| Pierce Bird | |
| Fullname: | Pierce Michael Bird[1] |
| Birth Date: | 16 April 1999[2] |
| Birth Place: | Nottingham, England |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Eastbourne Borough |
| Clubnumber: | 33 |
| Years1: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs1: | Dunkirk |
| Caps1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs2: | AFC Dunkirk |
| Caps2: | 30 |
| Goals2: | 6 |
| Years3: | 2017–2020 |
| Clubs3: | Notts County |
| Caps3: | 24 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2017 |
| Clubs4: | → Leek Town (loan) |
| Caps4: | 3 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2018 |
| Clubs5: | → Alfreton Town (loan) |
| Caps5: | 4 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2018 |
| Clubs6: | → Grantham Town (loan) |
| Caps6: | 2 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2019 |
| Clubs7: | → Boston United (loan) |
| Caps7: | 1 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs8: | Eastleigh |
| Caps8: | 29 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs9: | → Boston United (loan) |
| Caps9: | 4 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Years10: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs10: | King's Lynn Town |
| Caps10: | 13 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Years11: | 2022 |
| Clubs11: | → FC Halifax Town (loan) |
| Caps11: | 5 |
| Goals11: | 0 |
| Years12: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs12: | AFC Fylde |
| Caps12: | 40 |
| Goals12: | 2 |
| Years13: | 2023 |
| Clubs13: | → Buxton (loan) |
| Caps13: | 3 |
| Goals13: | 0 |
| Years14: | 2024 |
| Clubs14: | → Eastbourne Borough (loan) |
| Caps14: | 13 |
| Goals14: | 1 |
| Years15: | 2024– |
| Clubs15: | Eastbourne Borough |
| Caps15: | 2 |
| Goals15: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018–2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | Northern Ireland U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 23:12, 17 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 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 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