Ranked second in goalscorers in the past 52 seasons, John Baker reached double figures in goals in all seven of his seasons at Claremont Road and scored more than 20 in five campaigns.

John Baker's Hendon career stands up against all of the greats to wear the green and white. In seven seasons, he won the Isthmian League title, as well as gaining winners' medals from the FA Amateur Cup, Barassi Cup, Middlesex Senior Cup and Middlesex Charity Cup. And, at the end of the 1973-74 season, during which the Greens played Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round, John won the Supporters Association Player of the Year award. John joined Hendon as a 19-year-old in summer 1969, signing from Isthmian League rivals Kingstonian, this after being released by Brentford a little earlier.

He started his Hendon career with a bang, scoring in all of first three games of the season and two in the fifth match. The goals continued to flow in the FA Cup, where John's goal against Cambridge City booked Hendon's place in the first round proper. He scored twice as Carshalton Athletic were beaten 5-3 at Claremont Road, but the FA Cup run ended against Brentwood Town at the next stage. John finished his first season with Hendon as 26-goal top-scorer, a return that proved to be his best at Claremont Road, though he was 21-goal top-scorer in 1970-71.

Between August 1971 and May 1974, John would play 164 times and net 56 goals, a return of better than one goal every three games, but not as prolific as his almost one in two return from his first couple of campaigns. The difference was that he was not centre of attention for defenders in quite the same way, especially in 1971-72 and 1972-73, when the leading scorer was an old-fashioned target man centre-forward, Tony Bass. John and Tony, assisted by John Connell in the first of those seasons, made for a fearsome attacking line-up and amassing 70 goals between them (and this doesn't include the 23 from midfield provided by Rod Haider). Bass's quality in the air - at 6ft 3in he towered above most defenders - suited John's game perfectly because he could run onto to knock-downs or sniff out chances on the rebound. John's style was built on incredible bravery, speed and strength, which made him a handful for any defender. Fans of that age remember John chasing a lost cause at Granleigh Road, Leytonstone, where he was knocked off balance and careered head-first into the concrete wall surrounding the pitch. He was desperate to continue, but wiser heads - no pun intended - prevailed.

In the 1971-72 FA Amateur Cup run, John scored in only the quarter- and semi-finals. Wembley authorities at the time, gave John the credit for the Greens' opening goal in the 2-0 Final defeat of Enfield, but it is more generally recognised as an own goal by the man trying vainly to stop him, Mick Smith. John's shot caromed off Smith's leg and looped over Andy Williams' head into the net. The following season was fantastic for championship-winning Hendon, but not quite so good for John, who missed almost a quarter of the campaign and ended with only 11 goals from 46 appearances. But he was back towards his very best in 1973–74, the season Hendon reached the third round of the FA Cup proper. John scored in the 3-0 defeats of Leytonstone and Merthyr Tydfil in the first and second round proper. He didn't score against Newcastle, but it was his flick-on of Tony Jennings' free-kick that set up Haider for the equaliser. The run ended at Watford's Vicarage Road in the replay. John played in 64 of Hendon's 67 games, as the Greens missed out on a second consecutive Isthmian League championship by only two points - a title that would have been Hendon's based on goal average and two points for a win. In each of the last three seasons, John added Middlesex Senior Cup glory to the other successes.
Baker - along with John Swannell - went to Leatherhead for the following season, where he enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup. He was back at Claremont Road for the following season, and collected his only Middlesex Charity Cup-winner's medal. He hadn't lost his taste for goals, grabbing 23 in 55 appearances. John then spent more than three seasons away, but returned for a last hurrah in October 1980. Now in his 30s, and suffering for his craft - he had a chronic hip problem - he made only 21 appearances in six-plus months, but still managed a dozen goals.

Joined Hendon: Summer 1969, Summer 1975, October 1980. Left Hendon: Summer 1974, Summer 1976, Summer 1981

Appearances: 346 (339 starts, 7 as substitute). Goals: 138

Supporters Association Player of the Year: 1974.

Medals won: Isthmian League: 1972-73; FA Amateur Cup 1971-72; Barassi Cup 1972-73; Middlesex Senior Cup: 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74; Middlesex Charity Cup: 1975-76