1. Overview
Baily James Cargill (born July 5, 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Mansfield Town. A left-footed centre-back, he is also capable of playing at full-back. Cargill was regarded as one of the best youth prospects to emerge from AFC Bournemouth's academy, alongside players like Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser.
2. Early life and youth career
Born in Winchester, England, Baily Cargill grew up as a passionate fan of Southampton, holding a season ticket for the club. His early football development began within the youth academy of Leicester City, which he joined in 2003. After three years, in 2006, he transferred to Southampton, a club renowned for its youth system, where he honed the foundational skills to become a strong centre-back. In 2008, Cargill joined the youth ranks of AFC Bournemouth, initially entering their Under-13 academy. He turned professional with Bournemouth in 2012, marking the beginning of his senior career.
3. Club career
Baily Cargill's professional football journey has seen him play for several clubs, initially with AFC Bournemouth and various loan spells, before securing permanent transfers and progressing through the English football league system.
3.1. AFC Bournemouth
After signing his first professional contract with AFC Bournemouth on a one-year deal in April 2013, following impressive displays in pre-season friendlies and a loan spell at Welling United, Cargill signed a two-and-a-half-year contract extension in November 2013, keeping him at the club until 2016.
He made his first senior appearance for Bournemouth on August 12, 2014, playing as a centre-back in a 2-0 League Cup victory over Exeter City. He was subsequently named on the bench for a Championship match against Nottingham Forest. Cargill continued to feature in the League Cup, participating in victories against Northampton Town (3-0), Cardiff City (3-0), and West Bromwich Albion (2-1). His strong performances led to another contract extension, securing him until 2017. Cargill started in the fifth round of the League Cup against Liverpool, a match Bournemouth lost 3-1. During this game, a bandage he was wearing, mistaken for a wig, garnered unintentional media attention, which his teammate Harry Arter later defended as "bullying" by the press. Despite Bournemouth's promotion to the Premier League that season, Cargill made only six appearances in all competitions.
For the 2015-16 season, Cargill extended his contract until 2018. He made two League Cup appearances in victories against Hartlepool United and Preston North End, and two FA Cup appearances against Birmingham City and Portsmouth. Although he expressed readiness to play in the Premier League, he did not make a league appearance this season, featuring four times across all competitions.
After a loan spell at Gillingham, Cargill spent the remainder of the 2016-17 season competing for a first-team spot, often appearing as an unused substitute. He finally made his league debut and Premier League debut for Bournemouth on March 4, 2017, coming on as a substitute for Tyrone Mings in the 78th minute of a 1-1 draw against Manchester United. After four years since turning professional, he was released by Bournemouth at the end of the 2017-18 season.
3.2. Loan spells
Throughout his tenure at AFC Bournemouth, Baily Cargill was sent on several loan spells to gain crucial match experience and aid his development as a professional footballer.
3.2.1. AFC Totton
In November 2012, Cargill was loaned to Southern Football League club AFC Totton on a one-month work experience deal, which was later extended until the end of the season. He made his Totton debut in a 2-1 loss to Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy. At Totton, Cargill established himself as a first-team regular, scoring three goals in 26 appearances and being voted the Fans' Player of the Season. Cargill later credited his time at Totton with significantly contributing to his development as a player.
3.2.2. Welling United
On October 4, 2013, Cargill joined Welling United on a one-month loan. He debuted the following day in a 1-1 draw against Barnet. His loan spell was extended twice, first until December 29, 2013, and then until January 22, 2014. By the end of his time at Welling, he had made 13 appearances. Cargill stated that his experience at Welling United boosted his confidence.
3.2.3. Torquay United
Towards the end of the 2013-14 season, Cargill was loaned to Torquay United by former Bournemouth academy coach Chris Hargreaves, who was then manager of Torquay. Cargill was deployed at left-back and made his debut in a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers. On April 21, 2014, he provided an assist for Ashley Yeoman in a 2-1 victory against Exeter City, as Torquay battled to avoid relegation. Despite his contributions, making five appearances, he and the team were unable to prevent the Gulls' relegation to the Conference.
3.2.4. Coventry City
On February 1, 2016, Cargill joined Coventry City on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut on February 5, 2016, starting the entire match in a 1-1 draw against Port Vale. In the subsequent match on February 13, 2016, he scored his first goal for the club in a dominant 6-0 victory over Bury. Cargill's loan spell was cut short after he sustained an ankle injury during a 1-0 loss against Rochdale on March 5, 2016, leading to his return to Bournemouth after five appearances.
3.2.5. Gillingham
In August 2016, Cargill moved to Gillingham on loan until January. However, concerns about his fitness kept him out of action for two months. He finally made his Gillingham debut on November 8, 2016, starting in a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion U23 in the EFL Trophy. Cargill quickly became a regular starter in the centre-back position due to his strong performances. He scored his first and only goal for Gillingham in a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United on December 26, 2016. Despite his desire to extend his loan, Cargill returned to Bournemouth upon its expiration in January 2017, having made ten appearances and scored one goal across all competitions.
3.2.6. Fleetwood Town
On August 17, 2017, Cargill joined Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan. He made his Fleetwood Town debut as a substitute for Nathan Pond in a 3-1 loss against Bristol Rovers on August 26, 2017. Three days later, on August 29, 2017, he scored his first goal for Fleetwood in an EFL Trophy match against Leicester City Under-23s. During his time at Fleetwood, Cargill found himself competing for a starting spot at centre-back. By the end of December, he was dropped from the first team and did not feature again. He was recalled by Bournemouth on January 23, 2018.
3.2.7. Partick Thistle
On the same day he was recalled from Fleetwood Town, Cargill was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle. He made his debut for Partick Thistle immediately, starting the full game in a 2-1 loss against Celtic. Since joining the club, he quickly established himself in the starting eleven as a centre-back. Despite his efforts, Partick Thistle finished 11th in the league and faced Livingston in the Scottish Premiership play-offs to retain their status. They were ultimately relegated to the Scottish Championship after a 3-1 aggregate loss. Cargill made nineteen appearances for the team by the end of the 2017-18 season.
3.3. Milton Keynes Dons
After being released by Bournemouth, Cargill signed with the recently relegated Milton Keynes Dons on August 1, 2018. He described the move as a "no-brainer."
Following an initial injury, he made his Milton Keynes Dons debut in the second round of the League Cup, contributing to a 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic. A week later, on August 25, 2018, Cargill made his first start for the club in a 3-0 win against Exeter City. Three days after that, on August 28, 2018, he played against his former club, Bournemouth, in the League Cup, with Milton Keynes Dons losing 3-0. On September 12, 2020, Cargill scored his first goal for the club, an 88th-minute equalizer, in a 1-1 away draw against Doncaster Rovers. The club earned a third-place promotion from EFL League Two in the 2018-19 season during his tenure.
3.4. Forest Green Rovers
Cargill signed for EFL League Two club Forest Green Rovers on January 7, 2021, on an 18-month deal. With Forest Green Rovers, he was part of the squad that won the EFL League Two title in the 2021-22 season.
3.5. Mansfield Town
On May 31, 2023, Baily Cargill transferred to EFL League Two club Mansfield Town on a two-year deal. He contributed to Mansfield Town achieving third-place promotion from EFL League Two in the 2023-24 season.
4. International career
Baily Cargill began his international career representing England at the youth level. On November 6, 2014, he received his first call-up to the England U20 squad for matches against Portugal and Canada. He started the game against Canada, where he scored a goal on his debut, a moment he described as the "best feeling."
In May of the following year, he was selected for the 2015 Toulon Tournament. Cargill made three appearances in the tournament as the England U20 team finished in fourth place. In November 2015, Cargill was called up to the England U21 squad for the first time, though he remained an unused substitute in a match against Switzerland U21.
5. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AFC Totton (loan) | 2012-13 | Southern Premier | 26 | 3 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 27 | 3 | ||
| Welling United (loan) | 2013-14 | Conference Premier | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Torquay United (loan) | 2013-14 | League Two | 5 | 0 | - | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| AFC Bournemouth | 2014-15 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2016-17 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Coventry City (loan) | 2015-16 | League One | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | |||
| Gillingham (loan) | 2016-17 | League One | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Fleetwood Town (loan) | 2017-18 | League One | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2017-18 | Scottish Premiership | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2018-19 | League Two | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2020-21 | League One | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |
| Total | 52 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 68 | 1 | ||
| Forest Green Rovers | 2020-21 | League Two | 23 | 2 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2021-22 | League Two | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2022-23 | League One | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 2 | |
| Total | 81 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 94 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 219 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 272 | 11 | ||
6. Honours
Milton Keynes Dons
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018-19
Forest Green Rovers
- EFL League Two: 2021-22
Mansfield Town
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2023-24