Ian Baird
Encyclopedia
Ian Baird is an ex-professional footballer
whose most notable spell was as a player for Leeds United
. He had two spells at the club with his first spell having a season as captain and his second spell including a player of the year award and just after he left, he got a second division championship medal with the club. He played as a striker.
in 1982–83
. He never really managed to get that many appearances under his belt. He spent part of the 1983–84
season on loan at Cardiff City
having a fairly successful loan spell scoring 6 goals in 12 matches. At the start of the 1984–85
season he moved on loan to Newcastle United
, but here he only made 5 appearances and scored only 1 goal.
at the start of the 1986–87 season and his performances alerted Portsmouth
to his abilities, as he helped lead Leeds to both the FA Cup semi-final (lost 2–3 (aet) to Coventry City
and the final of the inaugural Second Division promotion/First Division relegation play-offs. Leeds drew the two-legged play-offs final with Charlton Athletic
(1–0, 0–1) but lost a one-off deciding rubber (1–2 aet) at St Andrews
and remained in the Second Division.
season.
to help with the promotion push in 1989–90
Baird was deemed surplus to requirements by Howard Wilkinson
, having played 91 games and scored 21 goals
for £500,000 . Baird's involvement in the championship didn't stop there. On the last day of the season Baird scored two goals against Newcastle United, and this along with Leeds' victory over Bournemouth
clinched promotion for Leeds over Newcastle in third place (Leeds winning the title on goal difference over Sheffield United
). With Leeds winning the title Baird picked up a winners medal, even though he wasn't at Leeds any more due to him having played enough games for the club in the season.
Baird stayed at Boro until the end of 1990–91
when he moved to Hearts
. He later returned to England, playing for Bristol City
, Plymouth Argyle
and Brighton & Hove Albion
before retiring in June 1998.
in 1999 for the 2000 Asian Cup
qualifiers. He also played non league football for Salisbury City
(1997–2000) and Farnborough Town
(2000–2001).
After returning from Hong Kong he worked for a Leeds
-based football agent but resigned after 3 years as he didn't enjoy the job. Ian set up his own contract hire and vehicle leasing company in 2003, called IBMH (Ian Baird Motor Holdings), and it is still successfully running.
He took over the part-time managerial post at Havant & Waterlooville
in November 2004. He currently works for IBMH, living in Southampton
with his second wife and two teenage children.
On 3 October 2007 he was appointed manager at Conference South
rivals Eastleigh
, taking over from David Hughes
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
whose most notable spell was as a player for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. He had two spells at the club with his first spell having a season as captain and his second spell including a player of the year award and just after he left, he got a second division championship medal with the club. He played as a striker.
Southampton
Baird was born a Yorkshireman but started his career at SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1982–83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
. He never really managed to get that many appearances under his belt. He spent part of the 1983–84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
season on loan at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
having a fairly successful loan spell scoring 6 goals in 12 matches. At the start of the 1984–85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
season he moved on loan to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, but here he only made 5 appearances and scored only 1 goal.
Leeds United
In March 1985 after only 22 appearances and five goals for Southampton he moved to Leeds for £50,000. Despite not scoring many goals, Baird's first spell at Leeds was a success. His aggression, whole-hearted attitude, skill and goals made him immensely popular amongst the Leeds fans. Baird was made Leeds captain by manager Billy BremnerBilly Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
at the start of the 1986–87 season and his performances alerted Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
to his abilities, as he helped lead Leeds to both the FA Cup semi-final (lost 2–3 (aet) to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and the final of the inaugural Second Division promotion/First Division relegation play-offs. Leeds drew the two-legged play-offs final with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
(1–0, 0–1) but lost a one-off deciding rubber (1–2 aet) at St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
and remained in the Second Division.
Portsmouth
At the end of the season with Portsmouth having just been promoted, he moved to Portsmouth to help them in their quest to keep their division one status. He was sold for £285,000 having played 101 games and scored 37 goals for Leeds., but failed at a higher level, scoring only one goal in his 20 appearances for the club in the 1987–881987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
season.
Leeds United (again)
Portsmouth were however struggling financially and in March 1988, Baird was sold back to Leeds for a snip of the price they bought him for (£120,000). Baird was once again successful at Leeds picking up player of the year in 1989 but with the arrival of Lee ChapmanLee Chapman
Lee Chapman is an English former footballer who scored almost 200 first-team goals as a striker. He was best known for his spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United...
to help with the promotion push in 1989–90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
Baird was deemed surplus to requirements by Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
, having played 91 games and scored 21 goals
Middlesbrough
In January 1990 he was sold to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
for £500,000 . Baird's involvement in the championship didn't stop there. On the last day of the season Baird scored two goals against Newcastle United, and this along with Leeds' victory over Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
clinched promotion for Leeds over Newcastle in third place (Leeds winning the title on goal difference over Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
). With Leeds winning the title Baird picked up a winners medal, even though he wasn't at Leeds any more due to him having played enough games for the club in the season.
Baird stayed at Boro until the end of 1990–91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
when he moved to Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
. He later returned to England, playing for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
before retiring in June 1998.
Coaching and management
After retiring from his playing career Ian went to Hong Kong taking charge of Instant-Dict, a team in their top division, and also the national sideHong Kong national football team
The Hong Kong national football team , represents Hong Kong in international association football events such as the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup and East Asian Football Championship. The team is represented by the Hong Kong Football Association....
in 1999 for the 2000 Asian Cup
2000 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 2000 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Lebanon between October 12 and October 29. Japan defeated defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final match in Beirut.-Qualification:...
qualifiers. He also played non league football for Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
(1997–2000) and Farnborough Town
Farnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
(2000–2001).
After returning from Hong Kong he worked for a Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
-based football agent but resigned after 3 years as he didn't enjoy the job. Ian set up his own contract hire and vehicle leasing company in 2003, called IBMH (Ian Baird Motor Holdings), and it is still successfully running.
He took over the part-time managerial post at Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
in November 2004. He currently works for IBMH, living in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
with his second wife and two teenage children.
On 3 October 2007 he was appointed manager at Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
rivals Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, taking over from David Hughes
David Hughes (footballer born 1972)
David Robert Hughes is a Welsh footballer, who spent six seasons in the Premiership with Southampton, playing as a midfielder.-Southampton:...
.
External links
- Profile @ leeds-fans.org.uk
- Ian Baird Motor Holdings