Steve Baker (footballer, born 1978)
Steven Richard Baker is an English footballer who played as a defender for Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town, Darlington and Hartlepool United.
Baker made his debut for Middlesbrough in the 1997-98 campaign, and went on to make five league appearances that season as they were promoted to the Premier League. The following season he made just two Premier League appearances. He suffered two cruciate ligament injuries in the space of three years.
Baker also represented the Republic of Ireland under-21 team over a five-year period earning over 35 caps, still remains the youngest at just 17 to be capped at the level in the countries history, Baker was a member of the squad that finished third in the world under-20s in the Far East.
Baker joined Scarborough, initially on loan from Middlesbrough, in 2001, and went on to make more than 100 Conference appearances for them. He was released at the end of the 2005–06 season. He signed for Gateshead in July 2006, but missed the whole of the 2007–08 season with injury.
