Ryan Bird

Ryan Bird (born 15 November 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back or forward for Slough Town. He played in the Football League for Portsmouth, Cambridge United, Hartlepool United, Yeovil Town and Newport County.

Ryan Bird
Personal information
Full name Ryan Bird[1]
Date of birth (1987-11-15) 15 November 1987[2]
Place of birth Slough,[2] England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Centre-back, forward
Club information
Current team
 Slough Town
Youth career
Burnham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2013 Burnham 297 (114)
2013–2014 Portsmouth 20 (3)
2013 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 3 (0)
2014 → Cambridge United (loan) 9 (5)
2014–2015 Cambridge United 24 (6)
2015 → Hartlepool United (loan) 6 (2)
2015–2016 Yeovil Town 36 (8)
2016–2017 Eastleigh 16 (3)
2017 Newport County 19 (6)
2017–2018 Dover Athletic 46 (16)
2018–2019 Maidenhead United 26 (1)
2019– Slough Town 16 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:39, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

Career

Burnham

Bird began his footballing career at Burnham's academy, and was promoted to first team in December 2004. His main position was firstly a central defender, but later moved to a more forward role, establishing himself as a striker.[4] As a part-time footballer, he was also an electrician.[5]

In 2010–11, Bird scored 24 goals and finished the season as the club's top scorer. He signed a new contract with Burnham in June 2011.[6] In 2012–13, Bird scored 45 goals in 45 matches (41 league goals in 39 matches) in 2012–13 and was again top scorer as Burnham were crowned champions.[7] At the end of the season, Bird secured two trials, at Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth. He was also asked to return in pre-season training.[3]

Portsmouth

Bird returned to Portsmouth on a trial basis in early June.[3] On 9 July, he scored twice in a friendly match against Havant & Waterlooville.[8] Later that month, Bird signed a one-year professional contract, with the option of a second year.[9]

Bird made his Portsmouth debut on 6 August, in a 1–0 away defeat against AFC Bournemouth.[10] He made his first start on 3 September, in a goalless draw away to Torquay United in the 2013–14 Football League Trophy.[5] On 19 September, Bird joined Havant & Waterlooville on a month's loan.[11] After appearing three times with the "Hawks", he returned to Portsmouth.[12]

Bird scored his first professional goal on 26 October, in a 1–1 away draw against Torquay.[13] He netted twice the following weekend on his first league start, in a 3–2 home win over Exeter City.[14] Bird joined Cambridge United on loan on 24 January,[15] and scored twice in the first 16 minutes of his debut against Dartford the following day.[16] He was instrumental in Cambridge United reaching the final of the FA Trophy final the first time in the club's history, scoring all three of their goals against Grimsby Town in the semi-finals.[17][18] Bird scored the first goal in the final at Wembley as Cambridge United beat Gosport Borough 4–0.[19]

Bird was recalled by Portsmouth on 27 March, and left the "U's" after scoring nine goals.[20] A groin injury kept him out of Portsmouth's run-in, but the club did exercise the one-year option on his contract,[21] although he was to leave by mutual consent at the end of the summer transfer window.[22]

Cambridge United

Bird rejoined Cambridge United, now newly promoted to League Two, on 1 September 2014 on a one-year permanent deal.[23] On 25 February 2015 he was loaned to another League Two team, Hartlepool United, for a month.[24] At the end of the 2014–15 season the club did not offer him a new deal when his contract expired.[25]

Yeovil Town

On 14 July 2015, Bird joined another League Two club, Yeovil Town, on a two-year contract.[26]

Eastleigh

On 1 August 2016, Bird signed for National League club Eastleigh.[27]

Newport County

Bird joined Newport County, also of League Two, on 23 January 2017.[28] He made his debut for Newport on 28 January 2017 in a 3–1 league win against Hartlepool United, scoring the opening goal after 15 minutes.[29] Bird was part of the Newport squad that completed the 'Great Escape' with a 2–1 victory at home to Notts County on the final day of the 2016-17 season, which ensured Newport's survival in League Two.[30][31]He was released at the end of the 2016–17 season after scoring 6 goals in 19 games.[32][30]

Dover Athletic

On 27 June 2017, Bird joined National League club Dover Athletic on a one-year contract.[33] He made his debut on 5 August, in an opening-day 1–0 away win against Hartlepool United.[34] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 victory over Wrexham a week later in what was both Bird's and Dover's third game of the season.[35]

Bird finished the season as Dover's top scorer with 16 league goals in 43 starts.[12][36]

Maidenhead United

He declined Dover's offer of a second year's contract and instead signed for National League rivals Maidenhead United.[37] Bird scored only one league goal for the Magpies in 26 games before leaving the club after one season.

Slough Town

On 3 June 2019, Bird signed for the Magpies' local rivals Slough Town,[38] where he reverted to a role in the centre of defence.[39]

Career statistics
As of 28 January 2020.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other1 Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burnham 2009–10 SFL – Division One Central 401240—975319
2010–11 SFL – Division One Central 371934—314324
2011–12 SFL – Division One Central 40850—725210
2012–13 SFL – Division One Central 394210—534545
Total2 297114134—3014340133
Portsmouth 2013–14 League Two 183101020223
2014–15 League Two 2000100030
Total 203102020253
Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 2013–14 National League South 3000—0030
Cambridge United (loan) 2013–14 Conference Premier 9500—44139
Cambridge United 2014–15 League Two 245400000285
Total 33104000444114
Hartlepool United (loan) 2014–15 League Two 6200000062
Yeovil Town 2015–16 League Two 368300030438
Eastleigh 2016–17 National League 15334—00187
Newport County 2016–17 League Two 196—0000196
Dover Athletic 2017–18 National League 461620—325118
Maidenhead United 2018–19 National League 26120—31312
Slough Town 2019–20 National League South 16131—20212
Career total 517164319204721597194

1 Including FA Trophy, Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, Southern League Cup, Wycombe Senior Cup, Southern League play-offs and Football League Trophy.

2 Including all matches since 2004.

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2011 and 31/07/2011". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. "Ryan Bird". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. Cross, Jordan (28 June 2013). "Pompey set to run rule over triallists". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. "Ryan Bird conversion gives Burnham FC lift off". local Berkshire. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
  5. Cross, Jordan (4 September 2013). "Bird: Goals will come". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  6. "Burnham FC delight as Bird signs new contract". Maidenhead Advertiser. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
  7. "Ryan Bird targets professional deal after Burnham FC title win". Slough Observer. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  8. Weld, Neil (9 July 2013). "Hawks 0 Pompey 5". Portsmouth F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  9. Weld, Neil (23 July 2013). "Pompey swoop for Bird". Portsmouth F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  10. "Games played by Ryan Bird in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  11. "Pompey swoop for Bird". Portsmouth F.C. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  12. "R. Bird". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  13. "Torquay United 1–1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  14. "Portsmouth 3–2 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  15. "Transfer window: Cambridge sign Ryan Bird and Josh Gillies". BBC Sport. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  16. "Dartford 3–3 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  17. "Cambridge United". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  18. "FA Trophy Semi-Final second leg: Grimsby 1–1 Cambridge". The FA. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  19. Hassan, Nabil (23 March 2014). "Cambridge United 4–0 Gosport Borough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  20. "Ryan Bird recalled". Cambridge United F.C. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  21. "Awford lays down challenge to striker". The News. Portsmouth. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  22. "Bird leaves Blues". Portsmouth F.C. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  23. "Transfer deadline day: Cambridge sign Portsmouth's Ryan Bird". BBC Sport. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  24. "Ryan Bird: Hartlepool United sign Cambridge United striker". BBC Sport. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  25. Daniels, Gareth (6 May 2015). "U's retained list confirmed". Cambridge United F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  26. "Ryan Bird: Striker joins Yeovil after leaving Cambridge". BBC Sport. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  27. "Eastleigh FC sign Northampton Town's Ryan Cresswell and Yeovil Town's Ryan Bird". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  28. Penman, Andrew (23 January 2017). "Ryan Bird is 12th new addition to Exiles squad this month". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  29. "Newport County 3–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  30. "Games played by Ryan Bird in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  31. "Newport County 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  32. "Newport County: Strikers Craig Reid and Ryan Bird the latest to depart club". BBC Sport. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  33. "Dover Athletic sign Femi Ilesanmi and Ryan Bird on one-year contracts". BBC Sport. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  34. "Hartlepool United 0–1 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  35. "Dover Athletic 1–0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  36. "National League Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018.
  37. "Ryan Bird: Maidenhead United sign Dover Athletic striker". BBC Sport. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  38. Squad update: Rebels swoop to sign Bird
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