New Coventry City signing Carl Baker is a stronger player thanks to his late brother.
The midfielder who joined City from Stockport County last week, lost his brother Michael to leukaemia back in September and has his younger brother Dean battling against the disease.
He draws strength from both of his brothers and told the CT: “My brother was my biggest fan and went to every single game. “He absolutely loved it and was the first to text me whatever the score.
"When he was first diagnosed I was obviously in a bad way and I didn’t feel up to playing. "But it was Michael who made me play and knowing the type of character and person he was I just want to emulate that and go out and do the business for him and make him proud every time I play.
“My younger brother, Dean, who is 18 has also got leukaemia, so it’s still a difficult time for us with him still going through his chemo and stuff.
"But he came to the game on Saturday and to see the smile on his face when he went into the shop to buy his Coventry top is what it is all about.”
When Michael died, Carl decided to play for Stockport County, two days later at Yeovil. He scored twice in the game and then went over to the away end where he received a sympathy card signed by every Stockport fan in the away end.
The nephew of former Everton and West Ham player Mark Ward said: “The Stockport fans were amazing when Michael died and when you see the things they did for me it makes me want to go out on the pitch and make them proud because at the end of the day they are football people who go to work all week and pay money to watch football.
“And no matter what happens in your personal life you feel obliged to go out and give everything you have got for them. “I couldn’t ask any more from them so I was a little bit sad to leave.
"But I still speak to a lot of them and maybe one day I will go back and see them to thank them properly.“But I think this is a great opportunity for me and they are great football fans and they understand the chance I have got here.
"I have had a load of messages wishing me all the best and thanking me for what I did, so it is nice to know they are behind me.”
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