The Coventry City Former Players Association’s ‘special guest’ for Saturday’s League One clash with Plymouth Argyle is the ever-popular Carl Baker who left the Sky Blues for the second time in his career earlier this summer when an injury gained playing for Indian outfit ATK Kolkata failed to respond sufficiently to treatment.
Carl will be hoping to see Mark Robins’ men chalk up their first win of the season after losing to Scunthorpe United in their opener on 4th of this month and drawing at AFC Wimbledon last Saturday. Sky Blues fans will be expecting the Sky Blues to bounce back from their defeat last night in the first round of the Carabao Cup against Oxford United (who gained revenge for their Wembley Checkatrade defeat to the Sky Blues in 2017).
CCFPA member Carl joined the Sky Blues in January 2010 from Stockport County following an earlier spell with Morecambe. Chris Coleman put him straight into City’s Championship side and he was a regular for the next 4 ½ seasons and became the Sky Blues skipper.
CCFPA’s Sarah-Jane Morris with Carl Baker celebrating CCFC’s Checkatrade win at Wembley
In total ‘Bakes’ made 182 appearances for the club and scored 28 goals. Released by City in 2014, Carl joined MK Dons and helped them win promotion to the Championship in his first season. The following season he did it again being part of Portsmouth’s League Two promotion team alongside current Sky Blue skipper and CCFPA member Michael Doyle.
Carl & the Baker Boys
Carl spent the back end of last season at CCFC seeking but sadly failing to regain full fitness after re-signing. ‘Bakes’ continues to be well thought of by our fans and has been back to watch his former team on several occasions including both Wembley appearances in the last two seasons.
He has opened his own Academy locally and offers soccer training and devopment to youngsters in Coventry and district. He is a good friend to CCFPA and has also played in and entered teams in past Association Golf Days as well as coming out top in the individual FP honours. We trust he will play again in our Golf Day 2019 next June.
It is not the first time he has been our ‘special’ guest in recent seasons. Look out for ‘Bakes’ in the Family Zone and in the Ricoh supporters lounges pre-match, and after the game on the stage of Lady Gs in the Arena’s G-Casino in the company of CCFPA’s Billy Bell.
If you really can’t make the game and join in what we hope will be a raucous Ricoh Roar encouraging a Sky Blues victory then you can also listen to Carl assisting BBC CWR’s live match day commentary team as the game unfolds.