Archie Baird
Encyclopedia
Archie Baird was a Scottish
association football player who played for Aberdeen
and St. Johnstone. He was also capped once by the Scotland national football team
. Baird was born in Rutherglen
.
Baird signed for Aberdeen before the Second World War, but the war started before he had made the first team. He joined the British Army, but was captured and held as a prisoner of war
. He escaped and lived with an Italian family as their "son". In 1989 he published an autobiography, Family of Four, which described these experiences.
Baird returned to Aberdeen before the end of the war. His good form in this period earned him selection for Scotland
in a friendly match against Belgium in early 1946. Baird was one of nine Scotland players making their international debut in the match, with only Jimmy Delaney
having significant experience. Of those nine debutants, five players did not make another international appearance, including Baird.
Baird helped Aberdeen win the Southern League Cup (a forerunner of the Scottish League Cup
) in 1946 and the 1947 Scottish Cup, but his appearances were restricted by injuries. In all he made 104 league appearances for Aberdeen, scoring 26 goals in those matches. He was transferred in 1953 to St. Johnstone, where he played for three seasons before retiring in 1956.
After retiring as a player, Baird worked as a teacher
and a sports journalist
.
Baird celebrated his 90th birthday in May 2009, and died quietly in his sleep on 3 November 2009.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
association football player who played for Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and St. Johnstone. He was also capped once by the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Baird was born in Rutherglen
Rutherglen
Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.-History:...
.
Baird signed for Aberdeen before the Second World War, but the war started before he had made the first team. He joined the British Army, but was captured and held as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He escaped and lived with an Italian family as their "son". In 1989 he published an autobiography, Family of Four, which described these experiences.
Baird returned to Aberdeen before the end of the war. His good form in this period earned him selection for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a friendly match against Belgium in early 1946. Baird was one of nine Scotland players making their international debut in the match, with only Jimmy Delaney
Jimmy Delaney
James "Jimmy" Delaney was a Scottish football player who enjoyed a 24-year playing career.- Career :...
having significant experience. Of those nine debutants, five players did not make another international appearance, including Baird.
Baird helped Aberdeen win the Southern League Cup (a forerunner of the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
) in 1946 and the 1947 Scottish Cup, but his appearances were restricted by injuries. In all he made 104 league appearances for Aberdeen, scoring 26 goals in those matches. He was transferred in 1953 to St. Johnstone, where he played for three seasons before retiring in 1956.
After retiring as a player, Baird worked as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and a sports journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Baird celebrated his 90th birthday in May 2009, and died quietly in his sleep on 3 November 2009.