Darren Baxter (English footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Darren Baxter

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|10|26}}

| birth_place = Brighton, England

| position = Left back, midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1998–2001

| youthclubs1 = Chelsea

| years1 = 2001

| years2 = 2001–2002

| years3 = 2001

| years4 = 2002–?

| years5 = 2003

| years6 = 2004

| years7 = 2005

| years8 = 2006

| years9 = 2007

| clubs1 = Heart of Midlothian

| clubs2 = Worthing

| clubs3 = → St Albans City (loan)

| clubs4 = St Albans City

| clubs5 = New York Freedom

| clubs6 = Toronto Lynx

| clubs7 = Oakville Blue Devils

| clubs8 = Toronto Lynx

| clubs9 = Torquay United

| caps1 = 0

| caps2 =

| caps3 = 1

| caps4 = 5

| caps5 = 14

| caps6 = 24

| caps7 = 5

| caps8 = 8

| caps9 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 =

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 4

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| club-update = 12 April 2018

}}

Darren Baxter (born 26 October 1981) is an English former professional footballer.

Playing career

Baxter was born in Brighton and began his football career as a trainee with Chelsea. He left Chelsea in the 2000–2001 season at the end of his three-year traineeship.[http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2001/8/18/173223.html Baxter wants to get them talking again] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083203/http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2001/8/18/173223.html |date=29 September 2007 }} On leaving Chelsea he joined Heart of Midlothian, but having missed the transfer deadline was restricted to playing for their reserve side.

He joined Worthing in the summer of 2001, but moved to St Albans City in March 2002, having played one match on loan for them in October 2001. In 2003, he played abroad in the USL Pro Select League with New York Freedom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com:80/scripts/runisa.dll?S7:gp::72011+Elements/Display+E+47116++22358+23779|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030626132141/http://www.uslsoccer.com:80/scripts/runisa.dll?S7:gp::72011+Elements/Display+E+47116++22358+23779|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-06-26|date=2003-06-26|access-date=2018-04-12|title= }}

In 2004, he joined USL A-League side Toronto Lynx, making his debut for the club on 1 May 2004 in a match against the Rochester Rhinos in a 4–0 defeat.{{Cite web|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04lynx22.htm|title = RHINOS HAND LYNX FIRST LOST OF SEASON|date = 1 May 2004|website = Rocket Robin's Home Page|publisher = Toronto Lynx Game Report|last = Nutt|first = Dave}} In his first season with the Lynx, Baxter recorded 4 goals and 2 assists, which ranked him third in scoring for the Lynx in his rookie season. When the season came to a conclusion he was awarded team's Best Offensive Player award.{{Cite web|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04lynx1s.htm|title = Result of the Thursday August 16th, 2004 A-League game between Toronto Lynx and Edmonton FC played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 7:30pm.|date = 16 August 2004|website = Rocket Robin's Home Page|publisher = |last = Glover|first = Robin}} In 2005, Baxter was acquired by the Oakville Blue Devils in the Canadian Professional Soccer League after Duncan Wilde was appointed the new head coach. He made his debut for the club on 5 June 2005 in a 2–1 victory over the Vaughan Shooters.{{Cite web|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports05/05cpsl15.htm|title = Result of the Sunday June 5th, 2005 CPSL game between Vaughan Shooters and Oakville Blue Devils played at The Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 7:00pm.|date = 5 June 2005|website = Rocket Robin's Home Page|publisher = |last = Glover|first = Robin}} He helped Oakville finish second in the western conference allowing the club to clinch a playoff berth, which ultimately resulted in the club claiming the CPSL Championship.

On 18 April 2006 Baxter re-signing with the Lynx was announced in a press conference which revealed the 2006 team roster.{{Cite web|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports06/06lynx06.htm|title = April 18, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx press conference (by Rocket Robin)|date = 18 April 2006|website = Rocket Robin's Home Page|publisher = |last = Glover|first = Robin}} He appeared in eight matches for the club in the 2006 season.{{Cite web|url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/darren-baxter/|title=Darren Baxter {{!}} SoccerStats.us|website=soccerstats.us|access-date=2018-04-12}}

On 9 January 2007, he returned to England, joining Torquay United, making his debut as a half-time substitute for Chris McPhee in the 5–0 defeat away to Mansfield Town on 30 January 2007. However, this was to be his only appearance for Torquay, as along with Nathan Simpson, he left on 6 February 2007, having learnt that his initial one-month contract was not going to be renewed.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6334915.stm Gulls will not extend duo's deals]

In October 2007, Baxter joined Dorchester Town on trial, scoring in a reserve game against Torquay United's reserve team.