Sam Hird

Sam Hird

Personal information
Full name	Adrian Samuel Hird
Date of birth	7 September 1987
Place of birth	Doncaster, England[1]
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Centre Back
Club information
Current team	Chesterfield
Number	4
Youth career
-1997	Aston Villa
1997–2006	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2006–2007	Leeds United	0	(0)
2007	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	5	(0)
2007–2012	Doncaster Rovers	157	(2)
2007–2008	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	17	(0)
2012–	Chesterfield	162	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06:56, 4 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Adrian Samuel "Sam" Hird (born 7 September 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Chesterfield.

He has previously played for Leeds United, Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers.

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 nine.^[2] 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.^[3] He was released by Leeds at the end of the 2006–07 season and was signed by Doncaster Rovers on 2 July 2007.^[4][5] He joined Grimsby Town on a month's loan in November 2007.^[6] This was extended for a second month in December.^[7]

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 in the summer of 2011, Hird once again signed a contract extension, this time for an extra year. In May 2012, Hird was released by the club after the expiry of his contract.^[8]

Chesterfield

On 2 June 2012 he agreed a 2-year deal with Chesterfield,^[9] and was immediately given the captains 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. 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 playoffs.^[10]

Personal life

Sam and his younger brother Steven grew up in Doncaster, the children of Adrian and Tina. Hird has a son with his girlfriend Francesca, Harrison Samuel Hird (born in 2010).

Club statistics

As of match played 27 February 2016

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United	2006–07	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2006–07	League One	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Doncaster Rovers	2007–08[11]	League One	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	9	0
	2008–09[12]	Championship	38	1	4	1	1	0	0	0	42	2
	2009–10[13]		36	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	39	0
	2010–11[14]		36	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	35	0
	2010–11[15]		36	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
	Total		157	1	9	1	5	0	5	0	176	2
Grimsby Town (loan)	2007–08[16]	League Two	17	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Chesterfield	2012–13[17]	League Two	41	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	44	2
	2013–14[18]		35	2	2	0	1	0	6	0	44	2
	2014–15[19]	League One	30	3	5	0	1	0	2	0	38	3
	2015–16[20]		27	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	30	1
	Total		133	8	9	0	4	0	10	0	156	8
Career totals			303	9	19	1	9	0	15	0	345	10

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

• League One play-off winners: 2007–08

Chesterfield F.C.

• Football League Two: 2013–14

References

1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 465. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
2. "Sam Hird Bio". Chesterfield FC. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
3. "Doncaster capture Hird from Leeds". BBC Sport. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
4. "Quartet are shown door by Leeds". BBC Sport. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
5. "Sullivan and Hird join Doncaster". BBC Sport. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
6. "Grimsby sign Doncaster defender". BBC Sport. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
7. "Hird extends Grimsby loan spell". BBC Sport. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
8. "Dozen depart from Rovers". Sky Sports. 18 May 2012.
9. http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/ClubAnnouncements/0,,10435~2795992,00.html
10. "Paul Lambert's men slip to defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
11. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
12. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
13. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
14. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
15. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
16. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
17. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
18. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
19. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
20. "Games played by Sam Hird in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2015.

External links

• Sam Hird player profile at doncasterroversfc.co.uk
• Sam Hird career statistics at Soccerbase