Steve Baines
Encyclopedia
Stephen John "Steve" Baines (born 23 June 1954) is an English former footballer and later a referee in the Football League
. Born in Newark, Nottinghamshire
, during his refereeing career he resided in Chesterfield
, Derbyshire
. He is the only referee in the League's history to have had a significant career previously as a professional player.
, and made his debut in the 1972-73
season, but only played twice before being transferred to Huddersfield Town
. He made over one hundred appearances for that club before moving to local rivals Bradford City
in 1977. After 99 league games for them he departed to Walsall
. There was a loan spell at Bury
before he returned on a permanent transfer to Walsall. A final move to Chesterfield
, where he spent the final years of his League career as player/coach, ended in 1987, after which he played briefly for various non-League clubs.
At the close of his playing career he had made almost 450 League appearances. He had generally operated as a centre-half, scoring 42 goals - a good record for this position. In the period from 1979-80
onwards he was sent off once, while on loan at Bury in January 1982.
. In a rare move for an ex-player he soon took up refereeing. He made good progress, reaching the Panel Leagues and becoming a Football League assistant in 1994. After just one year he was promoted to the Referees List. Only one other referee had ever been promoted that quickly - former Scottish League
referee Joe Timmons
, in 1987. Only two other referees - Bob Matthewson
and John Lloyd
- had previous professional playing experience but the pair only made five League appearances between them.
Baines had made the List after less than ten years refereeing. However he was still able to serve eight years as a Football League referee during which he had a low rate of red and yellow cards. He handled matches involving most of his former clubs although not Chesterfield
, in line with League policy.
Print
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. Born in Newark, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, during his refereeing career he resided in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. He is the only referee in the League's history to have had a significant career previously as a professional player.
Playing career
Baines started his career with nearby Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, and made his debut in the 1972-73
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
season, but only played twice before being transferred to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. He made over one hundred appearances for that club before moving to local rivals Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in 1977. After 99 league games for them he departed to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. There was a loan spell at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
before he returned on a permanent transfer to Walsall. A final move to Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, where he spent the final years of his League career as player/coach, ended in 1987, after which he played briefly for various non-League clubs.
At the close of his playing career he had made almost 450 League appearances. He had generally operated as a centre-half, scoring 42 goals - a good record for this position. In the period from 1979-80
1979-80 in English football
The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.- FA Cup :Second Division West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 with a Trevor Brooking goal...
onwards he was sent off once, while on loan at Bury in January 1982.
Refereeing career
Baines remained in Chesterfield and worked in insuranceInsurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
. In a rare move for an ex-player he soon took up refereeing. He made good progress, reaching the Panel Leagues and becoming a Football League assistant in 1994. After just one year he was promoted to the Referees List. Only one other referee had ever been promoted that quickly - former Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
referee Joe Timmons
Joe Timmons
Joe Timmons has the distinction of being the only man to referee in both the Scottish and English Football Leagues. Born in 1952, he started off as a Scottish League official in the early 1980s before moving to Newcastle in England. After one season as a linesman he was promoted to the middle and...
, in 1987. Only two other referees - Bob Matthewson
Bob Matthewson
Robert "Bob" Matthewson was an English footballer and FIFA referee. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Matthewson had a spell playing for the Byker Youth Club's football team before he was signed by Bolton Wanderers...
and John Lloyd
John Lloyd (referee)
John Lloyd is a former referee in The Football League and Premier League and member of the Welsh FIFA List. He is one of only three referees who have made League appearances as a player.-Career:Lloyd figured in two matches as an outside-right for Wrexham between 1965 and 1967...
- had previous professional playing experience but the pair only made five League appearances between them.
Baines had made the List after less than ten years refereeing. However he was still able to serve eight years as a Football League referee during which he had a low rate of red and yellow cards. He handled matches involving most of his former clubs although not Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, in line with League policy.
- Football League Handbook (1994)
- Rothmans / Sky Sports Football Yearbooks, 1995–2003
- Barry Hugman (1998) The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946-1998, Queen Anne Press
- Tony Brown (2001) Red-Missed: Sendings-off in English Football 1979/80 to 2000/01, Soccerdata
- Gilbert Upton (2005) Football League and Premiership Referees 1888 to 2005, Soccerdata
External links
- Steve Baines Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com