harry - Baker

football

What was your sport and how did you get into it?

My sport is Cerebral Palsy football, I got involved by complete chance. I was playing mainstream football for a club as well as school, unaware of the opportunities that may lead to me playing for my country. I was put forward for an award by my school and from there I was scouted to play for Northampton Pan Disability football. This is where I learnt about the pathway and did what I could to reach the top. 

Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?

I think the highlight of my career has to be winning the European Championship Golden Boot in 2018. To go from never scoring in a major competition to finishing the competition as top goal scorer and helping my country was incredible. I think as a team finishing 4th in a World Cup is an amazing achievement although it’s not the finish we wanted, to get into a medal match is what we planned to do and hopefully we will come away with a medal in this year’s competition. 

What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?

I experienced discrimination when I was growing up because a lot of coaches and people didn’t know how to coach or approach someone with a disability. This led to me not wanting to play sport or football as I felt this was the same across all sports. I overcame it from support from my family who installed in me a strong resilience and a ‘prove them wrong’ attitude. 

Another big challenge for me in my international career was being dropped from the Paralympic squad in 2016. This was a huge goal of mine and to not reach it was devastating. I made sure to work even harder and change my diet so when I got my chance again I could show it was a mistake not to take me. 

What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?

I’m very new to the trust and have just started my first AQA Unlocking Potential programme with them. It’s been so much fun, I have really enjoyed working with the school and learning from them and other athletes. 

What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?

Alongside the Trust I work full time as a Sports Activator for the Cherwell District Council, I have been in the role for nearly 4 years and enjoy working from school to school teaching PE and other fun sporting activities. 

What experience do you have of working with corporate organisations? 

I have worked for the council for the past four years and created a range of different programmes which have been implemented into the area I work in. I have also given talks and presentations to different heads of organisations. I’m also involved in the Young Local Authority of the Year competition, where we have to present an argument to all the other councils in England. 

What life advice would you give a young person?

Give every opportunity a go. You don’t know what you could achieve without trying something. You may not like it in the end but at least you’ll never live with the thought of what if? So my advice is give every opportunity a go. 

What does Being Me mean to you?

Being me, is a young confident disabled man who has overcome a range of different barriers to discrimination, to learning to do things differently because of my disability, but also learning to cope I am different but that’s what makes me! I hope I can share my experiences and teach others to believe in themselves and help them achieve great things. 

Competitive
Record

2022

World Cup

2019

World Cup

2018

European Championships - won Golden Boot as top scorer

2017

CPISRA World Games

2015

World Cup

3rd in U19 World Cup

2014

European Championships

2013

Intercontinental Cup