Alex Baptiste

Alex Baptiste

Born in Nottinghamshire, Alex Baptiste joined the Mansfield youth system originally as a central midfielder, but dropping back to become a central defender by the time he made his debut for the Stags as a 17 year old against Barnsley during the 2002/03 season. 

Loan moves to Tamworth and Burton Albion followed during the 2003/04 season, spending half a season at each club. Upon Alex's return to Mansfield, he became a first team regular in the Mansfield team. By the time Alex moved to Blackpool for an undisclosed fee ahead of the 2008/09 season he had made 198 appearances for his boyhood club. 

Alex was part of the Blackpool team achieved promotion to the Premier League, and fixture in that swashbuckling team in the 2010/11 season that fell short of survival. Although impressing in the Premier League, Alex stayed at Blackpool in an attempt to get them back to the top flight, he was part of the team that lost in the playoff final against West Ham. Baptiste joined Championship Bolton upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2012/13 season, having almost notched another double century of appearances for Blackpool.

Alex struggled for game time at Bolton, spending time out on loan to Blackburn and then moving permanently to Middlesbrough, where he suffered a double leg fracture during 2015/16 pre season, in order to get his fitness back upon his recovery, loan moves to Sheffield United and Preston North End. After leaving Middlesbrough, he signed for QPR on a free transfer ahead of the 2017/18 season, where he struggled for game time, he was signed on loan by Luton Town for squad depth during the second half of the 2018/19 season as Luton were romping to the League 1 title. Unfortunately for Alex, the Town team were well drilled and injury free, which limited him to just 2 substitute appearances, with his debut coming in a 3-0 victory away at Accrington Stanley and then his final minutes in a 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon. 

Following his QPR contract expiration, Baptiste joined Doncaster Rovers ahead of the 2019/20 season, where sadly an achilles rupture ended his season after just 2 matches. Baptiste then made a move back to Bolton, where he made his 600th career appearance during Bolton's 3-0 victory over Rochdale in the EFL Trophy. Leaving Bolton, he moved to League of Ireland First Division club Waterford.