Pierce Bird

Pierce Bird

Personal information
Full name	Pierce Michael Bird [1]
Date of birth	(1999-04-16) 16 April 1999 (age 25) [2]
Place of birth	Nottingham, England
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Eastbourne Borough (on loan from AFC Fylde)
Number	33
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Dunkirk	3	(0)
2016–2017	AFC Dunkirk	30	(6)
2017–2020	Notts County	24	(0)
2017	→ Leek Town (loan)	3	(0)
2018	→ Alfreton Town (loan)	4	(1)
2018	→ Grantham Town (loan)	2	(0)
2019	→ Boston United (loan)	1	(0)
2020–2021	Eastleigh	29	(0)
2020–2021	→ Boston United (loan)	4	(0)
2021–2022	King's Lynn Town	13	(0)
2022	→ FC Halifax Town (loan)	5	(0)
2022–	AFC Fylde	40	(2)
2023	→ Buxton (loan)	3	(0)
2024–	→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)	13	(1)
International career‡
2018–2019	Northern Ireland U21	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:49, 20 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:30, 6 March 2021 (UTC)

Pierce Michael Bird (born 16 April 1999) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for National League South club Eastbourne Borough on loan from AFC Fylde.

Career

Dunkirk

Bird played for Dunkirk of the East Midlands Counties League and also their reserve side, AFC Dunkirk of the Nottinghamshire Senior League. ^{[3] [4]} He made his senior debut for Dunkirk on 9 August 2016 in the 3–2 home win against Holbrook Sports. ^[5] On 17 August 2016 in the away win at Cotgrave he made his debut for AFC Dunkirk. ^[6]

Notts County

Bird sealed a trial at League Two side Notts County, and scored the winning goal in the pre-season win at York City, ^[7] On 31 July it was announced that Bird had secured a one-year contract at Notts County after impressing during his trial period. ^[8] On 7 November 2017, Bird made his Notts County debut in the EFL Trophy match at Lincoln City, scoring an own goal. ^[9] On 26 December 2017, Bird made his Football League debut as an 87th-minute substitute in the 4–1 win at Morecambe. ^[10]

On 29 May 2018, Bird signed a two-year contract with Notts County. ^[11]

On 3 June 2020, out of contract Bird was informed he will not be offered a new contract when his current contract ends on 30 June. ^[12]

Loan to Leek Town

On 9 September 2017, Bird joined Northern Premier League Division One South side Leek Town on a one-month loan, making his debut the same day in a 3–1 away win at Gresley. ^{[13] [14]}

Loan to Alfreton Town

On 5 January 2018, Bird joined National League North side Alfreton Town on a month youth loan. ^[15] He made his debut the next day in the 3–0 win away at North Ferriby United, and also scored the third Alfreton goal. ^[16]

Loan to Grantham Town

On 1 November 2018, Bird joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Grantham Town on a one-month loan. ^[17] He made his debut on 3 November in the 0–2 defeat to Warrington Town. ^[18]

Loan to Boston United

On 22 November 2019, Bird joined National League North side Boston United until the end of the year. ^[19] He made his debut the next day in the F.A. Trophy 0–1 defeat at Atherton Collieries, and was substituted after 32 minutes, due to a head injury. ^[20] On 19 December 2019, Bird was recalled from his loan spell. ^[21]

Eastleigh

On 11 August 2020, Bird joined National League side Eastleigh. ^[22] Bird made his debut as a 105th-minute substitute in the F.A. Cup 1st Round defeat to Milton Keynes Dons on 8 November 2020. Bird scored in the penalty shoot-out where Eastleigh lost 4–3. ^[23]

On 28 June 2021, Eastleigh confirmed that Bird will leave the club following the expiry of his contract, after turning down a new deal. ^[24]

Loan to Boston United

On 18 December 2020, Bird joined National League North side Boston United, until 16 January 2021. ^[25] He made his debut the next day in the F.A. Trophy win against AFC Fylde. ^[26]

King's Lynn Town

On 29 June 2021, Bird joined National League side King's Lynn Town. ^[27] He made his debut on 21 August 2021 in the National League home defeat against Southend United. ^[28]

Loan to FC Halifax Town

On 25 March 2022, Bird joined fellow National League side FC Halifax Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season. ^[29] He made his debut on 9 April 2022 as an 87th-minute substitute in the National League home win against Woking. ^[30]

AFC Fylde

On 24 June 2022, Bird joined National League North side AFC Fylde for an undisclosed fee. ^[31] He made his debut on 6 August 2022 in the National League North home victory against Kettering Town. ^[32]

Loan to Buxton

On 21 November 2023, Bird joined National League North club Buxton on a one-month loan deal. ^[33] He made his debut the same day in the home victory against Hereford.

Loan to Eastbourne Borough

On 26 January 2024, Bird joined National League South club Eastbourne Borough on a one-month loan deal. ^[34] He made his debut the next day in the home victory over Farnborough. On 23 February 2024, Eastbourne announced Bird had extended his loan spell until the end of the season. ^[35]

International career

On 30 August 2018, Bird received a call-up for the Northern Ireland under-21 squad for upcoming games against Luxembourg and Spain. Bird is eligible to represent Northern Ireland at international level through his grandparents. ^{[36] [37]}

On 6 September 2018, in the friendly against Luxembourg under-21 he made his debut in a 1–0 win. Bird was substituted in the 70th minute. ^[38]

He made his competitive debut on 11 September 2018 as a 78th-minute substitute in Northern Ireland under-21s 2–1 victory away to Spain under-21 in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition. ^[39]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dunkirk	2016–17 [40]	East Midlands Counties League	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
AFC Dunkirk	2016–17 [41]	Notts Senior League Premier Division	30	6	0	0	0	0	5 [lower-alpha 1]	1	35	7
Notts County	2017–18 [42]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	2	0
	2018–19 [43]	League Two	12	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	13	0
	2019–20 [44]	National League	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
	Total		24	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	26	0
Leek Town (loan)	2017–18 [45]	Northern Premier League Division One South	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Alfreton Town (loan)	2017–18 [46]	National League North	4	1	—		—		—		4	1
Grantham Town (loan)	2018–19 [47]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
Boston United (loan)	2019–20 [46]	National League North	1	0	2	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	4	0
Eastleigh	2020–21 [46]	National League	29	0	1	0	—		0	0	30	0
Boston United (loan)	2020–21 [46]	National League North	4	0	0	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	5	0
King's Lynn Town	2021–22 [46]	National League	13	0	1	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	16	0
FC Halifax Town (loan)	2021–22 [46]	National League	5	0	0	0	—		0	0	5	0
AFC Fylde	2022–23 [46]	National League North	35	2	6	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	43	2
	2023–24 [46]	National League	5	0	0	0	—		0	0	5	0
Buxton (loan)	2023–24 [46]	National League North	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Eastbourne Borough (loan)	2023–24 [46]	National League South	13	1	0	0	—		0	0	13	1
Career total			174	10	10	0	1	0	12	1	197	11

1. Appearance in Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup
2. Appearance in EFL Trophy
3. Appearance in F.A. Trophy

Honours

AFC Dunkirk

• 2016–17 Nottinghamshire F.A. Intermediate Cup Winners

AFC Fylde

• 2022–23 National League North Champions ^[48]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2018 and 31/01/2018". The FA. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
2. "Pierce Bird". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
3. "East Midlands Counties League-Player season totals-Dunkirk". www.fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
4. "East Midlands Counties League-Player season totals-AFCDunkirk". www.fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
5. "East Midlands Counties League-Dunkirk v Holbrook Sports". www.fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
6. "Notts Senior League-Cotgrave v AFC Dunkirk". www.fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
7. "Trialist Pierce Bird seals Notts County win at York City". Nottingham Post. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
8. "Notts County secure deal for trialist Pierce Bird". Nottingham Post. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
9. "Lincoln 2 Notts 1". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
10. "Morecambe 1 Notts 4". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
11. "Ross signs new deal". Notts County. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
12. "Squad Update". Notts County. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
13. "Bird joins Leek". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
14. "Gresley 1 Leek 3". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
15. "Notts County defender Pierce Bird seals loan move to Alfreton". nottinghampost.com. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
16. "North Ferriby United 0 Alfreton Town 3". alfretontownfc.com. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
17. "Duo head out on loan". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
18. "Grantham lose to Warrington in final 10 minutes". granthamjournal.co.uk. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
19. "Loan switch for Pierce". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
20. "COLLS v PILGRIMS: Late goal knocks Boston United out of FA Trophy". bostonstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
21. "Bird back, Turner out". nottscountyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
22. "Pierce Bird joins the Spitfires". eastleighfc.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
23. "Report:Eastleigh 0 MK Dons 0 (3-4 pens)". mkdons.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
24. "Defensive trio depart the club". eastleighfc.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
25. "Bird arrives as duo depart". bostonunited.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
26. "Boston United 1-1 AFC fylde (4-2) on Penalties)". bostonunited.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
27. "Linnets bring in Bird". kltown.co.uk. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
28. "Opening day defeat for Linnets". kltown.co.uk. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
29. "Bird flies North on loan". King's Lynn Town FC. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
30. "Woking:Match Report". fchalifaxtown.com. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
31. "Pierce Bird Flies Through The Mill Farm Door". afcfylde.co.uk. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
32. "Match Report AFC Fylde 2-1 Kettering Town". afcfylde.co.uk. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
33. @Buxton_FC (21 November 2023). "✍🏼⚽️ | We are delighted to confirm that @AFCFylde defender Pierce Bird has joined the Bucks on a one-month loan deal. Bird has considerable @TheVanaramaNL experience with a host of clubs and goes straight into the squad for tonight's match. #WelcomePierce | #TeamBuxton" (Tweet). Retrieved 22 November 2023– via Twitter.
34. "Bird is the Word for The Sports". ebfc.co.uk. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
35. "Bird extends loan at Priory Lane". ebfc.co.uk. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
36. "Notts County defender Pierce Bird wins Northern Ireland under-21 call-up". nottinghampost.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
37. "Five players called up to u21 squad for crucial Spain game". irishfa.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
38. "Smyth and Holden link up for Northern Ireland U21s". irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
39. "Bird goes international". nottscounty.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
40. "Full-Time League Administration | the Football Association".
41. "Full-Time League Administration | the Football Association".
42. "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
43. "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
44. "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
45. "First fixtures & results".
46. "P. Bird: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
47. "StackPath".
48. "Match Report - Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-2 AFC Fylde". afcfylde.co.uk. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.