Harry Baker hopes strong run for England Cerebral Palsy inspires next generation

North Wales Chronicle

2 days ago

The 2025 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football European Championships will be held at Loughborough University from August 13 to 23.
The Para Lions have been drawn in Group One along with defending champions Ukraine, Spain and Northern Ireland, with Andy Smith's 14-man squad set to be based at St George's Park throughout the competition.
From the earliest I can remember I always wanted to play football for Man United & England. I never thought I'd be able to achieve this. When I finally I realised I could get the chance to play for England it became my dream to play in a major final. pic.twitter.com/DfwCn3Kg6k
— Harry Baker (@HarryJohnBaker) June 11, 2023
Baker is preparing for his 10th major tournament with England, having been part of the CP squad which finished runners-up at the 2023 European Championships and were then also edged out by Ukraine on penalties in the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup in Spain.
The 28-year-old from Oxfordshire, who is left-sided hemiplegic and more affected in his leg, had been playing mainstream football growing up before being scouted by the Northampton Pan-Disability team when he was 12.
Baker progressed through to the England Under-21 development team and then, not long after he had turned 16, was called-up into the senior national squad.
The Football Association's England Para Talent Pathway runs from grassroots through to elite level, offering support and direction for players with specific impairments however far their own journey may take them.
'I am very fortunate as I this is my 13th year at international level, after I found it (pan-disability football) at such an early stage,' Baker told the PA news agency.
'But there are others (in the England squad) who found it a lot later and they have missed out on some opportunities to play and represent their country.
Our England Cerebral Palsy squad has been named for next month's @ifcpf European Championship! 👊
The tournament takes place at Loughborough University, with our opening game on Friday 15 August.
— England (@England) July 31, 2025
'It is, though, not just inspiring people to try and play for their country, because football is for everyone – and some people think they can't play football and they don't think there is a safe space to do it.
'So it is just raising awareness that these opportunities are here and having this sort of spectacle, especially in our country as well, can really show that there are things out there.
'They might go 'I have got a different type of disability to cerebral palsy, but this is on, so maybe there is something for partially sighted or deaf players, in pan-disability, whatever disability they might have.'
England start against Northern Ireland before playing Ukraine and then Spain as Smith's side look to secure a top-two place to progress to knockout stage of the tournament, with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in the other group.
A post shared by IFCPF (CP Football) (@ifcpf)
'Regardless of what side of the draw you are on, it wasn't going to be easy,' Baker said.
'We really thrive when we are against the very best, so we are really looking forward to playing against them all.'
Baker added: 'It is definitely home advantage because we get to stay at St George Park, which makes a huge difference.
'We can use all the facilities – so it gives us control of food and control of our recovery, which will be vital.
'Also having your family to be able to come and watch, I think gives an extra incentive to go out and try and really put on a show.'