Stockport County FanZoner Andy Sheridan dedicates his latest blog to Carl Baker.
What lower league football is all about
I am going to write a blog about Stockport County and talk fully about our game against Yeovil later in the week, but this blog is being dedicated to Carl Baker...
Carl, 26, born in Liverpool, has only recently made it into league football after plying much of his early years at Prescot Cables and Southport. He was given the devastating news that his older brother Mike had died on Thursday of Leukemia.
Two of his brothers had been battling cancer and were in attendance when we hosted Southampton. Unfortunately less than a week later Mike had lost his battle. A moment the Baker family were hoping wouldn't happen and a moment which once again brought the knowledge that there are things more important than football. What makes it worse is that Carl's younger brother is still battling and this could again happen (we all hope not).
To Carl and the entire Baker family, my deepest most heartfelt condolences at this awful time. May your memories of Mike bring you joy and laughter, may the way he battled so bravely against cancer give you some comfort. Also may the actions and conduct of all the Baker brothers in such trying circumstances bring you pride, may Mike's memory live on in all of you and finally may the youngest of the Baker brothers fight continue and hopefully be won.
The Baker family plight is one of the main reasons Stockport County have gone into a commercial partnership with Leukemia Research, to help them raise more money through the club. A cause that not only Carl but many members of staff and fans feel strongly about.
Class
Now Carl was under no pressure by the club to travel down to Yeovil on Friday afternoon or to play for the club against Yeovil on Saturday. No County fan or any member of the management team would have thought bad of Carl if he had chosen not to travel/play after such devastating news, but he chose to make himself available to the club, showing the class he has as a person.
We travelled to the game not knowing if Carl was going to play, but we had a card for him to either give him or to give to the club to pass on to Carl. In the pub before the game the card was passed between our fans who were writing notes and expressing sympathy for Carl and the Baker family for their tragic news. This was also true in the stands of Huish Park, where fans queued in the aisles to ensure they put a message in the card. Alas the card wasn't big enough for everyone as more fans turned up than expected.
The fans were delighted to hear the news that Carl was going to play. It showed sheer bravery and dedication to choose to play at Yeovil and the fans let him know this by singing for him as soon as the teams were out. Stockport County were wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to Mike.
Now most fans weren't sure how Carl would do. Surely his mind would be elsewhere and he'd have one of his quieter games. No one would have blamed him if that was the case, but no. Carl was as good as ever, scoring both the goals in a 2-2 draw.
Upon scoring his first goal he and the rest of the team ran over to the bench, Carl was given a training top by the manager with a message 'For U Mike'. He held this up with all his team-mates then alone. Our goalkeeper even ran half the length of the field to make sure the entire team was involved, showing that all the team wanted to make a gesture to the Baker family and show solidarity behind Carl.
We had informed the club on Friday we would be travelling down with a card for Carl, but weren't sure if the message had been passed on, to make sure we spoke with one of the substitutes warming up at half time, telling him to let the gaffer know we had a card for Carl and to make sure he came over at the end of the game.
Poignant
The full time whistle came. Carl was just walking back to the tunnel when Gary Ablett stopped him, turned him to the County fans, told him we had something for him and told him to go over. Carl not knowing what was happening came over looking slightly bemused and was handed a card, he hugged the fans who in turn hugged him back. It was a beautifully poignant moment which brought a tear to the eyes of all involved.
At this point all we wanted was for Carl to go to the changing rooms and take in the day, but one fan wanted a photograph. Carl had every right to refuse but being the consumate professional posed for the photo, not showing the emotion he was feeling before running back to the changing rooms. By all accounts the fact the fans had brought a card moved Carl to tears. This is what lower league football is all about.
This is a timely reminder after all the recent issues involving players and emotions. Carl Baker had more reason than anyone to allow his emotions to get the better of him yet played as if it was any other day. No one would have blamed him for being sent off, below par or uninterested yet Carl was professionalism personified. Emmanuel Adebayor, Nathan Tyson and a fair few other players should be meet Carl and see how to keep their emotions in check. Carl did at Yeovil what I doubt a lot of players could have done given the circumstances.
I know there have been other instances of similar bravery, Lampard after his mother's funeral and recently Collinson after his father's death to name but two, however, they received national coverage at the time as they ply their trade in the upper echelons of English football. Carl's plight and actions have so far received little coverage (except for this and Paul Fletcher's blog). I believe Carl's plight to be worse with the fact this may all happen again at any time. It must be awful to live like that.
So to Carl, once again deepest condolences, but also my utmost thanks and admiration for setting an example of how to deal with emotions in such a manner that to the untrained eye everything was right in the Baker family. You have shown players and fans alike your class, bravery and strength beyond what was to be expected and hopefully people will learn from this. I hope the fact that the fans felt it right to get you a card shows how we feel about you.
To Mr and Mrs Baker. You have an exceptional son who is a credit to you. If his younger brother is anything like him then I know he'll be OK.
To the entire Baker family. Hoping to see you all at Edgeley Park again soon.
And finally once again Carl. Thank you from myself personally and all the fans of Stockport County FC.
