James Baird is a special player and coach, someone that has impacted the beautiful game in nearly every corner of the world. The 35-year-old has played for an astonishing 21 different clubs in Scotland, Faroe Islands, England, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S., and Iceland. That doesn’t include his national team experience or his numerous coaching gigs or even his work with the Global United charity team. Baird is a true international player that has spent time at the highest levels with the Scotland and British Virgin Islands National Teams along with experience at the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association and West Indies Football Association in a coaching capacity.
As Technical Director with the West Indies FA, Baird got to see what life was like outside of a traditional setup.
“This was a project that came out of the blue after a discussion with the NF Board, the non-FIFA organization. It was a great pleasure to be given the task to set up the team and a development squad and create a lot of programs in various countries. The program is still very much active but I took a break as my son Broden was born and I wanted to take time to be a dad.”
While he represented his homeland of Scotland as a player at the youth levels, Baird also had an opportunity in the British Virgin Islands.
“In 2008 I went to BVI to train with the national team and played in a small competition under coach Nabu Vicent. It was a great experience but after a lot of red tape we decided I wouldn’t play senior for the BVI. If the option came back up to represent any of the British Overseas Territories I would still consider as to me a senior cap is one thing that I didn’t achieve that bothers me.”
He has also been a brilliant coach at the club level with Trinidad and Tobago Highlanders FC, North East Stars, St. Ann’s Rangers FC, MB 1905, Guaya United, Central FC, Broxburn Colts, and Edinburgh FC.
His time with the Highlanders was very productive as he was able to leave behind quite a legacy.
“T&T Highlanders was my way of giving back and creating an academy and a semi pro side to help young players have a professional experience and professional coaching. The team did very well and every player that passed through was a real credit to themselves and the team.”
Baird has clearly seen it all.
“My fondest memory as a player would have to be a very hard one to call, maybe either gaining promotion in my first season with MB1905 in Faroe Islands, whilst coaching the ladies team to promotion at the same time so it was a double high. But that being said maybe my professional debut at Alloa Athletic at 15 years old could be a highlight. More recently winning the treble at Central FC would also have to be up there. It’s been a long but very rewarding career and after 20 years as a player I have many memories so this is really only a lil blip on my career map.”
Very few players and coaches get to experience the game in so many different locales. It’s been quite an opportunity. He’s been able to create a name for himself and his work in so many different places, arguably no player or coach has done what Baird has accomplished.
“Each country had its charm, from the muddy pitches I grew up playing on as a youth to joining Livingston Hearts and Hibs as a youth to part-time football at Alloa and Stenhousemuir. Each team had their charm. I realized early on that I had a talent and a massive amount of heart after a trip to Bosnia and Croatia and an 18th birthday in the Caribbean. It gave me nomad fever and I wanted to experience playing abroad. To get the experience was way more important than making a huge amount of money although we all need that to live.”
Obviously playing in the Caribbean, North America, and Europe offers different experiences.
“Tobago was a wonderful experience for me, giving me a chance to play in the Caribbean, meet wonderful people and put myself in the shop window to gain a move back to Europe. I even got the save of the season in the Trinidad and Tobago competition and, very importantly, I met a lovely girl who would go on to become my wife Debby. Faroe Islands was a special place for me after winning promotion and helping the female team. Also I had a wonderful season conceding very little goals and the team wanting me back the following year but sadly financial issues put a pin in that. Iceland, where I was most recently, was a lovely picturesque place, difficult though as we had a few issues with my contract and living conditions and the team was a lot lower that I expected. But I made the best out of it and would go back to Iceland anytime.”
Baird spent one season in the States, playing for the Galveston Pirate, but soon hit the road again for more football adventures. He admitted that his time with Global United was truly special. It was about more than football, but rather bringing attention to an important cause.
“This was a fantastic time in 2010 in Zwickau, Germany where we played in a tournament with a whole bunch of stars from around the world, some being “Pierre” van Hooijdonk, Lutz Pfannenstiel, Pavel Kuka, Fredi Bobic, and Lothar Matthaus. Funny enough we didn’t win the competition but we had a ball and the point was to promote and bring awareness regarding global warming and Lutz and the team are doing a fantastic job.”
Baird has done a fantastic job himself, earning a reputation as a very hardworking player and coach during his career.
“I like to research and take time to plan and execute my ideas. As a player I am a veteran but as a coach I’m youthful. It’s a funny comparison.”
Even though Baird has already accomplished more than people ever dream of, he still has lofty goals in place for himself and his career moving forward.
“Short-term I would love to have a year or two more as a player although it is harder to keep fit. I’m not sure how Buffon does it. I do have a few offers and I am supposed to join Omaha City FC in the PASL this fall. I also am doing a lot of TV analyst and pundit work during the World Cup and for the Trinidad and Tobago Super League, which I am really enjoying.”
“Long-term I believe I can be a top coach but I also am enjoying my media roles so I think either of these would be a good fit for me but as in life and football. Who knows what’s next? Maybe take Trinidad and Tobago to a World Cup in the future or coach back home in Scotland.”
It’s no wonder that Baird has become a popular interview during the World Cup. He has the background, experience, and knowledge that you won’t find anywhere else. There’s also a depth to Baird that you won’t find in other footballers. He carefully balances playing, coaching, family, travel, growing the game, and helping others.
He is one of our favorite personalities in the beautiful game and hopefully after reading this, he will be a favorite of yours too. He is a special player and person with the spirit of an explorer. Who knows where Baird will end up next? Wherever he ends up will be another chapter in the legendary tale of the globetrotting Scotsman.
