Jay Bird (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jay Gregory Maison Bird | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 6 May 2001||
Place of birth | Milton Keynes, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Exeter City | ||
Number | 31 | ||
Youth career | |||
2008–2019 | Milton Keynes Dons | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2022 | Milton Keynes Dons | 2 | (0) |
2019 | → Hitchin Town (loan) | 11 | (1) |
2019 | → Hitchin Town (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2021–2022 | → Wealdstone (loan) | 8 | (0) |
2022–2023 | Dagenham and Redbridge | 13 | (2) |
2023–2024 | Arbroath | 33 | (6) |
2024– | Exeter City | 0 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00, 31 May 2024 (UTC) |
Jay Gregory Maison Bird (born 6 May 2001)[1] is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Exeter City.
Club career
Milton Keynes Dons
Born in Milton Keynes, Bird joined the academy of Milton Keynes Dons at the age of eight,[3] and progressed through several age groups before signing professional terms with the club on 25 June 2019.[3] In August 2019 he joined Southern Premier Central club Hitchin Town on loan for the 2019–20 campaign,[4] but after only two matches a serious injury resulted in Bird being ruled out for the rest of the season.[5]
On 6 October 2020, Bird made his first team professional debut for the club, scoring twice in a 3–2 EFL Trophy group stage away victory over Stevenage.[6] The following 2021–22 season saw limited first team opportunities for Bird, with the player spending the first half of the season out on loan to National League club Wealdstone.[7] At the end of the season Bird was one of six players released by MK Dons.[8]
Dagenham & Redbridge
On 19 November 2022, Bird signed for National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a non-contract basis.[9] Bird made his debut that same day off the bench, scoring a late winner as his new side defeated Scunthorpe United.[10]
Arbroath
Bird signed a one-year contract with Arbroath in July 2023.[11] He departed the club at the end of his contract.
Exeter City
On 2 July 2024, Bird signed a one-year contract with EFL League One club Exeter City, with the option of a further year.[12]
Career statistics
- As of match played 2 November 2024
Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Milton Keynes Dons | 2017–18[2] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018–19[2] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2019–20[13] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2020–21[14] | League One | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
2021–22[15] | League One | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
Hitchin Town (loan) | 2018–19[16] | SL Premier Division Central | 11 | 1 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
2019–20[17] | SL Premier Division Central | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
Total | 13 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||||
Wealdstone (loan) | 2021–22[18] | National League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
Dagenham & Redbridge | 2022–23[18] | National League | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 15 | 2 | |
Arbroath | 2023–24[18] | Scottish Championship | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2[f] | 2 | 40 | 10 |
Exeter City | 2024–25[19] | League One | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Career total | 72 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 91 | 19 |
- ^ Includes FA Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
- ^ Appearance(s) in Hertfordshire Charity Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
References
- ^ a b MKDonsFC [@MKDonsFC] (6 May 2021). "Happy 20th Birthday to #MKDons forward @jay_b7rd!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Trio turn pro". Milton Keynes Dons. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "FOUR ARRIVE BEFORE LEAGUE OPENER". Hitchin Town. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Bird buzzing to be back after season on the sidelines". Milton Keynes Dons. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Bird is the word as his brace sees Dons past Stevenage". Milton Keynes Citizen. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "LOAN NEWS | Bird returns to Dons". 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Retained list". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Dagenham & Redbridge, Jay Bird!". daggers.co.uk. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Welcome, Jay Bird". Arbroath FC. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Exeter City sign ex-MK Dons striker Jay Bird after Arbroath exit". BBC Sport. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "JAY BIRD MK Dons". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Recent Seasons - Hitchin Town FC". Hitchin Town. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- 2001 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- Footballers from Milton Keynes
- Men's association football forwards
- Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
- Hitchin Town F.C. players
- Wealdstone F.C. players
- Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
- Arbroath F.C. players
- Exeter City F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Southern Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- English football forward, 2000s birth stubs