Sam Hird
Hird playing for Chesterfield in 2016
Personal information
Full name Adrian Samuel Hird[1]
Date of birth (1987-09-07) 7 September 1987 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Doncaster, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
0000–1997 Aston Villa
1997–2005 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Leeds United 0 (0)
2007 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 5 (0)
2007–2012 Doncaster Rovers 140 (1)
2007–2008 → Grimsby Town (loan) 17 (0)
2012–2018 Chesterfield 203 (10)
2018–2019 Alfreton Town 3 (0)
2019–2021 Barrow 59 (1)
Total 427 (12)
Managerial career
2021–2022 Bolton Wanderers Reserves
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Adrian Samuel Hird (born 7 September 1987) is an English football coach and former professional footballer.

As a player he was central defender or defensive midfielder and notably had lengthy spells with both Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield. He also played for Grimsby Town, Alfreton Town and Barrow.

Playing career

Leeds United

Born in Norton, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Hird signed terms with Aston Villa at a young age after catching the eyes of scouts, before moving on to sign for the Leeds United Academy at the age of ten.[4] Hird initially played as a striker before being developed into a defender at Leeds. He captained the youth and reserve sides before moving on.

Doncaster Rovers

Hird was signed by Doncaster Rovers on a three-month loan from Leeds United in February 2007.[5] He was released by Leeds at the end of the 2006–07 season and was signed by Doncaster Rovers on 2 July 2007.[6][7] He joined Grimsby Town on a month's loan in November 2007.[8] This was extended for a second month in December.[9]

Hird broke into the Doncaster side late in the 2007–08 season after an injury crisis hit Rovers in defence. Hird put in several impressive performances and was part of the side that beat Leeds United (his former club) 1–0 at Wembley Stadium in the League One play-off final to win promotion to the Championship.

Hird formed an impressive partnership with Matt Mills in Rovers first season in the Championship. He has been in and out of the team over the years, but was always seen as a dependable squad player in a very impressive rovers team. In 2011 Hird once again signed a contract extension, this time for an extra year. In May 2012, Hird was released by the club, after turning down the offer of a new contract to join Chesterfield.[10]

Chesterfield

On 2 June 2012 he agreed a 2-year deal with Chesterfield,[11] and was immediately given the captain's armband. On 16 May 2014, Hird signed a new contract with the Spireites. In July 2014 Hird played a key role in his club's 3–1 pre-season win against his first club, Aston Villa of the Premier League, scoring the first goal in a 3–1 win.[12] Hird signed a new deal keeping him at the 'Spireites' until the summer of 2017 after a successful first season with the club in League One after reaching the play-offs.

After the 2015–16 season, Hird was named Chesterfield's Player of the Year, as well as winning the additional Player of the Year awards from several club sponsors and local newspapers.[13] Hird missed a large part of the 2017–18 season through injury, in which Chesterfield were relegated. He was released by Chesterfield at the end of the 2017–18 season after making over 230 appearances during a 6-year period.[14]

On 22 October 2018, Hird joined National League North side Alfreton Town on a month to month contract in order to gain match fitness after a long spell out injured.[15]

Barrow

On 8 January 2019, Hird joined National League side Barrow on a free transfer from Alfreton Town.

The following season, Hird gained promotion back to the Football League as Barrow were crowned champions under the guide of the player's former teammate Ian Evatt.

In their first season back in the EFL, Hird was a regular for the Cumbrian side under David Dunn, then captaining the side under caretaker manager Rob Kelly over the Christmas period, when a good run of results put the club in a healthy position before appointing Michael Jolley as new manager. Jolley oversaw a huge turnaround of players in the January window, whilst also dropping a number of players from the squad, including Hird himself. After losing 5 of his first 8 games in charge, Jolley was sacked by the Cumbrian club and Rob Kelly once again took over as caretaker manager, with the difficult task of keeping the Cumbrians in the EFL. Hird became Kelly's assistant for the remainder of the season, and Barrow succeeded in maintaining their spot in League Two, being five points above the relegation zone.[16] Hird eventually decided to retire from his playing career, aged 33.[16]

Coaching career

In January 2018, Hird began studying for his UEFA B coaching licence, along with ex teammate Tommy Lee,[17] and gained it in January 2019. As of 2022 Hird is a UEFA A licence coach.

Barrow

Hird took over as assistant manager to Rob Kelly at Barrow towards the end of February 2021, with the club being at the bottom of the League Two table, and eventually helped the club keep their spot.

Bolton Wanderers

On 2 July 2021, Hird joined League One side Bolton Wanderers as first team coach, linking up once again with former teammate and Manager Ian Evatt. He also stepped in as the Manager of Bolton's 'B' team.[18] On 27 May 2022, his role as Bolton Wanderers 'B' team Manager was taken over by Matt Craddock with Hird solely focusing as first team coach.[19] In November 2022 he turned down the York City Manager's role, preferring to stay in his coaching role at Bolton.[20] He left his role at Bolton on 30 September 2023, having accepted a role at the Professional Footballers' Association.[21]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 2006–07[22] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2006–07[22] League One 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Doncaster Rovers 2007–08[23] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 5[a] 0 9 0
2008–09[24] Championship 37 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 42 2
2009–10[25] Championship 36 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 39 0
2010–11[26] Championship 32 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 35 0
2010–11[27] Championship 31 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 34 0
Total 145 1 9 1 5 0 5 0 164 2
Grimsby Town (loan) 2007–08[23] League Two 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
Chesterfield 2012–13[28] League Two 41 2 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 44 2
2013–14[29] League Two 35 2 2 0 1 0 6[b] 0 44 2
2014–15[30] League One 28 3 5 0 1 0 2[c] 0 36 3
2015–16[31] League One 40 2 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 43 2
2016–17[32] League One 35 1 0 0 1 0 1[d] 0 37 1
2017–18[33] League Two 24 0 1 0 1 0 1[d] 0 27 0
Total 203 10 10 0 6 0 12 0 231 10
Alfreton Town 2018–19[34] National League North 3 0 1 0 – – 0 0 4 0
Barrow 2018–19[34] National League 11 0 0 0 – – 0 0 11 0
2019–20[34] National League 33 0 1 0 – – 1[e] 0 35 0
2020–21[35] League Two 15 1 1 0 1 0 2[d] 0 19 1
Total 59 1 2 0 1 0 3 0 65 1
Career total 427 12 23 1 12 0 20 0 482 13
  1. ^ Two appearances in Football League Trophy, three appearances in Football League One play-offs
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in Football League One play-offs
  4. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  5. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

Chesterfield

Barrow

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Barrow" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 465. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  4. ^ "Sam Hird Bio". Chesterfield FC. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Doncaster capture Hird from Leeds". BBC Sport. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  6. ^ "Quartet are shown door by Leeds". BBC Sport. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  7. ^ "Sullivan and Hird join Doncaster". BBC Sport. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Grimsby sign Doncaster defender". BBC Sport. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  9. ^ "Hird extends Grimsby loan spell". BBC Sport. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  10. ^ "Dozen depart from Rovers". Sky Sports. 18 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Chesterfield | News | Club Announcements | Club Announcements | Sam Hird set to join the Spireites". Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Paul Lambert's men slip to defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Player of the Year Awards: Full List of Winners". Chesterfield FC. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Ian Evatt: Chesterfield release veteran defender after spell in caretaker charge". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Alfreton sign ex-Chesterfield man Hird". nonleaguedaily.com. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Wanderers Appoint Sam Hird as First Team Coach". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Hird joins forces with ex Spireites as he takes first steps towards management".
  18. ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton confirm ex-Barrow man as Ian Evatt's new first-team coach"
  19. ^ BWFC: "Key Academy Appointments Confirmed"
  20. ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers coach Sam Hird rejects York City job offer"
  21. ^ HIRD TO END SUCCESSFUL STAY
  22. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Hird in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Hird in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  27. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  28. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  30. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  31. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  32. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  33. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g "England – S. Hird – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Games played by Sam Hird in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  36. ^ Aimee Lewis (25 May 2008). "Doncaster 1–0 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

External links

Chesterfield F.C. Player of the Year
Categories