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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pierce Michael Bird[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1999[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 | ||
| 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) |
| 2022–2024 | AFC Fylde | 40 | (2) |
| 2023 | → Buxton (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2024– | Eastbourne Borough | 16 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018–2019 | Northern Ireland U21 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:58, 26 December 2024 (UTC) | |||
Pierce Michael Bird (born 16 April 1999) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Eastbourne Borough.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Bird was released by AFC Fylde at the end of the 2023–24 season.[33]
On 21 November 2023, Bird joined National League North club Buxton on a one-month loan deal.[34] He made his debut the same day in the home victory against Hereford.
On 26 January 2024, Bird joined National League South club Eastbourne Borough on a one-month loan deal.[35] 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.[36]
On 15 May 2024, it was announced that Bird would join Eastbourne Borough on a permanent transfer ahead of the 2024–2025 season.[37]
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.[38][39]
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.[40]
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.[41]
AFC Dunkirk
AFC Fylde