Date of Birth 23rd June 1954

Baines started his career with nearby Nottingham Forest, 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.
He is the only referee in the League's history to have had a significant career previously as a professional player.