Baxter patient in climbing league ladder

Michael Kenrick, Daily Express , 24 January, 6comments | Jump to most recent

This story highlights the career gamble taken by Jose Baxter last summer when he turned his back on the bright lights and kudos of being at a top-flight club (Everton) in favour of spending his weekends on the pitch at Oldham, instead of being marooned in the stands.

The risk taken in walking out on Everton last summer was magnified when he spent five weeks on trial at Crystal Palace only for his lack of fitness to scupper any deal. It was then Oldham stepped in, offering a short-term contract that became a permanent 2½-year deal this month after Baxter scored 11 goals in 27 appearances, including the winner against Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup.

Despite an allegiance to all things red, Jose Baxter's apprenticeship was served across the Mersey divide and he entered the record books as Everton's youngest player, aged 16 years and 191 days, when making his debut as a substitute against Blackburn in August 2008.

A full debut followed a week later at West Brom, but just 13 more appearances in four seasons ensured that when the offer of a two-year deal from David Moyes came at the end of the last campaign, Baxter sought something more than security.

“The easy thing was to stay at Everton,” he said. “You get players who are happy to sit on benches on big money. My aim is to get to the top and play games every week and succeed that way. If it means taking a step down to go back up then I'll do that.

“It was a bit of a gamble to leave, but that's what life is about. You walk over the road and that's a gamble, but I want to play football. If it's a choice between playing Sunday League with mates or sitting on a bench, then I'd rather play with my mates.

“When I made my debut for Everton, I never thought, ‘This is it, I'm going to be a big star'. I thought I was overachieving. It was a dream come true to play in the Premier League, but I never got big-headed. I knew it wasn't the breakthrough.

“My aim is to play regularly in the Premier League. If I don't succeed then the Championship is the target and so on. I'll just get my head down and work, but definitely the Premier League is the aim.”

“There are ways round it, other than starting at the top and staying there.” Baxter is looking to make a name for himself against Liverpool in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Quotes or other material sourced from Daily Express

Reader Comments (6)

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Steavey Buckley
1 Posted 24/01/2013 at 09:36:54

Proves one point, the academy is not the place for aspiring young players to fulfill their dreams. But have to get out there in the real football world, where players have to fight for 3 points every week. And Baxter is starting to come alive as a real footballer.

Tony J Williams
2 Posted 24/01/2013 at 09:50:27

Fair play to the fella but this is a league where Nugent ended up getting an England call up playing in..... can't be that good really.

Dennis Shaw
3 Posted 24/01/2013 at 14:23:46

Whilst I applaud his decision, I never quite felt Baxter was good enough for the Premier League. He has good feet but always looked unfit and like he was carrying a little too much weight. He reminded me of Joe Cole but without the skill.

Good luck to him though.

Mike Gaynes
4 Posted 24/01/2013 at 14:52:27

He would never have cracked our lineup, and I doubt he'll ever see the Prem again, but there's definitely something to be said for playing in the Championship rather than sitting in the Prem.

And we'll all be cheering for his brace against the RS on Saturday, right? Hail Jose!

Paul Andrews
5 Posted 25/01/2013 at 08:13:45

Good luck to the kid. Refreshing to hear of a footballer who actually wants to play football.

Steve Ferns
6 Posted 25/01/2013 at 14:04:43

I always thought there was more to this than Everton or Baxter himself let on. He spent a long time without a contract between turning Everton down and signing for Oldham. He even was the subject of a BBC article about how he was without a club. It doesn't make sense as to why someone would turn Everton down and then be without a club for so long.

Anyway, good luck to the lad, and I hope he ends up higher in the divisions than perrenial third tier strugglers Oldham.

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