3rd Signing Courtney Baker-Richardson

From O/S

Former Coventry, Swansea and Newport forward signs two-year deal with the Alex.

Crewe Alexandra have made forward Courtney Baker-Richardson their third summer signing of the summer.

The 26-year-old joins the club on a two-year deal after leaving Newport County this summer after he rejected a new offer from the Welsh side. He scored eight goals in 32 appearances last season for James Rowberry’s side and that was after missing the month of March through injury.

Baker-Richardson began his career with his hometown club as a promising youth player, but after making just one substitute appearance in the FA Cup away at Hereford United he was forced into non-league in search of first team football.

Fellow Crewe summer signing, Conor Thomas, also featured in Baker-Richardson’s debut match for the Sky Blues and he also played youth football with Bassala Sambou at Coventry.

Spells at Redditch and Kettering followed before he rediscovered his goalscoring form at Leamington in the Southern Premier League. His 22 league goals in 62 matches alerted clubs to his potential and after having a trial with Premier League side Leicester City, he duly earned a move to then top flight side Swansea City in 2017.

He played over 20 games in the Championship for the Swans following their relegation and was often utilised by then boss Graham Potter. He also had a successful but brief spell out on loan at Accrington Stanley.

Following his release from Swansea in October 2020, the forward signed for Barrow for the rest of the season, but was later loaned out to Barnet in the January window, scoring three goals in 17 games.

After leaving Barrow, Baker-Richardson signed for League Two Newport on a one-year deal and he quickly repaid that faith with five goals in his first 10 games for the club.

So... experienced but not necessarily prolific. Is he a targetman rather than outright goalscorer?
Must admit that it is some achievement to have a 3rd signing before end of May. Hope Morris has
gone for quality as well as speed in getting these players. Still, only 6 or 7 more to get!!

Something of a forward theme coming out here - he, Thomas and Sambou played together in Coventry's Academy. Doesn't look like he's the No 9 they said they were looking for, but he is 6' 2" so could at least be a possible target man.

Going by various accounts CBR provided the hard work for his striker partner's 22 goals last season. Sounds just what we need, as long as we can get players in the box.