Jay Bird (footballer)

Jay Bird
Personal information
Full name Jay Gregory Maison Bird
Date of birth (2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 23)[1]
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
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Hertfordshire Charity Cup
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup

References

  1. ^ a b MKDonsFC [@MKDonsFC] (6 May 2021). "Happy 20th Birthday to #MKDons forward @jay_b7rd!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b c "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Trio turn pro". Milton Keynes Dons. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. ^ "FOUR ARRIVE BEFORE LEAGUE OPENER". Hitchin Town. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Bird buzzing to be back after season on the sidelines". Milton Keynes Dons. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Bird is the word as his brace sees Dons past Stevenage". Milton Keynes Citizen. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. ^ "LOAN NEWS | Bird returns to Dons". 5 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Retained list". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Welcome to Dagenham & Redbridge, Jay Bird!". daggers.co.uk. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Welcome, Jay Bird". Arbroath FC. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Exeter City sign ex-MK Dons striker Jay Bird after Arbroath exit". BBC Sport. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  16. ^ "JAY BIRD MK Dons". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Recent Seasons - Hitchin Town FC". Hitchin Town. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "J. Bird". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Games played by Jay Bird in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 October 2024.


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