Stephen Baxter (footballer)

Stephen John Baxter BEM (born 1 October 1965) is a Northern Irish football manager and retired footballer. He is the current manager of Crusaders, where he had two spells as a player.

Stephen Baxter
BEM
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-10-01) 1 October 1965
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Crusaders (manager)
Youth career
Glentoran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1987 Ards 43 (21)
1987–1993 Linfield 114 (51)
1993–1994 Distillery 25 (6)
1994–1998 Crusaders 108 (40)
1998–2000 Glenavon 48 (19)
2000–2002 Crusaders 58 (23)
2002 Bangor 0 (0)
2005 Crusaders 0 (0)
Total 396 (160)
National team
1981 Northern Ireland U18 3 (0)
1987 Irish League XI 2 (0)
Teams managed
2005– Crusaders
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In 2018, Baxter was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to football in Northern Ireland.[1]

Playing career

'Stanley' (as he would later be nicknamed after the Scottish comedian) started out as a player with Glentoran before signing for Ards in 1985. His goalscoring exploits caught the notice of Linfield and he signed for them in 1987, winning two Irish League championships, three Gold Cups and a League Cup. He scored 102 goals in 219 games for the Blues, of which 169 were starts.[2]

Unable to hold down a regular starting place, however, he signed for Crusaders in 1994. Baxter became one of the key players of Crusaders' golden team of the 90's, again winning two Irish League championships, a Gold Cup and League Cup. In 1995/96, he was named in the Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year, and in 1996/97 he was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year.[3] He then moved to Glenavon for a successful period before returning to Seaview for a second two-year spell in 2000.

Baxter was memorable for his hat-trick in a relegation play-off against Lisburn Distillery, ensuring the Crues' survival. Baxter left Seaview a firm fan-favourite and legend status for a short spell at Bangor, where he coached briefly and played two cup games, before retiring from football completely and opening a sports shop in Newtownards. He played a total of 650 games in his career, and scored 303 goals.[4] He later came out of retirement briefly in a County Antrim Shield match against Dundela in 2005.[5]

Managerial career

Following the sacking of Alan Dornan, Baxter was installed as manager at Seaview, yet was unable to keep the Hatchetmen in the top division. After winning virtually every intermediate trophy in sight the following season, under Baxter's leadership the Crues returned to the Irish League and lead the table briefly, before finishing in 6th position in 2006–07.

After, he led the club to their first top 3 finish for a decade in 2008–09, and also the team's first Irish Cup victory in 41 years. He led the club to County Antrim Shield success the following season. Baxter is the club's most successful manager of all time.

In 2011–12, Baxter led the Crues to triumph in the Irish League Cup, winning the competition for the first time since 1996. That same season, he delivered success at the 2012 Setanta Sports Cup.[6][7]

Managerial statistics
Team Nation From To Record
G W D L F A Gd Win %
Crusaders  Northern Ireland 14 February 2005 Present 7264271161841436917+51958.82
Total 7254281161841426915+51158.82
As of 10 February 2020

Honours

As a player

Linfield

Lisburn Distillery

Crusaders

Glenavon

Individual

  • NI Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year: 1995–96
  • Ulster Footballer of the Year: 1996–97
  • NI Football Writers' Player of the Year: 1996–97

As a manager

Crusaders

References
  1. "New Year Honours list: Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter proud to receive BEM". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. HighBeam
  3. M. Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2009–2010, p. 102. Belfast: Ulster Tatler Publications.
  4. HighBeam
  5. Crusaders Match Programme, Vol.1, No.11. Crusaders Football Club. 31 October 2006. p. 7.
  6. 2012 Setanta Sports Cup. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  7. Profile, BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
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