Fred Baron’s prolific scoring in Welsh football brought him to Liverpool’s attention early in 1925. The Northumberland-born centre-forward had played for Prudhoe Castle and Leicester City before joining Mid-Rhondda. There he flourished under H. W. Richards, the former Sheffield United and Exeter City player who had spotted him playing junior football in the Newcastle district. Contemporary reports credited Baron with an extraordinary 75 goals in 75 matches during his first season at Mid-Rhondda, followed by another 34 in 29 appearances before his transfer to Liverpool. Baron’s appeal extended beyond his scoring record. Liverpool secured his signature on 5 February 1925. According to the Western Mail the following day, several leading clubs had been interested, but injuries to Forshaw and Walsh had encouraged Liverpool to increase their offer. Although the newspaper did not disclose the sum, it described the payment as a record fee for a club of Mid-Rhondda’s standing. LFChistory records the transfer fee as £600. Thomson’s Weekly News described him as a popular player whose energetic style, skilful footwork and accurate shooting had attracted the attention of English League clubs. Liverpool won the race. Baron also possessed considerable speed: the newspaper recalled that he had won a substantial cash prize in a 100-yard handicap sprint in northern England.
Frederick John “Fred” Baron made his Liverpool debut at centre-forward in a 1–0 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on 16 March 1925, with Danny Shone scoring the late winner. Five days later, he announced himself to the Anfield crowd by scoring twice against Burnley in a 3–0 victory. His goals came in the thirty-second and forty-eighth minutes, giving him an encouraging return in only his second first-team appearance. Further goals followed during Liverpool’s run-in. Baron scored in the seventh minute of a 1–1 home draw against Birmingham on 4 April, then supplied the only goal against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on 18 April, finding the net after seventeen minutes. His fifth goal came in a 2–1 home defeat by Cardiff City on 29 April. All five goals in his debut season were therefore scored at Anfield, and two of his scoring performances helped secure victories over Burnley and Tottenham. He finished the campaign with five goals from nine League appearances as Liverpool claimed fourth place in the First Division.
That productive introduction did not develop into a permanent position in the side. During 1925/26, Baron played ten league matches and scored twice: against Leeds United in a 1–1 draw at Anfield on 10 October, and at Sunderland in a 3–2 defeat on 13 March. The Sunderland goal proved to be his last for Liverpool. His first-team involvement dwindled further the following season, when his sole appearance came against Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park on New Year’s Day 1927. He left with seven goals from twenty appearances, all in the League. Baron joined Southend United in March 1927, moving into the Third Division South. Although he was not an ever-present during his five-year association with the club, his scoring return was considerable. He registered 42 goals in 62 league appearances, with two further FA Cup outings bringing his overall total to 64 matches.
