Career
Bailey began his career at Blackburn Rovers as an apprentice in 1973, turning professional in 1975 and making his first six Football League appearances in the 1975-1976 season. He became a regular player in 1976-1977 and had made 120 league appearances for Rovers by the time of their relegation to the Football League Third Division at the end of the 1978-1979 season, after which he was transferred to First Division Everton for £300,000. Everton were being managed by Gordon Lee when Bailey arrived, but after two seasons of bottom half finishes Lee was sacked in favour of new manager Howard Kendall, who had ironically been appointed to Blackburn Rovers as Bailey was being transferred to Everton.
When Bailey arrived on Tyneside in the autumn of 1985, they were in the top half of the First Division but had not maintained their excellent form of the opening weeks of the season which had seen them emerge as surprise title contenders.
He remained at Newcastle until the end of the 1987-1988 season, when they finished eighth, and dropped down two divisions to join Bristol City.
