# Pierce Bird

Pierce Michael Bird (born 16 April 1999) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Eastbourne Borough.

## Career
### Dunkirk

Bird played for Dunkirk of the East Midlands Counties League and also their reserve side, AFC Dunkirk of the Nottinghamshire Senior League. He made his senior debut for Dunkirk on 9 August 2016 in the 3–2 home win against Holbrook Sports. On 17 August 2016 in the away win at Cotgrave he made his debut for AFC Dunkirk.

### Notts County

Bird sealed a trial at League Two side Notts County, and scored the winning goal in the pre-season win at York City, On 31 July it was announced that Bird had secured a one-year contract at Notts County after impressing during his trial period. On 7 November 2017, Bird made his Notts County debut in the EFL Trophy match at Lincoln City, scoring an own goal. On 26 December 2017, Bird made his Football League debut as an 87th-minute substitute in the 4–1 win at Morecambe.
On 29 May 2018, Bird signed a two-year contract with Notts County.
On 3 June 2020, out of contract Bird was informed he will not be offered a new contract when his current contract ends on 30 June.

#### Loan to Leek Town

On 9 September 2017, Bird joined Northern Premier League Division One South side Leek Town on a one-month loan, making his debut the same day in a 3–1 away win at Gresley.

#### Loan to Alfreton Town

On 5 January 2018, Bird joined National League North side Alfreton Town on a month youth loan. He made his debut the next day in the 3–0 win away at North Ferriby United, and also scored the third Alfreton goal.

#### Loan to Grantham Town

On 1 November 2018, Bird joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Grantham Town on a one-month loan. He made his debut on 3 November in the 0–2 defeat to Warrington Town.

#### Loan to Boston United

On 22 November 2019, Bird joined National League North side Boston United until the end of the year. He made his debut the next day in the F.A. Trophy 0–1 defeat at Atherton Collieries, and was substituted after 32 minutes, due to a head injury. On 19 December 2019, Bird was recalled from his loan spell.

### Eastleigh

On 11 August 2020, Bird joined National League side Eastleigh. Bird made his debut as a 105th-minute substitute in the F.A. Cup 1st Round defeat to Milton Keynes Dons on 8 November 2020. Bird scored in the penalty shoot-out where Eastleigh lost 4–3.
On 28 June 2021, Eastleigh confirmed that Bird will leave the club following the expiry of his contract, after turning down a new deal.

#### Loan to Boston United

On 18 December 2020, Bird joined National League North side Boston United, until 16 January 2021. He made his debut the next day in the F.A. Trophy win against AFC Fylde.

### King's Lynn Town

On 29 June 2021, Bird joined National League side King's Lynn Town. He made his debut on 21 August 2021 in the National League home defeat against Southend United.

#### Loan to FC Halifax Town

On 25 March 2022, Bird joined fellow National League side FC Halifax Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season. He made his debut on 9 April 2022 as an 87th-minute substitute in the National League home win against Woking.

### AFC Fylde

On 24 June 2022, Bird joined National League North side AFC Fylde for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 6 August 2022 in the National League North home victory against Kettering Town.
Bird was released by AFC Fylde at the end of the 2023–24 season.

#### Loan to Buxton

On 21 November 2023, Bird joined National League North club Buxton on a one-month loan deal. He made his debut the same day in the home victory against Hereford.

#### Loan to Eastbourne Borough

On 26 January 2024, Bird joined National League South club Eastbourne Borough on a one-month loan deal. He made his debut the next day in the home victory over Farnborough. On 23 February 2024, Eastbourne announced Bird had extended his loan spell until the end of the season.

### Eastbourne Borough

On 15 May 2024, it was announced that Bird would join Eastbourne Borough on a permanent transfer ahead of the 2024–2025 season.

## International career

On 30 August 2018, Bird received a call-up for the Northern Ireland under-21 squad for upcoming games against Luxembourg and Spain. Bird is eligible to represent Northern Ireland at international level through his grandparents.
On 6 September 2018, in the friendly against Luxembourg under-21 he made his debut in a 1–0 win. Bird was substituted in the 70th minute.
He made his competitive debut on 11 September 2018 as a 78th-minute substitute in Northern Ireland under-21s 2–1 victory away to Spain under-21 in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 8 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Dunkirk | 2016–17 | East Midlands Counties League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| AFC Dunkirk | 2016–17 | Notts Senior League Premier Division | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 7 |
| Notts County | 2017–18 | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Notts County | 2018–19 | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Notts County | 2019–20 | National League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Notts County | Total | Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Leek Town (loan) | 2017–18 | Northern Premier League Division One South | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Alfreton Town (loan) | 2017–18 | National League North | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 |
| Grantham Town (loan) | 2018–19 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Boston United (loan) | 2019–20 | National League North | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Eastleigh | 2020–21 | National League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Boston United (loan) | 2020–21 | National League North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| King's Lynn Town | 2021–22 | National League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| FC Halifax Town (loan) | 2021–22 | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| AFC Fylde | 2022–23 | National League North | 35 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| AFC Fylde | 2023–24 | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Buxton (loan) | 2023–24 | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2023–24 | National League South | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Eastbourne Borough | 2024–25 | National League South | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 202 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 229 | 11 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances in Sussex Senior Cup

## Honours

AFC Dunkirk
* 2016–17 Nottinghamshire F.A. Intermediate Cup Winners
AFC Fylde
* 2022–23 National League North Champions