Chris Baird
Encyclopedia
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Baird (born 25 February 1982 in Rasharkin
, County Antrim
) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham
and the Northern Ireland national football team
.
, before moving to Southampton
in 1998.
Baird made his debut for Southampton on 22 March 2003 as a late substitute for David Prutton
in a 2–2 draw at home with Aston Villa
. His second appearance came in a 6–1 defeat at Arsenal
, when he came on after 26 minutes, with Arsenal already 5–0 up.
Baird's first start came on the final day of the 2002–03 League season, in a 1–0 win at Manchester City
. A week later, he started for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final
, also against Arsenal. Southampton lost the match 1–0, but Baird was voted as the Saints man of the match.
He subsequently made two successful loan spells away from Southampton – two months at Walsall
, where he played regularly in the first-team, and a month at Watford
.
In the 2003–04 season, Baird made only four league appearances for Southampton, and none at all in the following season. Following Southampton's relegation
from the Premiership, Baird re-established himself in the Southampton squad and was singled out for praise by Southampton manager George Burley
. He started 16 league games in the 2005–06 season.
In the first game of the 2006–07 season, away to Derby County
on 6 August 2006, he was drafted into the centre half position when Claus Lundekvam
went off injured in the sixth minute. On 25 November 2006, in his 50th first-team game for Southampton, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Luton Town
.
He spent most of the 2006–07 season in central defence, and at the end of the season he was the winner of the Saints Player of the Season award.
for £3.025m. Having initially worn the number 34 shirt, he changed to the number 6 for the 2009–10 season. Due to the injuries to Dickson Etuhu
and Danny Murphy, he was often used in a central midfield role during the 2009–10 season, but with their return from injury he returned to his favoured right back position. Baird started the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final against Atletico Madrid ahead of John Paintsil, but on 14 September 2010, Baird signed a new contract with Fulham, keeping him at Craven Cottage
until at least the summer of 2013. On 14 August 2010, he was an unused substitute in their opening game of the new campaign against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium
in the 0-0 draw. On 22 August 2010, in the match with Manchester United at Craven Cottage
, he was an unused sub in a 2-2 draw. On 28 August 2010, Baird was an unused substitute in the league game with Blackpool
at Bloomfield Road
in a 2-2 draw. On 18 September 2010, he was an unused substitute in the Barclays Premier League game with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
in the 1-1 draw. He scored his first and second goals for Fulham against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium
on 28 December 2010 in a 2-0 victory. On 26 January 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes for Fulham at left-back against Liverpool
at Anfield
in a 1-0 defeat. On 9 April 2011, Baird started and played the full 90 minutes at right-back against Manchester United at Old Trafford
in a 2-0 defeat. On 27 April 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers in a 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage
.
Baird was charged with abusive and insulting gestures towards a match official during a match against Liverpool
on 9 May 2011, after he played the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card by referee Lee Mason
in the 5-2 defeat at Craven Cottage
. He then subsequently missed the last two games of the season against Birmingham City
and Arsenal
and was replaced by Philippe Senderos
. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he made 31 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions for Fulham.
debut against Italy
in a 2–0 defeat. Since then, he has been a regular member of the national side, despite playing little domestically between 2003 and 2005.
His mothers home in Rasharkin was petrol bombed by loyalists in September 2010 in a sectarian attack.
|2002–03
||rowspan="2"|Southampton
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||3||0||1||0||0||0||-||-||4||0
|-
|2003–04
||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2003–04
||Walsall
||First Division
||10||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||10||0
|-
|2003–04
||Watford
||First Division
||8||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||8||0
|-
|2004–05
||rowspan="3"|Southampton
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||0||0
|-
|2005–06
||rowspan="2"|Championship
||17||0||2||0||1||0||-||-||20||0
|-
|2006–07
||46||3||2||0||3||0||-||-||51||3
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="5"|Fulham
||rowspan="5"|Premier League||18||0||2||0||1||0||-||-||21||0
|-
|2008–09||10||0||0||0||1||0||-||-||11||0
|-
|2009–10
||32||0||3||0||1||0||16||0||52||0
|-
|2010–11||29||2||2||0||0||0||-||-||31||2
|-
|2011–12||6||0||0||0||1||0||5||0||12||0
|-
183||5||12||0||8||0||21||0||224||5
Fulham
Rasharkin
Rasharkin , is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is south of Ballymoney, near Dunloy and Kilrea. It had a population of 864 people in the 2001 Census, after 30 years of gradual decline from a peak of 1,000 in 1971.-History:...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and the Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Southampton
Baird started his career at Northern Irish club, Ballymena UnitedBallymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
, before moving to Southampton
Southampton 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 1998.
Baird made his debut for Southampton on 22 March 2003 as a late substitute for David Prutton
David Prutton
David Thomas Michael Prutton is an English footballer, currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday after leaving Swindon Town, having previously played for Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Leeds United, as well as representing England at Under 21 level 25 times.- Nottingham Forest :Prutton was...
in a 2–2 draw at home with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. His second appearance came in a 6–1 defeat at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, when he came on after 26 minutes, with Arsenal already 5–0 up.
Baird's first start came on the final day of the 2002–03 League season, in a 1–0 win at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. A week later, he started for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final 2003
The 2003 FA Cup Final saw the holders Arsenal, beat Southampton. The match took place on Saturday, 17 May 2003 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and ended 1–0 with a 38th minute goal by Robert Pirès separating the sides....
, also against Arsenal. Southampton lost the match 1–0, but Baird was voted as the Saints man of the match.
He subsequently made two successful loan spells away from Southampton – two months at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, where he played regularly in the first-team, and a month at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
.
In the 2003–04 season, Baird made only four league appearances for Southampton, and none at all in the following season. Following Southampton's relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Premiership, Baird re-established himself in the Southampton squad and was singled out for praise by Southampton manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
. He started 16 league games in the 2005–06 season.
In the first game of the 2006–07 season, away to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 6 August 2006, he was drafted into the centre half position when Claus Lundekvam
Claus Lundekvam
Claus Lundekvam is a former Norwegian footballer, who spent most of his career at English side Southampton. He played for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal .-Playing career:...
went off injured in the sixth minute. On 25 November 2006, in his 50th first-team game for Southampton, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
.
He spent most of the 2006–07 season in central defence, and at the end of the season he was the winner of the Saints Player of the Season award.
Fulham
Baird left Southampton on 12 July 2007 to move to Premier League club FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
for £3.025m. Having initially worn the number 34 shirt, he changed to the number 6 for the 2009–10 season. Due to the injuries to Dickson Etuhu
Dickson Etuhu
Dickson Paul Etuhu is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Fulham in the Premier League. His younger brother Kelvin is also a footballer...
and Danny Murphy, he was often used in a central midfield role during the 2009–10 season, but with their return from injury he returned to his favoured right back position. Baird started the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final against Atletico Madrid ahead of John Paintsil, but on 14 September 2010, Baird signed a new contract with Fulham, keeping him at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
until at least the summer of 2013. On 14 August 2010, he was an unused substitute in their opening game of the new campaign against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
in the 0-0 draw. On 22 August 2010, in the match with Manchester United at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
, he was an unused sub in a 2-2 draw. On 28 August 2010, Baird was an unused substitute in the league game with Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
in a 2-2 draw. On 18 September 2010, he was an unused substitute in the Barclays Premier League game with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
in the 1-1 draw. He scored his first and second goals for Fulham against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium
Britannia Stadium
The Britannia Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club. With space for 27,598 spectators . The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank...
on 28 December 2010 in a 2-0 victory. On 26 January 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes for Fulham at left-back against Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in a 1-0 defeat. On 9 April 2011, Baird started and played the full 90 minutes at right-back against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in a 2-0 defeat. On 27 April 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers in a 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
.
Baird was charged with abusive and insulting gestures towards a match official during a match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 9 May 2011, after he played the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card by referee Lee Mason
Lee Mason
Lee S. Mason is an English professional football referee from Bolton, Lancashire, who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He is chairman of the Bolton Referees Society and still lives locally...
in the 5-2 defeat at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. He then subsequently missed the last two games of the season against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and was replaced by Philippe Senderos
Philippe Senderos
Philippe Sylvain Senderos - is a Swiss footballer who plays as a defender for Fulham and the Switzerland national football team. Previously he has played for Servette, Arsenal, A.C...
. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he made 31 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions for Fulham.
International career
In June 2003, Baird made his Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
debut against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in a 2–0 defeat. Since then, he has been a regular member of the national side, despite playing little domestically between 2003 and 2005.
His mothers home in Rasharkin was petrol bombed by loyalists in September 2010 in a sectarian attack.
Club
|-|2002–03
FA Premier League 2002-03
The 2002–03 FA Premier League was the eleventh season of the Premier League, the top division in English football. The first matches were played on 17 August 2002 and the last were played on 11 May 2003...
||rowspan="2"|Southampton
Southampton 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...
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||3||0||1||0||0||0||-||-||4||0
|-
|2003–04
FA Premier League 2003-04
The 2003–04 FA Premier League season was the twelfth season of the Premier League. In the end, Arsenal went through the season without a single defeat – only the second ever team to do so and were crowned champions once more, at the expense of Chelsea, who had spent heavily throughout the...
||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2003–04
The Football League 2003-04
The 2003–2004 season was the 104th completed season of The Football League.-Overview:This season was the last association football season in the football league where the divisions were known as "First", "Second", and "Third"...
||Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||10||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||10||0
|-
|2003–04
The Football League 2003-04
The 2003–2004 season was the 104th completed season of The Football League.-Overview:This season was the last association football season in the football league where the divisions were known as "First", "Second", and "Third"...
||Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||8||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||8||0
|-
|2004–05
FA Premier League 2004-05
The 2004–05 season of the FA Premier League began on 14 August 2004 and ended on 15 May 2005. Arsenal were the defending champions after going unbeaten the previous season....
||rowspan="3"|Southampton
Southampton 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...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||-||-||0||0
|-
|2005–06
The Football League 2005-06
The 2005–2006 season was the 106th completed season of The Football League.-Overview:In this season of Football League, Reading was the only club in England to get more than 100 points and they also have won the League Championship...
||rowspan="2"|Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||17||0||2||0||1||0||-||-||20||0
|-
|2006–07
The Football League 2006-07
The 2006–2007 season was the 107th completed season of the Football League.-Overview:The Football League was contested through three Divisions in England and Wales. The divisions were the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League Two...
||46||3||2||0||3||0||-||-||51||3
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="5"|Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
||rowspan="5"|Premier League||18||0||2||0||1||0||-||-||21||0
|-
|2008–09||10||0||0||0||1||0||-||-||11||0
|-
|2009–10
Fulham F.C. season 2009–10
The 2009–10 season was Fulham's 112th professional season and their 9th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League, since their return in 2001. They also competed in European competition for the second time in their history, in the newly formed UEFA Europa League...
||32||0||3||0||1||0||16||0||52||0
|-
|2010–11||29||2||2||0||0||0||-||-||31||2
|-
|2011–12||6||0||0||0||1||0||5||0||12||0
|-
183||5||12||0||8||0||21||0||224||5
Honours
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...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 2003FA Cup Final 2003The 2003 FA Cup Final saw the holders Arsenal, beat Southampton. The match took place on Saturday, 17 May 2003 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and ended 1–0 with a 38th minute goal by Robert Pirès separating the sides.... - Fans' Player of the Season: 2006–072006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2010