Pierce Bird

Northern Irish professional footballer

Pierce BirdPersonal 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
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.

## Career

[edit]

### Dunkirk

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

#### Loan to Buxton

[edit]

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.

#### Loan to Eastbourne Borough

[edit]

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]

### Eastbourne Borough

[edit]

On 15 May 2024, it was announced that Bird would join Eastbourne Borough on a permanent transfer ahead of the 2024–2025 season.[37]

## International career

[edit]

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]

## Career statistics

[edit]

As of match played 26 December 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[42] | East Midlands Counties League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0
AFC Dunkirk  | 2016–17[43] | Notts Senior League Premier Division | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 35 | 7
Notts County | 2017–18[44] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 2 | 0
2018–19[45] | League Two  | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0
2019–20[46] | 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[47] | Northern Premier League Division One South | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0
Alfreton Town (loan)  | 2017–18[48] | National League North | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1
Grantham Town (loan)  | 2018–19[49] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0
Boston United (loan)  | 2019–20[48] | National League North | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 4 | 0
Eastleigh | 2020–21[48] | National League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0
Boston United (loan)  | 2020–21[48] | National League North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 5 | 0
King's Lynn Town | 2021–22[48] | National League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 16 | 0
FC Halifax Town (loan)  | 2021–22[48] | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0
AFC Fylde | 2022–23[48] | National League North | 35 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 43 | 2
2023–24[48] | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0
Buxton (loan)  | 2023–24[48] | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0
Eastbourne Borough (loan)  | 2023–24[48] | National League South | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1
Eastbourne Borough | 2024–25[48] | National League South | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 19 | 0
Career total  | 190 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 216 | 11

1. ^ Appearance(s) in Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup
2. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
3. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
4. ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in Sussex Senior Cup

## Honours

[edit]

AFC Dunkirk

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

AFC Fylde

* 2022–23 National League North Champions[50]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2018 and 31/01/2018". The FA. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
2. ^ a b "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. ^ "2024/2025 Retained List". www.afcfylde.co.uk. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
34. ^ @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.
35. ^ "Bird is the Word for The Sports". ebfc.co.uk. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
36. ^ "Bird extends loan at Priory Lane". ebfc.co.uk. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
37. ^ "Bird is Back for Good". ebfc.co.uk. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
38. ^ "Notts County defender Pierce Bird wins Northern Ireland under-21 call-up". nottinghampost.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
39. ^ "Five players called up to u21 squad for crucial Spain game". irishfa.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
40. ^ "Smyth and Holden link up for Northern Ireland U21s". irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
41. ^ "Bird goes international". nottscounty.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
42. ^ "Full-Time League Administration | the Football Association".
43. ^ "Full-Time League Administration | the Football Association".
44. ^ "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
45. ^ "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
46. ^ "Games played by Pierce Bird in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
47. ^ "First fixtures & results".
48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "P. Bird: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
49. ^ "StackPath".
50. ^ "Match Report - Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-2 AFC Fylde". afcfylde.co.uk. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Eastbourne Borough F.C. - current squad

* 1 Wright
* 3 Pitblado
* 4 Barry (c)
* 5 Quick
* 6 Diarra
* 8 J. Clarke
* 9 Alexander
* 10 Klass
* 11 Ballard-McBride
* 12 Westen
* 13 Holter
* 14 Sesay
* 15 Kensdale
* 16 Carter
* 17 Davis
* 19 Pavey
* 20 Bamba
* 23 Gibson
* 24 Odusanya
* 25 Johnson
* 27 C. Clarke
* 28 Woollard-Innocent
* 30 Gbadebo
* 33 Bird
* 35 Alabi
* 36 Finney
* Manager: Murray

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Wright]: Joe Wright
*[Pitblado]: Isaac Pitblado
*[Quick]: Daniel Quick
*[J. Clarke]: Jack Clarke
*[Ballard-McBride]: Finn Ballard-McBride
*[Westen]: Finlay Westen
*[Holter]: Finlay Holter
*[Carter]: Freddie Carter
*[Bamba]: Yahya Bamba
*[Gibson]: Charlie Gibson
*[Odusanya]: Domonic Odusanya
*[Johnson]: Brayden Johnson
*[C. Clarke]: Courtney Clarke
*[Woollard-Innocent]: Kai Woollard-Innocent
*[Gbadebo]: Camron Gbadebo