Sammy Baird Explained

Sammy Baird
Fullname:Stuart Samuel Baird
Birth Date:1930 5, df=y
Birth Place:Denny, Scotland
Death Place:Bangor, Northern Ireland[1]
Position:Inside left / Left half
Youthclubs1:Rutherglen Glencairn
Years1:1949–1954
Caps1:90
Goals1:25
Clubs1:Clyde
Years2:1954–1955
Caps2:15
Goals2:2
Clubs2:Preston North End
Years3:1955–1960
Caps3:122
Goals3:39
Clubs3:Rangers
Years4:1960–1962
Caps4:39
Goals4:5
Clubs4:Hibernian
Years5:1962–1963
Caps5:24
Goals5:1
Clubs5:Third Lanark
Years6:1963–1964
Caps6:12
Goals6:1
Clubs6:Stirling Albion
Totalcaps:302
Totalgoals:73
Nationalyears1:1954–1958
Nationalteam1:Scottish League XI[2]
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:1963–1968
Managerclubs1:Stirling Albion
Nationalyears2:1956–1958
Nationalteam2:Scotland
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:1958[3]
Nationalteam3:SFA trial v SFL
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0

Stuart Samuel Baird (13 May 1930 – 21 April 2010) was a Scottish football player and manager.

Career

During his playing career he played for Clyde, Preston North End, Rangers, Hibernian, Third Lanark and Stirling Albion. He won three Scottish league titles (1956, 1957 and 1959) and one Scottish Cup (1960) with Rangers.

Baird won the Division Two title in 1951–52 with Clyde.[1] Baird scored five times for Rangers as they reached the 1959–60 European Cup semi finals and was influential for Hibernian on their run to the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi finals. Preston paid £12,000 for his signature and Rangers paid £10,000 for his services. Hibs then forked out £5,000 for him.[4]

International career

He earned seven international caps for Scotland from 1956 to 1958. He scored on his debut against Yugoslavia, and also in his last match, a 2–1 defeat by France in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. The latter goal was the first time a Rangers player scored in a World Cup Finals match. He remains the only Rangers player to do so.[5]

Additionally, Baird represented the Scottish League XI on five occasions. He scored in his last appearance against the Football League XI at Ibrox in 1958.[6]

He earned earlier representative honours with Clyde. In 1953 against the British Army, Baird converted a penalty for Scotland XI in 2–2 draw at Goodison Park.[7] As preparation for the FIFA World Cup, Baird played for a Scotland XI in a couple of trial matches in 1958.[8]

Manager

As Stirling Albion manager, Baird led the team to promotion to Division One winning the Division Two title in 1964–65.[1]

His Albion team became the first British and first professional team to tour Japan in 1966.[9] The results of the two-match tour were 3–1 against a Japanese All Stars XI and 4–2 against the Japan national team.[9]

He was later sacked in 1968 because the club were heading for relegation back to Division Two.[1]

Personal life

Baird died on the morning of 21 April 2010.[10]

Honours

Player

Clyde

Rangers

Hibernian

Third Lanark

Manager

Stirling Albion

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Obituary: Sammy Baird . The Scotsman . UK . 23 April 2010 . 25 April 2010.
  2. Web site: Sammy Baird . London Hearts Supporters' Club . 2 June 2014.
  3. http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/1958+-+Scottish+League+v+Scotland+XI Scottish trial match at Easter Road
  4. Web site: Sammy Baird: Footballer who won three League titles with Rangers and played in the 1958 World Cup . 28 April 2020 . The Independent . 1 May 2010.
  5. Web site: NOW YOU KNOW: Sammy Baird was last Rangers player to score for Scotland in a World Cup Finals game . . 2 November 2017 . 24 June 2021.
  6. Web site: 08 Oct 1958, SFL 1 EFL 1 . London Hearts Supporters'Club . 8 October 1958 . 24 June 2021.
  7. Web site: SCOTS POOR DISPLAY AT GOODISON PARK . PTFC History Archive . . 19 November 1953 . 24 June 2021.
  8. Web site: SCOTTISH TRIAL MATCH AT EASTER ROAD . . 4 February 1958 . 24 June 2021.
    Web site: 03 March 1958, Hearts 3 Scotland XI 2 . London Hearts SC . 3 March 1958 . 24 June 2021.
  9. Web site: 1966 AND ALL THAT – STIRLING ALBION IN JAPAN . Nutmeg Magazine . 10 June 2020 . 25 June 2021.
  10. Web site: Rangers Saddened By Baird Loss . 21 April 2010 . 21 April 2010 . Rangers F.C. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100425235944/http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100421/rangers-saddened-by-baird-loss_2254024_2031244 . 25 April 2010 . dmy-all .
  11. Web site: 1951–52: Clyde 5 v 1 St. Johnstone . Clyde FC . 24 June 2021.
    Web site: 1951–52: St Johnstone 2 v 2 Clyde . Clyde FC . 24 June 2021.
  12. Web site: 1951–52: Celtic 1 v 2 Clyde . Clyde FC . 24 June 2021.
  13. Web site: 1949–50: Rangers 2 v 1 Clyde . Clyde FC . 24 June 2021.
  14. Web site: 1951–52: Third Lanark 2 v 2 Clyde . Clyde FC . 24 June 2021.
  15. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=32pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rpsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5858%2C4698010 Thirty-third Success for Rangers
  16. Web site: 29 Mar 1961, Hibs 4 Hearts 2, EoSS Final . London Hearts SC . 24 June 2021.