Simon Bird (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Bird is an English
footballer who currently plays in indoor soccer
in the United States of America for Louisville Lightning
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
. He is a forward. He is also the current director of coaching at the Thoroughbreds Soccer Club.
as a youngster in 1995 at the age of 12 and went on to play for Mansfield Town
's youth setup before joining the academy at home town club Lincoln City
. He went on to captain City's U15 and U16 side but was snubbed a professional contract at Sincil Bank
and opted to join Lincoln United
in the summer of 1999.
and Grimsby Town
who were a league below in what is know known as the Football League Championship
. Both trials were unsuccessful and Bird would eventually leave United in 2001 when he moved to the United States
to play for the University of Louisville
.
Combine in 2003, Great Lakes All Region First Team in 2003 and also winning the Conference USA Player of The Year for 2003.
before stepping up a level to play for Conference North
side Gainsborough Trinity
in 2005. Gainsborough represented the pinnacle of his footballing career in England with The Blues playing in the sixth highest league in England, but despite this Bird was never a professional whilst playing in England, and playing at a semi-professional level was as high as he made it. Whilst with Trinity he played his part in several FA Cup
first round matches against York City
and Barnet
.
signing with Louisville Lightning
. Bird helped the Lightning finish second in the Eastern Division last season in the team's first campaign in the PASL.
, Bird worked as a PE Teacher
and a Maths Teacher at his former school Robert Pattinson School
. He now serves as Academy Director for Thoroughbreds Soccer Club and as a coach with many other international-level former players such as Fredy Cortes, who has played for Club America
and the Mexico national under-17 football team
. Bird is also a Coaching Assistant for the University of Louisville Men’s Soccer Program. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Health and Human Performance/Exercise Science and is looking to hoping to take the USSF ’B’ license within the next year.
while he plays for the Louisville Lightning
and coaches for the Thoroughbreds Soccer Club. Simon's favorite all-time manager is Arsene Wenger
of the Premier League Club, Arsenal
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...
footballer who currently plays in indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
in the United States of America for Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning are an indoor soccer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. They joined the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2009. They were confirmed as an expansion team in August of that year and began playing in November of the same year. -History:...
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
. He is a forward. He is also the current director of coaching at the Thoroughbreds Soccer Club.
Early career
Bird joined Premier League side Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
as a youngster in 1995 at the age of 12 and went on to play for Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
's youth setup before joining the academy at home town club Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He went on to captain City's U15 and U16 side but was snubbed a professional contract at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
and opted to join Lincoln United
Lincoln United F.C.
Lincoln United F.C. is an English football team which plays in the Northern Premier League. The club is based in Lincoln. 'The Whites', as they are commonly known, play at the Ashby Avenue ground, which backs on to Hartsholme Country Park.-History:...
in the summer of 1999.
Lincoln United
United at the time were playing in the seventh tier of English football, and he was handed his first team debut at the age of 16 years and 4 months. Whilst with United he had several trials with professional clubs, Premier League side 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....
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
who were a league below in what is know known as the Football League 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...
. Both trials were unsuccessful and Bird would eventually leave United in 2001 when he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play for the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.
University of Louisville
In his three years at the University he managed to score 29 goals in 50 appearances. In all three seasons he managed to finish the clubs top scorer for each three seasons, also being voted UOL's most valuable offensive player. He also made the Conference USA All Third Team in 2001, the Conference USA All Second Team in 2002, the Conference USA All First Team in 2003, making the Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Combine in 2003, Great Lakes All Region First Team in 2003 and also winning the Conference USA Player of The Year for 2003.
Gainsborough Trinity
Despite his relative success in the USA, Bird returned to England re-joined Lincoln UnitedLincoln United F.C.
Lincoln United F.C. is an English football team which plays in the Northern Premier League. The club is based in Lincoln. 'The Whites', as they are commonly known, play at the Ashby Avenue ground, which backs on to Hartsholme Country Park.-History:...
before stepping up a level to play for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in 2005. Gainsborough represented the pinnacle of his footballing career in England with The Blues playing in the sixth highest league in England, but despite this Bird was never a professional whilst playing in England, and playing at a semi-professional level was as high as he made it. Whilst with Trinity he played his part in several FA Cup
FA Cup
The 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...
first round matches against York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
and Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
.
North Ferriby United
Following the major cash input at Trinity under the new owner Peter Swann, Bird fell down the pecking order and was eventually released in 2009 to join North Ferriby United. He departed the club at the end of the 2009-2010 season.Louisville Lightning
In 2010 Bird switched to Indoor soccerIndoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
signing with Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning are an indoor soccer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. They joined the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2009. They were confirmed as an expansion team in August of that year and began playing in November of the same year. -History:...
. Bird helped the Lightning finish second in the Eastern Division last season in the team's first campaign in the PASL.
Coaching career
While living in EnglandEngland
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...
, Bird worked as a PE Teacher
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and a Maths Teacher at his former school Robert Pattinson School
Robert Pattinson School
Sir Robert Pattinson Academy is a secondary school on the east side of in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, England opposite North Kesteven School.-Admissions:...
. He now serves as Academy Director for Thoroughbreds Soccer Club and as a coach with many other international-level former players such as Fredy Cortes, who has played for Club America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
and the Mexico national under-17 football team
Mexico national under-17 football team
The Mexico U-17 national football team is one of the younger teams that represents Mexico in football, and is controlled by the Mexican Football Federation . A two time FIFA U-17 World Cup champion, the team has enjoyed recent success as it was crowned in the 2005 and 2011 editions of the tournament...
. Bird is also a Coaching Assistant for the University of Louisville Men’s Soccer Program. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Health and Human Performance/Exercise Science and is looking to hoping to take the USSF ’B’ license within the next year.
Personal Life
Bird lives in LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
while he plays for the Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning
Louisville Lightning are an indoor soccer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. They joined the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2009. They were confirmed as an expansion team in August of that year and began playing in November of the same year. -History:...
and coaches for the Thoroughbreds Soccer Club. Simon's favorite all-time manager is Arsene Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
of the Premier League Club, Arsenal
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...