Fred Baines was born in Castleford, Yorkshire, in 1898, and joined
Leeds City in 1917.
He was brought into the City first-team at right-back in September of
that year when Bob Hewison moved to half-back after Jack Hampson suffered
an injury. Baines partnered Billy Hampson
in defence when Leeds played Bradford City on 22 September. The Peacocks
won 4-0 with the Leeds Mercury commenting that the youngster 'was
quite a useful member' of the home defence.
He played in an unchanged partnership with Hampson through 13 games,
with Baines playing on the left in eleven of them. In eight of those games
City kept a clean sheet and Baines was acclaimed for some sound displays.
He lost his place when Welsh defender Harry Millership left Blackpool
for Elland Road in December and, unable to recover his place, moved
on to Rochdale in February 1919.
Baines signed for Rotherham County in June 1919 and played in the club's
first five appearances in the Football League after they were elected
that summer. After losing his place he returned to Rochdale in July
1920 and moved on to Accrington Stanley a year later.
