John Baird (footballer, born 1985)

John Baird
Personal information
Full name John David Baird
Date of birth (1985-08-22) 22 August 1985
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Falkirk
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Clyde 1 (0)
2004–2007 St Mirren 22 (4)
2006 → Stenhousemuir (loan) 19 (5)
2007 → Montrose (loan) 9 (5)
2007–2009 Montrose 41 (20)
2008 → Brechin City (loan) 9 (0)
2009–2010 Airdrie United 43 (13)
2010–2012 Raith Rovers 71 (23)
2012–2013 Dundee 37 (4)
2013–2014 Partick Thistle 13 (0)
2014 Raith Rovers 14 (7)
2014–2015 Queen of the South 18 (3)
2015– Falkirk 67 (28)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2016 (UTC).


John David Baird (born 22 August 1985) is a Scottish football striker who is currently playing with Falkirk.

Baird has previously played for Clyde, St Mirren, Montrose, Airdrie United, Dundee, Partick Thistle, Raith Rovers and Queen of the South.

Career

Clyde, St Mirren and Montrose

Baird, who was born in Glasgow,[1] began his career with Clyde, and made his debut in May 2003, coming on as a substitute against Ayr United. Baird signed a professional contract with Clyde in July 2003, but only made one more appearance for the club, in the Scottish Challenge Cup, before he was released from his contract along with seven other youth players in December 2003.

He was then snatched up by St Mirren, where he became a fringe player. He had loan spells at Stenhousemuir and Montrose, before signing for Montrose on a permanent transfer in July 2007.[2] Upon the move, Manager Jim Weir made expectations for Baird and Andy Rodgers to become the top scorer in the Third Division.[3]

After finishing the season as the league's top goal scorer,and being nominated for Third Division player of the year,[4] Baird was a much sought after player with First and Second Division teams looking at him. However it was announced through the local press that John Baird had signed a new, lucrative contract with Montrose for at least one more year. He has stated his desire to see Montrose promoted and also his eventual aim to get himself back to playing full-time football.[5]

Airdrie United, Raith Rovers and Dundee

Manager Weir was axed after a 2–1 defeat away at Cowdenbeath in September. The move saw Calum Smith go in the other direction. Baird waited[6] until deadline day in January 2009 to make his decision to join Airdrie United,[7] Baird enjoyed a successful second half of the 2008–09 season where he established himself as a first-team player with the new Diamonds. Baird scored crucial goals in the play-off including a hat-trick against Ayr Utd battle to keep the club in the First Division.

On 26 May 2010, he signed for Raith Rovers on a two-year full-time deal.[8] Since his arrival at Starks Park, Baird has become a fans' favourite, scoring 13 league goals in his first season with the Kirkcaldy outfit during their 2010–11 title push. However, Raith Rovers' title push came to an end after losing 2–1 to Dunfermline Athletic.[9] Despite this, Baird was named the First Division Player of the Year and also was named player of the year in the Irn Bru Phenomenal awards.[10]

Baird signed for Dundee in May 2012.[11] While at Dundee, Baird appeared in the first team, making 37 appearances, though his playing time significantly decreased. It wasn't until 19 January 2013 that he scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw against Hibernian.[12] He went on to score three goals in three consecutive games against St Johnstone,[13] St Mirren,[14] Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[15]

Partick Thistle, Raith return

He then signed for newly promoted side Partick Thistle in May 2013.[16] However, on 28 January 2014, Baird was released by Partick Thistle after an unsuccessful time having started four games and making a further 13 substitute appearances without scoring a single competitive goal.[17]

On 30 January 2014, Baird returned for a second spell at Raith Rovers.[18] Baird's first game after signing for the club in his second spell came on 1 February 2014 when Raith Rovers lost 1–0 against Cowdenbeath and then scored his first goal two weeks later, in a 4–2 loss against Hamilton Academical.[19] He scored the winner for Raith in the Challenge Cup Final, beating Rangers 1–0 in extra time at Easter Road on 6 April 2014.[20]

Queen of the South and Falkirk

On 20 May 2014, Baird signed for Queen of the South on a two-year contract.[21] Baird was released by the club on 5 January 2015.[22]

On 7 January 2015, Baird signed for Falkirk, where he joined up with Mark Kerr, who had also recently departed the Dumfries club.[23] On signing for the club, he commented that he had always admired Falkirk, saying "Falkirk is a club I've always respected and when I walked in the door Alex Smith told me I'd been nipping his ear for four years to get here."[24] He scored on his debut for the club, a 3–3 draw away to Hibernian on 10 January 2015.[25] On 24 February 2015, Baird signed a new contract with Falkirk, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2015–16 season with the option of an additional year.[26]

Honours

Club

Raith Rovers

St Mirren league champions old division 1 Scottish challenge cup st Mirren League player of the year Raith rovers

References

  1. ↑ "J. BAIRD". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Season ending suits Jim". Montrose Review. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Boss backs striking partnership". Montrose Review. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Twenty two and counting for Baird". Montrose Review. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Montrose make signings". Montrose Review. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Montrose put three on list". Montrose Review. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Transfer Talk – 30 January: Rams raid for Porter, Cowie to Watford, Real's latest Ronaldo link". Daily Record. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Baird Signs". Raith Rovers FC. 26 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "Dunfermline 2–1 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "New Bhoy Emilio Izaguirre caps first year in SPL by winning PFA Player of the Year award". Daily Record. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Robertson, Neil (16 May 2012). "Dundee FC secure Raith Rovers sharp-shooter John Baird". The Courier. DC Thomson. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Hibernian 1–1 Dundee". BBC Sport. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Dundee 2 – 2 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Dundee 2 St Mirren 1: Late fightback shows there's still hope for Dens Park men". Daily Record. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Dundee 1 Inverness 1: Dundee's slim survival hopes are shattered by late Caley Thistle goal". Daily Record. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Partick Thistle: John Baird and Paul Gallacher sign on at Firhill". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "John Baird Leaves the Club". ptfc.co.uk. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Rovers Swoop To Bring Back 'Bairdy'". raithrovers.net. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Raith Rovers 2–4 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Glory for Raith". Scotsman. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "QosFC: John Baird Agrees to Join Queens".
  22. ↑ "QosFC: John Baird Released".
  23. ↑ "Falkirk Football Club".
  24. ↑ "Falkirk confirm John Baird signing".
  25. ↑ "Hibernian 3-3 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "BAIRNS DELIGHT AS BAIRD COMMITS". Falkirk F.C. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
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