Baines made his first-team debut replacing the injured Neil Langman for three matches,[2] making his debut in a 3–1 win at Layer Road against Halifax Town on 4 March.
[3] Unable to break into the first-team during the promotion winning season of 1961–62, Baines made one final appearance for the club on 1 September 1962, a 1–1 draw with Bournemouth at Dean Court,[4] replacing Martyn King who had been given permission by manager Benny Fenton to appear in a table tennis tournament.
[2] This brought Baines' total appearance figure for the club to four.
[5] After playing his final game, Baines left United, joining local club Lexden Wanderers[5] before emigrating to Australia.
There, he played for South Australia, Port Adelaide, Lion SC and Elizabeth City, the latter managed by former U's player Sammy McLeod.