Footballers who have played league football for both PNE and Middlesborough
A-K
612) Mick Baxter
PNE 207 apps; 17 goals
Boro 122 apps; 7 goals
PNE debut 05/04/1975 v Grimsby (A) – Lost 1-2
693) David Brown
PNE 74 apps; 0 goals
Boro 10 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 23/08/1996 v Tranmere (A) – Drawn 1-1
81) Sandy Brown
PNE 63 apps; 25 goals
Boro 44 apps; 15 goals
PNE debut 05/09/1896 v Bury (A) –Drawn 0-0
342) Ken Cameron
PNE 24 apps; 5 goals
Boro 99 apps; 30 goals
PNE debut 11/12/1926 v Darlington (A) – Won 1-0
223) Alf Common
PNE 35 apps 9 goals
Boro 168 apps; 58 goals
PNE debut 21/12/1912 v Blackpool (A) – Won 1-0
544) Ian Davidson
PNE 67 apps; 1 goal
Boro 46 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 01/12/1962 v Swansea (A) – Drawn 1-1
967) Andrew Davies
PNE 5 apps; 0 goals
Boro 59 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 14/02/2009 Norwich (H) – Won 2-1
855) Craig Harrison
PNE 6 apps; 0 goals
Boro 24 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 16/01/1999 v Luton (H) - Won 2-1
426) Jack Jennings
PNE 19 apps; 1 goal
Boro 195 apps; 10 goals
PNE debut 26/09/1936 v Manchester United (H) – Won 3-1
830) John Kay
PNE 7 apps; 0 goals
Boro 8 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 24/08/1996 v Bristol Rovers (H) – Drawn 0-0
Player Profile – Mick Baxter
Michael John Baxter was born in Birmingham on 30 December 1956 and joined Preston shortly after his older brother Stuart (42 PNE apps from 1972 to 1975) made his debut also in central defence.
After signing professional forms on his eighteenth birthday, Baxter made his Lilywhites debut in a 2-1 victory at Grimsby on 5 April 1975, this was his only game under Bobby Charlton as he resigned four months later.
In September 1975 he replaced his brother in the number five shirt and scored his first goal in a 4-3 home defeat to Hereford on 1 November on his 8th appearance of the season and played in a further 9 matches.
From December 1976 he became a fixture in the side as he made 26 league appearances, appearing along side a young Mark Lawrenson. His only goal in the 1976/77 season came in a 2-2 home draw to Chesterfield on 19 April 1977.
Following the departure of Lawrenson, Baxter partnered Graham Cross in defence as Preston were promoted from the Third Division in 1977/78 as he made 45 league appearances and netting 5 goals, 4 of them at home.
Preston finished seventh in Division Two in 1978/79 with Baxter scoring 4 goals in 37 appearances, missing the 5 matches in April. After scoring in the League Cup First Round against Huddersfield, Baxter’s first league goal of the season came on his 100th league appearance at Fulham on 21 October. But the Lilywhites lost 5-3 at Craven Cottage. Two further goals came in December 1978. This was the second season running that he had 5 goals in a season.
He made a further 37 league appearances in 1978/79, scoring twice in draws against Bristol Rovers and Chelsea as PNE finished tenth.
The 1979/80 season saw Baxter as an ever-present scoring 4 goals from 42 matches. His 4 goals came in a space of 10 league matches between November/December 1980. His final league goal came in a 2-2 draw against Notts County on 27 December. His 200th leage appearance for PNE came in a 3-1 win at Cardiff on 11 April. Baxter’s last Lilywhite last league appearance came on the final day of the season as North End won 2-1 at Derby on 6 May 1980. But with Cardiff getting a goalless draw against West Ham, Preston was relegated on goal difference back to Division Three. Baxter won the Official Player of the Season and had scored 17 goals from 205 league appearances.
His final match for PNE was a 2-1 Group Cup win at home to neighbours Blackpool on 15 August 1981. Baxter joined Division One side Middlesbrough for a fee of £350,000 and made his debut with a 3-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on 29 August. His first win for Boro came on his 4th appearance in a 2-1 home win over Birmingham. He made 40 appearances in his first season in the top division, scoring twice. His first gaol came in a 2-0 win at Sunderland on 3 April, with a further goal come in a 3-1 home defeat to Arsenal on 8 May.
Even though they had conceded fewer goals than runners-up Ipswich, Boro’ only won eight matches and finished bottom on the table and relegated to Division Two.
Baxter stayed for a further two seasons as Middlesbrough struggled in Division Two finishing in sixteenth in 1982/83 and one place lower in 1983/84. Baxter was almost an ever present during those seasons, missing just one match in each season and netting 5 goals in the process. This included a brace in the 3-0 home victory over Charlton on 26 April 1983.
His 100th league game saw his score his last league goal for Boro in a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield on 17th December. Although final goal came as a scoring a 70th minute winner over Division One side Arsenal with a 3-2 victory at Ayresome Park.
His last game was a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on 7 May 1984, Baxter had scored 7 goals from 122 league appearances for Middlesbrough.
Although George Graham tried to sign Baxter for Millwall he eventually signed for Second Division Portsmouth who was one Division higher than Millwall.
Unfortunately he never played for Pompey as illness ended his career and. Baxter returned to Preston as the Club’s Community Development Officer. But in 1989 at the age of just 32 Mick Baxter collapsed and died whilst working with some children at Deepdale. A minutes silence was held at both Preston’s next two games.