Windsor were short of ‘a few older heads’
Defender Ryan Bird believes Windsor were short of ‘a few older heads in the dressing room’ after the side were elbowed out of the FA Vase by Harefield on Saturday.
At 34-years-old, Bird is one of the elder statesmen at Stag Meadow and was a strong and vocal presence for the Royalists despite their 2-0 defeat.
He was unlucky to nod in the Hares’ opener but had the nous to get on with the game unfazed thereafter.
It helps that he’s got football league and National League South experience, now playing primarily as a centreback for Slough Town.
Speaking of the Royalists’ FA Vase exit, Bird said: “We weren’t a million miles away, but we just needed to put our chances away.
“One of the lads had a one-on-one at the beginning of the second half and if he put that away then the result could have been on a lot different.
“We could probably do with a bit more experience. Me and Baz (Barry Hayles) are probably the oldest here. It would have been ideal to have a few more older heads in the dressing room. But, as you know, it’s tough getting players in.”
Bird has been allowed to feature for Windsor this season on a dual registration with Slough Town and says it’s been great for his fitness and recuperation following a
horrific injury.
Last year, he ruptured his patella tendon in the Rebels’ game with St Alban’s City at Arbour Park, which subsequently kept him off work for four months and away from a football pitch for a much longer time.
“Obviously I have been out for a year, and it’s been tough coming back,” said Bird. “But playing 90 minutes here and there with Windsor has been good to get my fitness up and strengthen my knee.
“The reason I came here is because Mick is a friend of mine. I live down the road as well so it’s nice to come down here. It’s a great club, I love being part of it, part of the games. It was just unfortunate we didn’t win today.”