Born in Derby, Roy Baines joined Hibernian in 1968 as an 18-year-old. It was a move that would provide him with invaluable experience, not least because he found himself involved in some high-stakes encounters, including four European ties. For a young goalkeeper, the pressure was immense, yet it was precisely this baptism of fire that forged his reputation. Nevertheless, regular first-team football was hard to come by, and when Greenock Morton came calling in August 1972, Baines seized the opportunity.
However, fate can be cruel, and Baines’ debut for Morton was nothing short of catastrophic. On 12th August, in a League Cup match against Stranraer, he was carried off injured, leaving Morton to endure a humiliating 5-1 defeat. Not the ideal way to endear oneself to a new set of supporters. Consequently, he spent three months on the sidelines, missing 15 games before finally returning in November. But football, as ever, is about redemption, and Baines wasted no time in proving his worth, playing the remaining 25 matches of the season and contributing to a successful Renfrewshire Cup Final victory over St Mirren.
Over the next two seasons, the Ton found themselves in a constant battle for survival in Scotland’s Division One. Baines, under the guidance of former Denmark international goalkeeper Erik Sorensen, developed into a dependable last line of defence, missing very few matches during this period. However, in football, stability is a luxury few clubs can afford, and in 1975, Morton suffered a major setback, finishing 17th in the table and missing out on a place in the newly established 10-team Scottish Premier Division. Accordingly, they were relegated to the second tier, a bitter pill to swallow for a club that had fought so hard to stay afloat.
Despite the disappointment, Baines had by now earned a solid reputation, and interest in his services began to emerge. Indeed, Celtic were keen to sign him, but Morton’s insistence on a high transfer fee led to an impasse that lasted three long months. Eventually, in October 1976, a deal was struck and Baines moved to Parkhead, while the supremely talented but somewhat mercurial Andy Ritchie moved in the opposite direction, with Morton also receiving a fee of £12,000.
However, moving to one of Scotland’s biggest clubs does not guarantee success, and Baines found first-team opportunities at Celtic severely limited. The goalkeeping position is one of trust, and breaking into the starting XI at a club like Celtic is a challenge few manage. As a result, his time at Parkhead proved frustrating, and by March 1979, the opportunity to return to Morton arose. It was an offer he could not refuse. Morton, now in the Premier League, required his services, and for a reported fee of £10,000, he was back at Cappielow.
What followed was arguably the most rewarding period of Baines’ career. Over the next four seasons, he was nothing short of outstanding. Morton, now rubbing shoulders with Scotland’s elite, enjoyed an exhilarating period in the top flight, reaching semi-finals in both the League Cup and Scottish Cup, only to fall short in agonising circumstances. Nevertheless, the pinnacle of this era came in the 1979/80 season, when Morton topped the Premier Division standings at one stage, only to eventually finish in sixth place, narrowly missing out on European qualification.
For a club of Morton’s size, simply competing at this level was a remarkable achievement, and Baines played a crucial role in ensuring they held their own against Scotland’s heavyweights. His reflexes, shot-stopping ability, and leadership made him one of the league’s most respected goalkeepers. Furthermore, his experience, built over years of struggle and resilience, proved crucial in guiding a team that constantly punched above its weight.
By the end of the 1982/83 campaign, however, Morton’s fairy tale run in the Premier Division came to an end as they were relegated. It was a bitter end to a glorious chapter, and with it, Baines’ time at the club concluded. He subsequently moved to St Johnstone, where he continued to ply his trade for another two seasons, proving that, even in his mid-30s, he still had plenty to offer.
Thus, as his active playing days wound down, Roy Baines went into management with Tranent FC in East Lothian, bringing with him all the valuable experience that he had gained over the years. Whether standing between the posts at Cappielow, enduring the frustration of life at Celtic Park, or helping guide a team through the challenges of the lower leagues, Baines had seen it all.