Jay Bird (footballer)

Jay Bird

Personal information
Full name	Jay Gregory Maison Bird
Date of birth	(2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 23) [1]
Place of birth	Milton Keynes, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.86 m) [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Exeter City
Number	31
Youth career
2008–2019	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Milton Keynes Dons	2	(0)
2019	→ Hitchin Town (loan)	11	(1)
2019	→ Hitchin Town (loan)	2	(0)
2021–2022	→ Wealdstone (loan)	8	(0)
2022–2023	Dagenham and Redbridge	13	(2)
2023–2024	Arbroath	33	(6)
2024–	Exeter City	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

Jay Gregory Maison Bird (born 6 May 2001) ^[1] is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Exeter City.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Born in Milton Keynes, Bird joined the academy of Milton Keynes Dons at the age of eight, ^[3] and progressed through several age groups before signing professional terms with the club on 25 June 2019. ^[3] In August 2019 he joined Southern Premier Central club Hitchin Town on loan for the 2019–20 campaign, ^[4] but after only two matches a serious injury resulted in Bird being ruled out for the rest of the season. ^[5]

On 6 October 2020, Bird made his first team professional debut for the club, scoring twice in a 3–2 EFL Trophy group stage away victory over Stevenage. ^[6] The following 2021–22 season saw limited first team opportunities for Bird, with the player spending the first half of the season out on loan to National League club Wealdstone. ^[7] At the end of the season Bird was one of six players released by MK Dons. ^[8]

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 19 November 2022, Bird signed for National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a non-contract basis. ^[9] Bird made his debut that same day off the bench, scoring a late winner as his new side defeated Scunthorpe United. ^[10]

Arbroath

Bird signed a one-year contract with Arbroath in July 2023. ^[11] He departed the club at the end of his contract.

Exeter City

On 2 July 2024, Bird signed a one-year contract with EFL League One club Exeter City, with the option of a further year. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played end of 2023-24 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [lower-alpha 1]		League Cup [lower-alpha 2]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Milton Keynes Dons	2017–18 [2]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2018–19 [2]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20 [13]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21 [14]	League One	2	0	1	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 3]	2	4	2
	2021–22 [15]	League One	0	0	—		0	0	2 [lower-alpha 3]	1	2	1
	Total		2	0	1	0	0	0	3	3	6	3
Hitchin Town (loan)	2018–19 [16]	SL Premier Division Central	11	1	—		—		1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	12	1
	2019–20 [17]	SL Premier Division Central	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
	Total		13	1	—		—		1	0	14	1
Wealdstone (loan)	2021–22 [18]	National League	8	0	1	1	—		1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	10	1
Dagenham & Redbridge	2022–23 [18]	National League	13	2	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	15	2
Arbroath	2023–24 [18]	Scottish Championship	33	6	1	0	4	2	2 [lower-alpha 6]	2	40	10
Career total			69	9	4	1	4	2	8	5	85	17

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
4. Appearance(s) in Hertfordshire Charity Cup
5. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
6. Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup

References

1. MKDonsFC [@MKDonsFC] (6 May 2021). "Happy 20th Birthday to #MKDons forward @jay_b7rd!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
2. "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
3. "Trio turn pro". Milton Keynes Dons. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
4. "FOUR ARRIVE BEFORE LEAGUE OPENER". Hitchin Town. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
5. "Bird buzzing to be back after season on the sidelines". Milton Keynes Dons. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
6. "Bird is the word as his brace sees Dons past Stevenage". Milton Keynes Citizen. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
7. "LOAN NEWS | Bird returns to Dons". 5 January 2022.
8. "Retained list". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
9. "Welcome to Dagenham & Redbridge, Jay Bird!". daggers.co.uk. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
10. "Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
11. "Welcome, Jay Bird". Arbroath FC. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
12. "Exeter City sign ex-MK Dons striker Jay Bird after Arbroath exit". BBC Sport. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
13. "Games played by Jay Bird in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
14. "Games played by Jay Bird in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
15. "Games played by Jay Bird in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
16. "JAY BIRD MK Dons". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
17. "Recent Seasons - Hitchin Town FC". Hitchin Town. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
18. "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 September 2021.