Jock Aird
Personal information
Full name	John Rae Aird
Date of birth	18 December 1926 (1926-12-18) (age 83)
Place of birth	Scotland
Height	1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1948–1955 1955–1958 1959–19??	Burnley Eastern Union FC Sydney Hakoah	132 (0) 0?? (?) 0?? (?)
National team
1954 1958	Scotland New Zealand	004 (0) 002 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

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

[edit] Career

Aird started his professional career with Burnley, whom he joined from Perth junior side Jeanfield Swifts in 1948.^[1]

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).^[2]

The following year, Aird left Burnley and emigrated to Gisbourne in New Zealand. There he played for Eastern Union FC, eventually earning selection for the national side. Aird played 2 full internationals for New Zealand,^[3] notably scoring in a 3-2 defeat by the Australian national side.^[4]

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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jock Aird FIFA competition record
• Profile at Official Scottish FA site

v • d • e Scotland squad – 1954 FIFA World Cup 1 Martin • 2 Cunningham • 3 Aird • 4 Evans • 5 Docherty • 6 Davidson • 7 Cowie • 8 Mackenzie • 9 Hamilton • 10 Brown • 11 Mochan • 12 Fernie • 13 Ormond • 14 Anderson • 15 Johnstone • 16 Henderson • 17 Mathers • 18 Wilson • 19 Binning • 20 Combe • 21 Copland • 22 McMillan • Coach: Beattie