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Jock Aird

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For other people named John Aird, see John Aird (disambiguation).

Jock Aird
Personal information
Full name John Rae Aird[1]
Date of birth (1926-12-18) 18 December 1926 (age 97)
Place of birth Glencraig, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Jeanfield Swifts
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1955 Burnley 132 (0)
1955–1958 Eastern Union ? (?)
1959–? Sydney Hakoah ? (?)
International career
1953–1954 Scotland B[2] 2 (0)
1954 Scotland 4 (0)
1958 New Zealand 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John "Jock" Rae Aird (born 18 December 1926 in Glencraig, Fife) is a Scottish-born former footballer, who played for both the Scotland and New Zealand national sides.[3]

Career

Aird started his professional career with Burnley, whom he joined from Perth junior side Jeanfield Swifts in 1948.[4]

A feisty but consistent left-back, he earned international recognition towards the end of his seven-season spell at Turf Moor, making his Scotland debut against Norway in May 1954, at the age of 28. He was then selected in the squad for the upcoming World Cup finals and was one of only 13 players who actually travelled to Switzerland, the SFA opting not to use the full complement of 22 permitted. He played in both matches at the finals as Scotland capitulated in the first round, losing to Austria (0–1) and Uruguay (0–7).[5]

The following year, Aird left Burnley and emigrated to Gisborne in New Zealand. There he played for Eastern Union FC, eventually earning selection for the national side. Aird played two full internationals for New Zealand in the space of a week in 1958,[6] both matches against Australia, with him scoring for New Zealand in a 3–2 defeat in the first game,[7] and then scoring an own goal in a 2–2 draw a week later.[8][9]

He then moved to Australia in 1959, playing for and latterly coaching Sydney Hakoah.

References

  1. ^ "Jock Aird". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
  2. ^ http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandb/player.php?playerid=23
  3. ^ "Players Appearing for Two or More Countries". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  4. ^ Tony Scholes (14 July 2007). "Jock Aird". Claret-Mad. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Scotland National Teams Player Details". The Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  6. ^ "A-International Appearances - Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  7. ^ "New Zealand v Australia, 16 August 1958". 11v11. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. ^ "New Zealand v Australia, 23 August 1958". 11v11. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  9. ^ "A-International Scorers - Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
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