Steve North wrote:It was with great sadness that I saw this news announced today.
Kevin Bird was not just representative of that great team of the 1970s, a team which achieved so much success during that period. He was also representative of Mansfield Town Football club and always will be.
It is almost unheard of these days that footballers stay with the same football club for such a long period of time. Kevin Bird played 450 games for Mansfield Town over a period of 11 years. He was a fixture in a team which had a period of incredible success, achieving 2 promotions, cup runs and acts of giant killing. Kevin Bird was central to that team. He was part of the glue which held it together. This is a testament to Kevin Birds’s professionalism, loyalty and capability as a footballer.
Sure, Kevin Bird was one of a greats at Mansfield. A legend you would say. However, he was also a genuinely nice guy who made an effort to engage with the supporters.
As a 10 year old child, I was lucky enough to live next door but one to Kevin Bird, on Hereford Avenue, in Mansfield Woodhouse. When I learned that Kevin Bird was due to move into number 21 Hereford Avenue, I was full of excitement. I was fit to burst. Gordon Hodgson live just around the corner on Worcester Avenue and Ian MacDonald lived just further up on Hereford Avenue, and now The legend Kevin Bird was about to join them.
I was a regular at Field Mill with my best pal, Tim Taylor. We could both name every player in that 1974 team - and now I was going to have one of my heroes as a neighbour. I dreamt of kickabouts in the street, kev putting crosses in for me to head into the top corner and getting autographs for all my schoolmates.
And I was not disappointed, Kevin would often join in with the odd kick about on Hereford Avenue with me and my pals. How cool was that - me and Kev being best pals. He was a good guy and always had time for me whether it was to talk about football, get a few autographs for my mates or a bit of a kick about. He was a class act.
One particular memory was when Mansfield played away at Blackpool. I was with my dad. As the players left the pitch at the end of the game, I shouted to Kev and when he saw me he came over and said ‘Hi’. He then asked me and my dad to meet him in the players bar after the game. He bought me a bottle of pop and some crisps and my dad a beer. He then asked me if I would like to meet all the players. And so he took me around to get the autographs of all the Stags and then the Blackpool players and all the Blackpool players were like his best mates - and that was the mark of the man - the respect he received from other pros.
And so today has been a day of reflection on those great memories. It was a privilege to watch Kev play football and it was a privilege to watch that team win those 2 promotions. It is a team in which the players will live forever in our memories. And it was a privilege to briefly know the man when he lived on Hereford Avenue.
And it is with great celebration that we will gather together as a community and family of supporters at our next home game to celebrate a king amongst men, a legend and role model.
RIP Kevin Bird x
Pitkin wrote:Steve North wrote:It was with great sadness that I saw this news announced today.
Kevin Bird was not just representative of that great team of the 1970s, a team which achieved so much success during that period. He was also representative of Mansfield Town Football club and always will be.
It is almost unheard of these days that footballers stay with the same football club for such a long period of time. Kevin Bird played 450 games for Mansfield Town over a period of 11 years. He was a fixture in a team which had a period of incredible success, achieving 2 promotions, cup runs and acts of giant killing. Kevin Bird was central to that team. He was part of the glue which held it together. This is a testament to Kevin Birds’s professionalism, loyalty and capability as a footballer.
Sure, Kevin Bird was one of a greats at Mansfield. A legend you would say. However, he was also a genuinely nice guy who made an effort to engage with the supporters.
As a 10 year old child, I was lucky enough to live next door but one to Kevin Bird, on Hereford Avenue, in Mansfield Woodhouse. When I learned that Kevin Bird was due to move into number 21 Hereford Avenue, I was full of excitement. I was fit to burst. Gordon Hodgson live just around the corner on Worcester Avenue and Ian MacDonald lived just further up on Hereford Avenue, and now The legend Kevin Bird was about to join them.
I was a regular at Field Mill with my best pal, Tim Taylor. We could both name every player in that 1974 team - and now I was going to have one of my heroes as a neighbour. I dreamt of kickabouts in the street, kev putting crosses in for me to head into the top corner and getting autographs for all my schoolmates.
And I was not disappointed, Kevin would often join in with the odd kick about on Hereford Avenue with me and my pals. How cool was that - me and Kev being best pals. He was a good guy and always had time for me whether it was to talk about football, get a few autographs for my mates or a bit of a kick about. He was a class act.
One particular memory was when Mansfield played away at Blackpool. I was with my dad. As the players left the pitch at the end of the game, I shouted to Kev and when he saw me he came over and said ‘Hi’. He then asked me and my dad to meet him in the players bar after the game. He bought me a bottle of pop and some crisps and my dad a beer. He then asked me if I would like to meet all the players. And so he took me around to get the autographs of all the Stags and then the Blackpool players and all the Blackpool players were like his best mates - and that was the mark of the man - the respect he received from other pros.
And so today has been a day of reflection on those great memories. It was a privilege to watch Kev play football and it was a privilege to watch that team win those 2 promotions. It is a team in which the players will live forever in our memories. And it was a privilege to briefly know the man when he lived on Hereford Avenue.
And it is with great celebration that we will gather together as a community and family of supporters at our next home game to celebrate a king amongst men, a legend and role model.
RIP Kevin Bird x
Wonderful wonderful words Steve, a 60yo man sat here with alot of 'dust' in my eyes!
acasman wrote:Listening to commentary and stags fans singing "only one Kevin Bird"
Bridgford Stag wrote:Really good post Steve and nice to have memories such as those.
Kevin Bird....445 appearances and 63 goals over the period 1972 to 1983.
And was described as '....became one of the most feared central defenders in the lower divisions...'
Thanks to Stan Searle for that...
Saw Birdy many a time and was always for me an automatic choice on the teamsheet. An honest player who gave his all and wasn't above himself. Fond memories of him.
RIP and condolences to all who surrounded him.
Rob wrote:I thought the minutes applause today was fantastic and lots of people around me, including me, had tears in their eyes. He was loved by those of us of a certain generation and today was a fitting tribute.
Also great to see some of our other legends looking so well.
Rob wrote:I thought the minutes applause today was fantastic and lots of people around me, including me, had tears in their eyes. He was loved by those of us of a certain generation and today was a fitting tribute.
Also great to see some of our other legends looking so well.
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