{{Short description|English footballer}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Drew Baker | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Andrew Macdonald Baker<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS |url= https://www.efl.com/contentassets/183721110af1407d87d5d77408a07201/efl-professional-retain-list---2021-22.pdf |access-date=24 August 2022|publisher=English Football League}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2002|10|08}} | birth_place = Cheshire, England | height = | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Hyde United | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2007–2017 | youthclubs1 = Manchester City | youthyears2 = 2017–2019 | youthclubs2 = Crewe Alexandra | youthyears3 = 2019–2021 | youthclubs3 = Oldham Athletic | years1 = 2021–2022 | clubs1 = FC United of Manchester | caps1 = 20 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2022–2024 | clubs2 = Fleetwood Town | caps2 = 8 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2023 | clubs3 = → Bohemians (loan) | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = → Waterford (loan) | caps4 = 8 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2024 | clubs5 = Macclesfield | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2024– | clubs6 = Hyde United | caps6 = 36 | goals6 = 4 | club-update = 11:47, 6 May 2025 (UTC) }} '''Andrew Macdonald Baker''' (born 8 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|HydeUnit}} club Hyde United.

==Career== Baker was born in Cheshire but attended Manchester Grammar School.<ref name="NCAS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer-recruiting/international/manchester/manchester-grammar-school/drew-baker13|title=DREW BAKER '21 RECRUITING PROFILE|via=NCSA|accessdate=24 August 2022}}</ref> Whilst at the school, he was called up in November 2019 to the England Independent Schools Under-18 age group matches against Wales Colleges and England Colleges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mgs.org/214/news/post/282/england-call-up-for-talented-footballer-drew#|title=England call-up for talented footballer Drew|via=Manchester Grammar School|date=25 November 2019|accessdate=24 August 2022}}</ref> He started his youth career in the Academy at Manchester City where he played for ten years from the under-4 to under-14 level, winning the Premier League Championship three times.<ref name="NCAS"/> He subsequently spent two years in the youth team at Crewe Alexandra before signing a two-year scholarship at EFL League Two side Oldham Athletic.<ref name="NCAS"/> In May 2021, it was announced that he would not be offered a professional contract at Oldham and that he would be released at the end of his scholarship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/19333558.oldham-youth-team-trio-sign-first-professional-contracts/|title=Oldham youth team trio sign first professional contracts|via=Oldham Times|date=27 May 2021|accessdate=24 August 2022|first=Suzanne|last=Geldard}}</ref>

He dropped down to Non-League when he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division side FC United of Manchester for the 2021–22 campaign, following a trial during pre-season.<ref name="Fleet"/> As the club only trained part-time, he also worked as an IT Consultant.<ref name="Debut"/> He was an ever-present in the backline going onto make twenty-seven appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 3–1 win over Witton Albion.<ref name="Fleet"/>

On 4 January 2022, he signed for EFL League One side Fleetwood Town on a deal until the summer of 2023, with the club holding an option for another one-year extension.<ref name="Fleet">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/january/baker-signing/|title=Young centre-half Drew Baker joins Town's Development Squad|via=Fleetwood Town FC|date=24 January 2022|accessdate=24 August 2022}}</ref> Upon signing, he was immediately placed into the Development Squad.<ref name="Fleet"/> On 23 August 2022, he made his professional debut at the age of 19, when he started in the 1–0 EFL Cup second round defeat at home to Premier League side Everton.<ref name="Debut">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/august/drew-baker-post-match-everton/|title=Baker: It was a proud moment for me and my family|via=Fleetwood Town FC|date=24 February 2022|accessdate=24 August 2022}}</ref> On 3 September he made his League One Debut against Wycombe Wanders in a 1–1 draw.

On 16 February 2023, Baker signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemians on loan until the end of June.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2023/february/baker-moves-on-loan-to-loi-side-bohemians/ | title=Baker heads to Irish Premier Division side Bohemian FC on loan | date=16 February 2023 }}</ref>

On 4 July 2023, Baker signed for League of Ireland First Division side Waterford, sister club of Fleetwood Town, on loan until the end of their season in November.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://waterfordfc.ie/baker-joins-loan/ | title=Drew Baker Joins on Loan | date=4 July 2023 }}</ref>

On 4 January 2024, Baker joined NPL Premier Division club Macclesfield on a permanent transfer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://macclesfieldfc.com/latest-news/drew-baker-signs-for-the-silkmen/|title=DREW BAKER SIGNS FOR THE SILKMEN|website=macclesfieldfc.com|date=4 January 2024|accessdate=5 January 2024}}</ref>

In July 2024, Baker joined fellow NPL Premier Division side Hyde United following a successful trial period, where he went on to play an important role, as the club managed to secure a 9th place finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hydeunited.co.uk/archives/38302|title=Drew puts pen to paper|website=hydeunited.co.uk|date=26 July 2024|accessdate=30 July 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 21 August 2023}}

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals |- |FC United of Manchester |2021–22<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drew Baker |url=http://fcunitedfan.com/en/profiles/baker_drew/ |access-date=24 August 2022 |publisher=FC United Fan}}</ref> |NPL Premier Division |20||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=FCU|Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Fenix Trophy}}|||0||27||1 |- |Fleetwood Town |2022–23<ref name="SW">{{Cite web |title=D. Baker Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/drew-baker/860128/ |access-date=24 August 2022 |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group}}</ref> |League One |8||0||1||0||1||0||2||0||12||0 |- |Bohemians (loan) |2023<ref name="SW"/> |LOI Premier Division |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=LSC|Appearance in Leinster Senior Cup}}||0||2||0 |- |Waterford (loan) |2023<ref name="SW"/> |LOI First Division |4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||0 |- |Hyde United FC |2024 |NPL Premier Division |36||4||||||||||||||36||4 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !69||4||7||0||1||0||4||0||83||5 |} {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Drew}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:English men's footballers Category:Footballers from Chester Category:Men's association football defenders Category:F.C. United of Manchester players Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players Category:Bohemian F.C. players Category:Waterford F.C. players Category:Macclesfield F.C. players Category:Hyde United F.C. players Category:Northern Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:League of Ireland players Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School Category:21st-century English sportsmen