Former Hartlepool striker Paul Baker scouted for Glenn Roeder when he was Norwich manager

A centre-forward, Baker was a member of the famous Wallsend Boys Club as a youngster, and was subsequently spotted playing for Bishop Auckland, turning professional with Southampton in June 1984 at a cost of £4,000 to the south coast side. He failed to break into the first-team at Southampton, moving on a free transfer to Carlisle United on 2nd July 1985. On 31st July 1987, after 71 league appearances (11 goals) for Carlisle, Baker moved to Hartlepool United, again on a free transfer, where he played 197 games (scoring 67 goals) and was a vital part of the squad that achieved promotion in 1990/1.

Baker moved north of the border to join Motherwell in August 1992 for £77,500. After only 9 games at Motherwell, he moved on to Gillingham on 7 January 1993 for a fee of £40,000. An overall tally of 16 goals in 62 games for the Kent side prompted York City to take him back north, this time for a fee of £15,000 in October 1994. After 48 games (18 goals) for the Bootham Crescent side, he moved to Torquay United on 19th January 1996 for a fee of £25,000. Whilst he had settled in on the playing side, he wanted a move to the north of England and after almost joining Rochdale, who couldn't meet his wage demands, he moved to Scunthorpe United on 3rd October 1996 for £15,000. He had made 30 league appearances, scoring 8 goals.

His stay at Scunthorpe was also a short one, and on 27 March 1997, after 21 league appearances in which he scored 9 goals, he moved back to Hartlepool United, as player-coach. Another 35 league games followed, in which he scored 9 goals. He had trials with Plymouth and Scarborough before rejoining Carlisle on 27th August 1999. He made 17 league appearances (2 goals) until he was released the following summer. In July 2000, he signed for Northern League side Bedlington Terriers, later moving to Durham City in January 2001. He moved on to Blyth Spartans in November 2001. The following November, he became their manager but left in September 2004. He coached at Newcastle's academy before managing Newcastle Benfield in September 2005. He resigned in December 2007 and was assistant manager at Newcastle Blue Star before scouting for Roeder.

At the end of June 2012, Paul was appointed chief scout at Hartlepool, replacing Peter Eustace.

On 5th December 2016, it was reported that Baker had joined Newcastle to head up their scouting efforts in Europe. His brief will be to check out players between the age of 17 and 21 as Newcastle look to improve their Under-23 ranks.