Michael Bird (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Bird, born 7 November 1983 in Chester
is an English
former professional footballer who played at schoolboy level for Wales. He played for clubs in all four constituent countries of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
He is currently a coach at Blackpool
's Centre of Excellence.
where he was a graduate of their Youth Academy. After impressing in a trial, he signed for Scottish Premier League
club Aberdeen
on 15 May 2003 on a free transfer where he made two league appearances. After being made available for transfer in the transfer window
, he moved to Northern Ireland
to play for Irish Premier League
club Glenavon
in February 2004. In June 2004 he moved back to England into non-league football
with Northwich Victoria
, before signing for local rivals Witton Albion
. He then moved to Wales in December 2004 to play for Welsh Premier League club Caernarfon Town
where he spent the rest of the 2004-05 season.
He had a brief spell at the start of the 2005-06 season with Warrington Town
before signing for Colwyn Bay
on 2 September 2005.
B coaching licence. He is currently the coach of the Under-11 team at Blackpool
's Centre of Excellence.
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer who played at schoolboy level for Wales. He played for clubs in all four constituent countries of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
He is currently a coach at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
's Centre of Excellence.
Playing career
Bird started his career at Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
where he was a graduate of their Youth Academy. After impressing in a trial, he signed for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
on 15 May 2003 on a free transfer where he made two league appearances. After being made available for transfer in the transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, he moved to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to play for Irish Premier League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
club Glenavon
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
in February 2004. In June 2004 he moved back to England into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, before signing for local rivals Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
. He then moved to Wales in December 2004 to play for Welsh Premier League club Caernarfon Town
Caernarfon Town F.C.
Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance. The club ia nicknamed The Canaries because of its yellow and green strip. Caernarfon Town plays at The Oval, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.-History:...
where he spent the rest of the 2004-05 season.
He had a brief spell at the start of the 2005-06 season with Warrington Town
Warrington Town F.C.
Warrington Town F.C. are a football club based in Warrington, Cheshire, England. They were established in 1949 under the name of Stockton Heath Albion. In 1961, they changed to their present name...
before signing for Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
on 2 September 2005.
Coaching career
Bird is now a fully qualified coach, having obtained the UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
B coaching licence. He is currently the coach of the Under-11 team at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
's Centre of Excellence.