Harry Baird

One of many players who could ask, "what might have been if not for the War?" Harry Baird returned to his League career after hostilities ended, and reshaped his playing style from prolific striker, to steadying half-back...

Name: Henry C. Baird
Born: 17 August 1913, Belfast
Height: 5.09 ft
Weight: 11.04 st
Position: Centre-Forward
Died: 22 May 1973, Belfast

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Cap (1938); Irish League: 2 Caps, 1 Goal (1936); Regional "War-Time" League: 2 Caps.
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1934/35; Irish Cup Winner: 1935/36; (with Manchester United) Football League Division Two Runner-Up 1937/38.

Club Career:
Clubs............ --Seasons-- League FA Cup
Linfield....................... 0/ 0
Dunmurry......... (Irish Intermediate);
Bangor........... 32/33
Linfield ........ 33/34-36/37
Manchester United 36/37-38/39 .49/15 .4/ 3
Huddersfield Town 38/39-39/40 .19/ 4 .2/ 0
Derby County..... (War-Time Guest)
Grimsby Town..... (War-Time Guest)
Halifax Town..... (War-Time Guest)
Ipswich Town..... (War-Time Guest)
Bradford PA...... (War-Time Guest)
Linfield......... (War-Time Guest)
Ipswich Town..... 46/47-51/52 216/ 6 11/ 1
Totals........... ........... 284/25 17/ 4

Biography:
Harry Baird won an Irish Cup winners' medal with Linfield in April 1936, and five months later scored on his debut for the Irish League, against the Scottish League at Ibrox. He won a second representative honour when he assisted the Irish League to a famous 3-2 victory against the Football League at Windsor Park in September 1936.

Manchester United had been chasing Baird for some months before their £3,500 offer was accepted in January 1937. He joined a struggling side and was slow to settle, making his League debut on January 23rd, he could do little as United finished in 21st place and were relegated. In the following season the skilful Irishman found his form, scoring 12 League goals, and three in four FA Cup ties, as United secured promotion as runners-up to Aston Villa.

In September 1938 he was transferred to Huddersfield Town, and whilst at Leeds Road won his only international cap, against England. The game was played at Old Trafford, but it proved to be anything but a happy return for Harry Baird as England won 7-0, Willie Hall of Spurs scoring five goals. Baird was also part of the Huddersfield side who, although struggling against relegation from the First Division, made it to the 1939 FA Cup Semi-Final.

During World War Two, Baird guested for a number of clubs while serving in the RAF, and on the resumption of the League programme he signed for Division Three (South) side Ipswich Town, making his debut away to Leyton Orient on 31st August 1946. Baird appeared in 234 League and FA Cup matches for Ipswich, scoring seven goals, mainly from wing-half.

Baird retired from playing during the 1951/52 season, making his final appearance at Crystal Palace on 20th October 1951, and remained at Portman Road as a coach until June 1953.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
16-11-1938 England (a) L 0-7 British Championship

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.