If there was ever a way to bow out from your time at Derby County, it was scoring a cruical goal to help secure promotion on your milestone 200th appearance for the club.
That’s exactly what midfielder Max Bird did during the memorbale 2-0 win against Carlisle United at Pride Park Stadium last month to round off what has been an equally memorable time in Derbyshire for the 23-year-old.
A product of the Rams’ Academy, Bird quickly became a firm favourite at Pride Park following his senior debut at just 16 years old in 2017 and 200 appearances later, he bids farewell to an incredible opening chapter of his career.
The midfielder will now embark on a new challenge with Bristol City, after signing for them in February before returning on loan for the rest of the season, but he does so with memories that will last a life time.
In his final interview as a Ram, Bird sat down with RamsTV for one last time this week to look back on all of his best memories, that incredible final day and gave one last message to everyone associated with Derby County Football Club.
On what he thinks of when he looks around Pride Park…
Home, really. It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve played a lot of times here; in the FA Youth Cup, for the Under-21s, for the first team, and had some really good moments. It’s not going to be home anymore, but it’s treated me well.
On moments that stand out for him…
There’s lots. Coming through the Academy, meeting lots of friends and having won the Premier League with the Under-18s stands out. I captained the Under-21s, too. Stepping up the ladder has been memorable. In the first team there have been moments like my first goal, what I believe was my first really good game here against Charlton Athletic in 2019 when I assisted Jason Knight to score. There are lots of moments that I’m proud of and will live with me forever.
On what it’s been like for him growing up in front of 30,000 fans…
I’ve played in games at Pride Park where the stadium has been full many a time. I say to my brother, we can be on the golf course and that’s more nerve-wracking for me than playing in front of that many people. I’ve never once taken it for granted because it’s the job I’ve always wanted to do and it’s the best job in the world. I’ve always wanted to play in front of that many people and, more so, why be afraid of it?
On people that have been important to him throughout his Derby County journey…
It would be difficult for me to pick out certain ones. You’ve got so many people that are behind the scenes that have helped me so much, especially at the time of the passing of my Dad. The Academy staff deserve all the praise they get, it’s not just me that has come through the Academy but they’ve helped me get to where I am today. Wayne Rooney was a big part for me. He brought out something that was being kept inside of me; he gave me loads of confidence, told me loads of good things. He showed me how he wanted me to play and it suited me and that was the first season where I felt I made my mark. Paul Warne has been absolutely brilliant with me. He’s brought out another side of me as a man with the confidence and fearlessness and enjoying every moment of the present. I could sit here for hours and talk about each individual that I’ve come across and who I’ve been delighted to work with. I want to keep in touch with all of them.
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On his team-mates and friends; Eiran Cashin, Louie Sibley & Liam Thompson…
I’ll miss them. We’ve grown up together, we’ve had success together, we’ve been relegated together and promoted together. We all came through at different times. Me, Cash and Tommo sit next to each other in the changing room and there’s loads of little things like that I’ll miss. It’s part of football, moving on. New challenges and new opportunities come but it will be tough. They’ve helped me on and off the pitch. To leave them and to go somewhere else will be difficult but it’s something I’m looking forward to.
On winning promotion during his final game with the club…
I was always going to score! You can ask the lads, you can ask anyone. I had it on my whiteboard at home from when I got injured. So, for about six or seven weeks, I had on my whiteboard that I’d score the goal to get this football club promoted. I envisioned it, I visualised it. Whether you believe in that sort of stuff or not, I knew I was going to score and I knew we’d be promoted, it’s just how I felt. It was exactly how I visualised it and I couldn’t have wished for a better send off.
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On how he was able to keep his emotions in check on the final day of the season…
It was tough and the hardest bit for me was when the lads came up to me on the pitch when i was taken off late on. The way the gaffer is, I sort of knew that if we were winning that I was going to come off. I was just expecting to come off and the fans would give me a clap but I wasn’t expecting them to sing my name, I wasn’t expecting the lads to come and give me a huge hug and tell me it’s been a pleasure; that was really tough to hold back. I think there’s a clip of me on the bench where I’m trying really hard to keep it all in and it really did mean a lot.
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On his final message to all of those associated with Derby County Football Club…
I am forever grateful for what everyone has done and the player they have made me; this is staff, this is fans, this is players. It was a tough decision, it wasn’t an easy decision to make but I felt it was the right opportunity and right time to move on. As soon as I came back on loan after joining Bristol City, there was one aim. That was to get this club promoted. To do it with the performances that I had and the team-mates and staff that I did it with was fantastic. The fans that have seen me grow since I was 16; they have been absolutely terrific. I’ve had bad games and I’ve had good games but they’ve stuck with me and to hear them sing my name on the last match of the season is something that will live with me forever. I’m forever grateful to this football club and, maybe, one day I will be back.
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