Baird won the Division Two title in 1951–52 with Clyde.[2] Baird scored five times for Rangers as they reached the 1959–60 European Cup semi finals and was influential for Hibernian on their run to the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi finals. Preston paid £12,000 for his signature and Rangers paid £10,000 for his services. Hibs then forked out £5,000 for him.[5]
International career
He earned seven international caps for Scotland from 1956 to 1958. He scored on his debut against Yugoslavia, and also in his last match, a 2–1 defeat by France in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. The latter goal was the first time a Rangers player scored in a World Cup Finals match.[6] He remains the only Rangers player to do so.[7]
He earned earlier representative honours with Clyde. In 1953 against the British Army, Baird converted a penalty for Scotland XI in 2–2 draw at Goodison Park.[9] As preparation for the FIFA World Cup, Baird played for a Scotland XI in a couple of trial matches in 1958.[10]
His Albion team became the first British and first professional team to tour Japan in 1966.[11] The results of the two-match tour were 3–1 against a Japanese All Stars XI and 4–2 against the Japan national team.[11]
He was later sacked in 1968 because the club were heading for relegation back to Division Two.[2]
