | Plymouth, England |
| Death Place: | Serre-lès-Puisieux, France |
| Position: | Wing half |
| Clubs1: | Green Waves |
| Clubs2: | De Beers |
| Years3: | –1909 |
| Clubs3: | Green Waves |
| Years4: | 1909–1915 |
| Clubs4: | Plymouth Argyle |
| Caps4: | 193 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
William James Baker MM (1882 – 22 October 1916) was an English professional footballer who made over 190 appearances as a wing half in the Southern League for Plymouth Argyle between 1909 and 1915.[2] He also played in the United States and South Africa.
Baker was married.[3] He served in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War and rose to the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in action at Vimy Ridge in June 1916 and received the Military Medal.[4] On 22 October 1916, Baker was killed by German artillery fire near Serre-lès-Puisieux during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated at Sucrerie Military Cemetery at Colincamps.
| Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Plymouth Argyle | 1909–10 | Southern League First Division | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 1910–11 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |||
| 1911–12 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |||
| 1912–13 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |||
| 1913–14 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |||
| 1914–15 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 193 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 202 | 1 | |||