Archie Baird

Who was Archie Baird?

Archie Baird was a Scottish association football player who played for Aberdeen and St. Johnstone. He was also capped once by the Scotland national football team. Baird was born in Rutherglen.

Baird signed for Aberdeen before the Second World War, but the war started before he had made the first team. He joined the British Army, but was captured and held as a prisoner of war. He escaped and lived with an Italian family as their "son". In 1989 he published an autobiography, Family of Four, which described these experiences.

Baird returned to Aberdeen before the end of the war. His good form in this period earned him selection for Scotland in a friendly match against Belgium in early 1946. Baird was one of nine Scotland players making their international debut in the match, with only Jimmy Delaney having significant experience. Of those nine debutants, five players did not make another international appearance, including Baird.

Baird helped Aberdeen win the Southern League Cup in 1946 and the 1947 Scottish Cup, but his appearances were restricted by injuries. In all he made 104 league appearances for Aberdeen, scoring 26 goals in those matches. He was transferred in 1953 to St. Johnstone, where he played for three seasons before retiring in 1956.