Baird: Hugh

1957-1958 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: New Monkland, Calderhead, Lanarkshire: 14-03-1930

Debut v Blackpool (a): 24-08-1957

5’11 1/2” 11st 6 1/2lb (1957)

Baird, who did his National Service in the RAF, began with Dalry Thistle and joined Airdrie in March 1951. He soon became recognised as a prolific goalscorer.In six seasons he played one hundred and eighty games and netted one hundred and sixty-five goals, in all games. In League games alone he scored one hundred and eleven goals in one hundred and thirty-four matches. This included thirty-three, when he was the top scorer in the Scottish First Division in 1956-57 and a further four in the Cup games in that season. However his fifty-three goals scored in 1954-55 when Airdrie won the “B” Division Championship, remains the club's most goals scored in one season by any player. He was capped by Scotland in a 1-1 home draw against Austria on 2nd May 1956, his only "cap" for Scotland. As caps were only awarded by Scotland for games played in the Home Championships, he had to wait until fifty years later until the rules were changed and before he finally received his cap. Leeds beat Aberdeen to his signature and bought him for £12,000 in June 1957 as successor in the goal-scoring department to the irreplaceable John Charles, and, despite his short stay, Baird made a name for himself as a prolific goal-scorer in the English First Division. In a struggling side, trying to come to terms with the loss of its star player, he scored twenty League goals in 1957-58 but could not settle in England. He returned north of the border to Aberdeen, who finally got their man, for a then record fee of £11,000 in October 1958. His first game for the Dons was at Stirling Albion on 11th October 1958 when they lost 3-2. His home debut came the following Saturday, 18th October 1958, when rivals Hibs were put to the sword to the tune of 4-0. However, he wasted no time in getting amongst the goals, and the following week, he scored four of the Dons in their 5-0 win over Falkirk. He also scored in the final minute of the Scottish Cup Final 25th April 1959 when they lost to St. Mirren 3-1. He moved back to Right-Half in the later days at Pittodrie. In fact his versatility was such that in his four year spell with the Dons, Baird played in every position apart from full back and outside left. In one match against Dundee he took over in goal from the injured Fred Martin and saved a penalty from Doug Cowie. After eighty-six appearances and scoring twenty-five goals for the Dons, he moved to Brechin City in 1962 but never played a game. He then played in the Highland League for Deverondale, in the 1962-63 season and Rothes, where he stayed for three seasons from 1963 to 1966. He retired from football at the age of thirty-six. After his playing days were over he found employment as a bricklayer in London but later returned north of the border, and made his home in Aberdeen. He died in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 19th June 2006 at the age of seventy-six.