PAUL Baker may not hang up his boots just yet -- on the advice of his son.

The Darwen striker won the Golden Boot award for the NWCL Second Division with 36 goals this season, holding off Holker's Carl Waters and Lee Chambers from Padiham.

But, at 36 and despite his most prolific season to date, he had thought this could be his last.

"But my son keeps telling me not to give up," he laughed. "He comes and watches me and he keeps asking me what he is going to do if I don't play.

"Saturday afternoon shopping is definitely not on the agenda!"

Baker has had a good non-League career, playing at Great Harwood and enjoying their climb from the NWCL Division Two into the UniBond League.

He then went to Clitheroe before moving to UniBond side Lancaster and then, after a brief return to Shawbridge, he linked up with Darwen.

It has been a disappointing season by the Anchor Ground side's standards -- finishing 11th -- and this is what has led Baker to contemplate his future.

"Early on in the season, the weather was bad, results weren't going our way and I thought I'd had enough. I suppose like everyone I got a bit fed up. It has just been one of those seasons.

"I suffered aches and pains on Sunday and Monday morning and wondered if it was worth it. "Then, on Monday, I'd be at work and everyone would ask how we'd done, if I scored and why I wanted to give up.

"And by Tuesday I didn't know why!

"Then towards the end of the season, we picked up. I scored 17 goals in the last nine games and hit form. I started enjoying it again and it's these moments which make you want to carry on."

And his boss Steve Wilkes is keen for Baker to make it a hat-trick of Golden Boots after Baker won the award last season with 34 goals.

"At my age to win it two years on the trot is an achievement for myself and Darwen Football Club. It keeps both our names in the papers," Baker continued. "And Steve is a good friend of mine and a good manager. He's done well at Darwen without much money. He is trying to persuade me to carry on.

"There's a lot of thinking to be done over the summer."