Scott Laird

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Scott Laird

| image =

| fullname = Scott Benjamin Laird{{Hugman|23756|access-date=21 July 2018}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|5|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Taunton, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}{{cite news |title=Scott Laird – ESPN |url=http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=84203&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103064308/http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=84203&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |website=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=14 August 2009}}

| position = Left-back / midfielder

| currentclub = Weston-super-Mare (player-assistant manager)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2000–2006

| youthclubs1 = Plymouth Argyle

| years1 = 2006–2008

| years2 = 2006–2007

| years3 = 2007

| years4 = 2008

| years5 = 2008–2012

| years6 = 2012–2015

| years7 = 2015–2017

| years8 = 2016–2017

| years9 = 2017–2019

| years10 = 2019

| years11 = 2019–

| clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle

| clubs2 = → Tiverton Town (loan)

| clubs3 = → Torquay United (loan)

| clubs4 = → Stevenage Borough (loan)

| clubs5 = Stevenage

| clubs6 = Preston North End

| clubs7 = Scunthorpe United

| clubs8 = → Walsall (loan)

| clubs9 = Forest Green Rovers

| clubs10 = → Walsall (loan)

| clubs11 = Weston-super-Mare

| caps1 = 0

| caps2 = 18

| caps3 = 2

| caps4 = 15

| caps5 = 194

| caps6 = 84

| caps7 = 33

| caps8 = 28

| caps9 = 35

| caps10 = 7

| caps11 = 72

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 4

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 21

| goals6 = 5

| goals7 = 2

| goals8 = 3

| goals9 = 2

| goals10 = 0

| goals11 = 22

| nationalyears1 = 2003–2007

| nationalyears2 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U16–U20

| nationalteam2 = England C

| nationalcaps1 = 36

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 00:25, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

}}

Scott Benjamin Laird (born 15 May 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back and midfielder for Southern League Premier Division South club Weston-super-Mare. He is also the club's assistant manager.

Laird began his football career as a trainee at Plymouth Argyle, progressing through the club's centre of excellence. He spent eight years at Plymouth, making one first-team appearance for the club. In 2006, he was loaned out to Tiverton Town, scoring four goals in 20 games during his time there. He was later loaned to Torquay United in September 2007, making two appearances for the team. Another loan spell followed, this time to Stevenage Borough of the Conference Premier in late 2007. After playing regularly during the loan agreement, he signed for Stevenage on a permanent basis in February 2008. During his five years with Stevenage, where he played 245 times in all competitions, Laird helped the club earn back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier to League One. He was named the club's Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.

He left Stevenage when his contract expired in 2012, and signed for Preston North End. He spent three years at Preston, culminating in promotion to the Championship during the 2014–15 season. Laird joined League One club Scunthorpe United in June 2015, spending the 2016–17 season on loan at Walsall. In June 2017, he signed for Forest Green Rovers, rejoining Walsall on loan in January 2019 for the remainder of the 2018–19 season. He left Forest Green in May 2019 and signed for Weston-super-Mare in a player-assistant manager role a month later. Laird also represented Scotland at youth level, captaining the under-16 team all the way up to under-20 level. He was selected for the England C team in April 2009, earning one cap.

Early life

Laird was born in Taunton, Somerset, and grew up in Bridgwater. He supported Rangers and Ipswich Town as a boy, and singled out Brian Laudrup as a player he always aspired to play like.{{Cite book |title=Stevenage v Notts County matchday programme |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |year=2011 |page=40}} Laird played football at East Bridgwater School aged nine, which was a satellite centre for Plymouth Argyle.{{cite news

| title = Scott Laird – My Story

| url = https://www.scottlairdcoaching.co.uk/my-story/

| publisher = Scott Laird Coaching

| access-date = 16 June 2021}}

Club career

=Early career=

At the age of 14, Laird progressed to Plymouth Argyle's centre of excellence in Ivybridge.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird – Plymouth Argyle |url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10364~37275,00.html |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C. |access-date=14 August 2009}} He made the one hour journey from his Bridgwater home to train with the club every Tuesday and Thursday.{{Cite book |title=Stevenage v Yeovil Town matchday programme |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |year=2011 |pages=36–37}} During this time, he played as a left-sided centre-back. Laird attracted interest from Rangers in 2003, with the SPL club enquiring about the player after his performances for Scotland in the Victory Shield.{{cite news |title=Gers target Plymouth youth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/3334053.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2003 |access-date=14 August 2009}} No move materialised, and he continued to progress through the youth system at Home Park. He signed an academy scholarship with the club aged 16, before being offered a two-year professional contract at the age of 17 by manager Tony Pulis in February 2006, which he signed.{{cite news |title=Plymouth youngster offered deals |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/4759226.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2006 |access-date=14 August 2009}} During his time as an apprentice, Laird lived in a hotel "just for apprentices" with Luke Summerfield, Reuben Reid, and Chris Zebroski, and described the experience as a "great way to grow into football".

The following season, Laird joined Tiverton Town of the Southern Football League on an initial one-month loan on 8 September 2006.{{cite news |title=Striker Reid pens new Argyle deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/5326534.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2006 |access-date=14 August 2009}} He made his debut for the club in Tiverton's 2–1 victory against Wealdstone a day after signing.{{cite news |title=Tiverton Town 2–1 Wealdstone |url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/ |publisher=SoccerFactsUK |date=9 September 2006 |access-date=13 August 2009}} The loan agreement was extended for a further five months, and Laird scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town on 5 April 2007.{{cite news |title=Hemel Hempstead 4–1 Tiverton Town |url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/ |publisher=SoccerFactsUK |date=5 April 2007 |access-date=13 August 2009}} Two days later, he scored twice in Tiverton's 3–1 home win against Cirencester Town, scoring both of his goals in the space of four minutes to give Tiverton a two-goal lead.{{cite news |title=Tiverton Town 3–1 Cirencester Town |url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/ |publisher=SoccerFactsUK |date=7 April 2007 |access-date=13 August 2009}} Laird played 21 games for Tiverton during the loan spell, of which 17 were in the league, as he scored four times from a central midfield role.{{cite news |title=Plymouth Argyle loans |url=http://green-army.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html |publisher=Green-Army |date=11 March 2007 |access-date=14 August 2009}} Laird returned to Plymouth ahead of the 2007–08 season, and was subsequently handed his Plymouth debut in a 2–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup on 14 August 2007, playing the whole match, where he provided the assist for Plymouth's second goal.{{cite news |title=Plymouth 2–1 Wycombe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6941834.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2007 |access-date=14 August 2009}} He did not appear for Plymouth again and was loaned out to nearby Conference Premier club Torquay United a month later.{{cite news |title=Plymouth loan out Laird to Gulls |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/7004932.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2007 |access-date=14 August 2009}} Laird made his Torquay debut in a 5–2 victory against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough on 22 September 2007.{{cite news |title=Kidderminster 2–5 Torquay |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6996516.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=22 September 2007 |access-date=14 August 2009}} Although his loan at Torquay was extended on 16 November 2007,{{cite news |title=Dickson in Brentford loan switch |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/7098962.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 November 2007 |access-date=14 August 2009}} he did not make any more first-team appearances for the club,{{cite news |title=Scott Laird – All time playing career |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=46013 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=23 August 2010}} playing just twice for Torquay during the two-month loan spell.

=Stevenage=

A month after returning to his parent club, Laird was loaned out to another Conference Premier team in the form of Stevenage Borough on 31 December 2007.{{cite news |title=Plymouth seal Jutkiewicz switch |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/7166294.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2008 |access-date=14 August 2009}} He made his Stevenage debut a day later in a 2–1 win over Rushden & Diamonds.{{cite news |title=Stevenage 2–1 Rushden |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7165586.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2008 |access-date=14 August 2009}} Laird impressed under manager Peter Taylor and signed on a permanent basis on 1 February 2008, for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news |title=Stevenage complete triple signing |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/7221260.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=14 August 2009}} He played regularly at left-back during the second half of the 2007–08 season,{{cite web |title=Stevenage Borough 2007/2008 player appearances |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=13 August 2009}} scoring his first goal for Stevenage in a 4–1 victory away at Histon on 4 March 2008, a 35-yard strike into the top right hand corner of the goal.{{cite web |title=Histon 1–4 Stevenage |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7274557.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=14 August 2009}} The following season, under the new management of Graham Westley, Laird played 51 games for the Hertfordshire club, scoring three times.{{cite web |title=Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=14 August 2009}}{{cite news |title=Stevenage Borough 2–2 Horsham |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2008/10/25/england/fa-cup/stevenage-borough-fc/horsham-fc/720379/ |publisher=Soccerway |date=25 October 2008 |access-date=23 July 2009}} Laird scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season in Stevenage's first win of the season; a 3–1 victory away to Barrow on 30 August 2008.{{cite news |title=Barrow 1–3 Stevenage Borough |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7578323.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=21 July 2009}} Laird was also a regular in the team's FA Trophy campaign that season, playing in six FA Trophy matches. He missed the final at Wembley Stadium as a result of being sent-off in the defeat to Cambridge United in the Conference Premier play-off semi-final.{{cite news |title=Cambridge 3–0 Stevenage |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8031847.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2009 |access-date=14 August 2009}} In his absence, Stevenage beat York City 2–0 in the FA Trophy final.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8036407.stm |title=Stevenage 2–0 York |website=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2009 |access-date=14 August 2009}}

Laird continued to be the club's first-choice left-back throughout the 2009–10 season.{{soccerbase season|46013|2009|access-date=17 June 2021}} He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 victory over Histon at Bridge Road on 31 August 2009.{{cite news |title=Histon 0–2 Stevenage |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8223586.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009}} He also scored the winning goal with an 85th-minute strike against local rivals Luton Town, securing a 1–0 victory at Kenilworth Road in the first ever league meeting between the two clubs.{{cite news |title=Luton 0–1 Stevenage |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8271233.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2009 |access-date=29 September 2009}} His second-half penalty gave Stevenage a 1–0 victory over second-placed Oxford United on 30 March 2010; meaning Stevenage moved eight points clear of Oxford at the top of the Conference Premier league table.{{cite news |title=Stevenage Borough 1–0 Oxford United |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8570546.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2010 |access-date=30 March 2010}} Laird made 53 appearances as Stevenage won promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history. The appearance tally was more than any other player for the club during the season,{{cite web |title=Stevenage Borough 2009/2010 player appearances |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=13 August 2009}} scoring six goals. He was voted as Stevenage's Player of the Year at the end of the season.{{Cite news |title=Previous Winners |url=http://www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/player-of-the-year/previous-winners |publisher=Stevenage F.C. Supporters' Association |access-date=27 October 2010 |archive-date=20 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320085654/http://www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/player-of-the-year/previous-winners |url-status=dead }} Upon the conclusion of the season, Laird signed a new two-year contract extension with the Hertfordshire club in May 2010. He was voted as the 2009–10 Young Player of the Year at the National Game Awards.{{cite news |title=NGA Awards Results |url=http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/article.asp?aid=10682&iid=191&sud=1695 |publisher=The Non-League Paper |date=4 June 2010 |access-date=6 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717022254/http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/article.asp?aid=10682&iid=191&sud=1695 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}} At the Football Conference's Annual Presentation Dinner, Laird was also named in the Team of the Year, alongside fellow Stevenage defenders Ronnie Henry and Mark Roberts.

He started in the club's first ever Football League match at the start of the 2010–11 season, a 2–2 home draw with Macclesfield Town on 7 August 2010.{{cite news |title=Stevenage 2–2 Macclesfield Town |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8842813.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010}} He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 victory against Burton Albion on 16 October 2010.{{cite news |title=Stevenage 2–1 Burton Albion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9075278.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010}} At the age of 22, Laird captained Stevenage for the first time in their 1–0 loss to Hereford United on 8 March 2011.{{cite news |title=Stevenage 0–1 Hereford |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9414828.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=9 March 2011}} He played 54 games during the 2010–11 season, scoring four goals.{{cite web |title=Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=8 August 2010}} This included three appearances in the 2010–11 League Two play-offs following Stevenage's sixth-placed finish.{{cite news |title=English League Two 2010–2011 : Table |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-two/2010-2011/table/2011-01-18 |publisher=Statto |access-date=29 May 2011}} Stevenage earned promotion to League One after a 1–0 win against Torquay United at Old Trafford on 28 May 2011, with Laird playing the whole game.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/13482198.stm |title=Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay |first=Emlyn |last=Begley |website=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=26 December 2018}} Laird's performances in the opening months of the 2011–12 season resulted in a "number of Championship clubs tracking the player".{{cite news |title=Laird attracting interest |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,18940_7240462,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports |date=14 October 2011 |access-date=14 October 2011}} He finished as the club's second highest goalscorer for the season in their first season in League One, as Stevenage missed out on a third successive promotion following a play-off semi-final defeat.{{cite news |title=Sheffield United 1–0 Stevenage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17980126 |website=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012}} At the end of the season, Laird rejected an improved contract offer and left the club on a free transfer when his contract expired.{{cite news |title=Laird, Mousinho and Henry moving on |url=http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2775843,00.html |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=17 May 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523194137/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0%2C%2C10839~2775843%2C00.html |archive-date=23 May 2012 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite news |title=I feel it is the right time to leave – Laird |url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/i_feel_it_is_the_right_time_to_leave_laird_1_1385011 |newspaper=The Comet |date=22 May 2012 |access-date=22 May 2012}} Laird made 245 appearances during his four years with the club, scoring 24 goals.{{cite web |title=Scott Laird – Soccerbase |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=46013 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=19 May 2012}}

=Preston North End=

Laird subsequently signed for League One club Preston North End on a free transfer on 27 May 2012.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird reunited with old boss Graham Westley at Preston |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18226954 |website=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012}} The move reunited Laird with manager Graham Westley, who he had been previously managed by at Stevenage.{{cite news |title=Laird Checks in at Deepdale |url=http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~2789057,00.html |publisher=Preston North End F.C. |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=27 May 2012}} He made his Preston debut in the club's first game of the 2012–13 season, playing the whole match in 2–0 home win over Huddersfield Town in the League Cup on 13 August 2012.{{cite news |title=Preston 2–0 Huddersfield |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19144704 |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2012 |access-date=13 August 2012}} Laird scored his first goals for the club in a 5–0 win against Hartlepool United at Deepdale on 18 September 2012, scoring twice within the space of three second-half minutes.{{cite news |title=Preston 5–0 Hartlepool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19554019 |website=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012}} Described as Preston's "standout performer" in the opening months of the season having scored four times and assisted seven goals from left-back,{{cite news

| title = Big Interview: Former Preston left-back Scott Laird

| url = https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/big-interview-former-preston-left-back-scott-laird-2882629

| work = Lancashire Evening Post

| date = 13 June 2020

| access-date = 17 June 2021}} Laird suffered a broken leg following a challenge from Jamal Campbell-Ryce in a home game against Notts County on 20 November 2012.{{cite news |title=Preston 0–0 Notts County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20308170 |website=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012}}{{cite news |title=Laird Break Confirmed |url=http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/laird-break-confirmed-498961.aspx |publisher=Preston North End F.C. |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012}} It was later revealed that Laird had broken his left tibia and would miss the remainder of the season.{{cite news |title=Westley: Beyond A Joke |url=http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/westley-beyond-a-joke-499102.aspx |publisher=Preston North End F.C. |date=21 November 2012 |access-date=9 December 2012}} During his recovery, Laird stated that Campbell-Ryce rang him on a weekly basis – "I knew him previously and he's rung me every week to make sure I'm alright. I'm not one to hold grudges anyway and he's been fine. I accept his apology".{{cite news |title=Scott Laird accepts Jamal Campbell-Ryce apology for tackle |url=http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/westley-beyond-a-joke-499102.aspx |website=BBC Sport |date=17 January 2013 |access-date=30 April 2013}} Laird scored four times in 24 games during his first season with the club.{{Soccerbase season|46013|2012|name=Scott Laird|access-date=29 April 2013}}

A year-and-a-half after his sustaining his broken leg, Laird returned to the Preston first-team at the start of the 2013–14 season, making his first appearance back when he appeared as a 74th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw away at Rotherham United on 10 August 2013.{{cite news |title=Rotherham 0–0 Preston |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23558477 |website=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2013 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He scored his only goal of the season against his former employers, Stevenage, scoring Preston's second goal in a 3–0 win at Deepdale on 14 September 2013.{{cite news |title=Preston 3–0 Stevenage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23999460 |website=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2013 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Laird signed a twelve-month contract extension on 17 December 2013, keeping him contracted to the club until the summer of 2015.{{cite news |title=Preston North End: John Welsh among nine given new deals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25257905 |website=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made 42 appearances during the season, scoring once, as Preston missed out on promotion back to the Championship after losing in the play-off semi-finals to Rotherham United.{{soccerbase season|46013|2013|access-date = 6 September 2017}}{{cite news |title=Preston North End 1–1 Rotherham United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27272618 |website=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2014 |access-date=13 March 2018}}{{cite news |title=Rotherham United 3–1 Preston North End (Agg 4–2) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27320966 |website=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2014 |access-date=13 March 2018}}

Laird remained at Preston for the 2014–15 season and was once again a regular at left-back during the season.{{soccerbase season|46013|2014|access-date = 6 September 2017}} He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic in the Football League Trophy on 25 November 2014, courtesy of a diving header from ten yards out to open the scoring.{{cite news |title=Oldham Athletic 2–2 Preston North End |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/oldham-vs-preston/328297 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 November 2014 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Laird scored in Preston's 3–1 home defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup on 16 February 2015, briefly giving Preston the lead when his left-footed shot found the net just after half-time.{{cite news |title=Preston North End 1–3 Manchester United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31423124 |website=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He played in all three of the club's play-off matches at the end of the season, including in Preston's 4–0 win over Swindon Town in the final at Wembley Stadium to gain promotion back to the Championship after a four-year absence.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770740 |title=Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town |first=Nathan |last=Middleton |website=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=26 December 2018}} At the end of the season, Laird rejected the offer a new contract at Preston,{{cite news |title=Laird leaves PNE with no hard feelings |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/laird-leaves-pne-with-no-hard-feelings-1-7320548 |newspaper=Lancashire Post |date=22 June 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} stating – "maybe I felt I would be pushed down the pecking order, maybe I felt I wouldn't have played as often. "There are no hard feelings, the management team have been brilliant to work with". Laird made 108 appearances during his three-year spell at Preston, scoring seven times.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird – Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/scott-laird/15658/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=13 March 2018}}

=Scunthorpe United=

Following his departure from Preston, Laird signed for League One club Scunthorpe United on 11 June 2015, joining on a free transfer and on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird: Scunthorpe United sign Preston North End defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33831742 |website=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made his Scunthorpe debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 season, playing the whole match in a 2–1 defeat away to Burton Albion.{{cite news |title=Burton Albion 2–1 Scunthorpe United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33744219 |website=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Laird scored his first goal for Scunthorpe in a 2–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town on 17 October 2015, his header just before the hour mark restoring parity in the match after Scunthorpe had trailed in the first-half.{{cite news |title=Scunthorpe United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34493359 |website=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Three days later, on 20 October 2015, he met Scott Wiseman's cross with "a powerful left-footed shot" to give Scunthorpe the lead in an eventual 2–1 defeat to Gillingham.{{cite news |title=Gillingham 2–1 Scunthorpe United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34512756 |website=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made 38 appearances in all competitions that season, scoring twice, as Scunthorpe missed out on the League One play-offs after finishing in seventh position.{{soccerbase season|46013|2015|access-date = 6 September 2017}}

Laird did not feature in the majority of Scunthorpe's matches at the start of the 2016–17 season,{{soccerbase season|46013|2016|access-date = 6 September 2017}} an 85th-minute substitute appearance in a 5–0 home victory against Gillingham served as his only appearance in the opening month of the season.{{cite news |title=Scunthorpe 5–0 Gillingham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37067539 |website=BBC Sport |date=20 August 2016 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Having found himself out of favour at Scunthorpe, Laird joined fellow League One club Walsall on loan on 31 August 2016, with the loan agreement initially running until January 2017.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird: Walsall sign Scunthorpe United left-back on loan until January |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37236132 |website=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2016 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made his Walsall debut in a 2–0 away defeat to Northampton Town on 10 September 2016.{{cite news |title=Northampton Town 2–0 Walsall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37263537 |website=BBC Sport |date=10 September 2016 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Laird scored his first goal for Walsall in a 2–1 away victory over Sheffield United in an EFL Trophy tie on 4 October 2016.{{cite news |title=Sheffield United 1–2 Walsall |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/sheff-utd-vs-walsall/367351 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=4 October 2016 |access-date=13 March 2018}} His loan deal was extended upon its expiry in January 2017, the new deal running until the end of the season, with Laird stating he was "absolutely delighted" with signing the extension.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird returns on loan |url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2017/january/scott-laird-returns-on-loan/ |publisher=Walsall F.C. |date=12 January 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He added a fourth goal to his season's tally when he scored the winning goal in Walsall's 1–0 victory over Chesterfield at the Bescot Stadium on 7 March 2017.{{cite news |title=Walsall 1–0 Chesterfield |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39132001 |website=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made 31 appearances during the loan spell, scoring four goals. Upon his return to Scunthorpe at the end of the season, Laird's contract was terminated by mutual consent in June 2017.{{cite news |title=Laird departs the Iron |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2017/june/laird-departs-the-iron/ |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=19 June 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}}

=Forest Green Rovers=

After leaving Scunthorpe United, Laird signed for newly promoted League Two club Forest Green Rovers on 20 June 2017, joining on a two-year contract.{{cite news |title=Scott Laird: Forest Green Rovers sign left-back after Scunthorpe United departure |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40344591 |website=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made his Forest Green debut at the start of the 2017–18 season, in the club's first ever Football League fixture, a 2–2 home draw with Barnet on 5 August 2017.{{cite news |title=Forest Green Rovers 2–2 Barnet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40761070 |website=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}} Laird scored his first goal for Forest Green in a 2–0 win over Morecambe on 20 October 2017, doubling Forest Green's lead with a second-half free-kick.{{cite news |title=Forest Green Rovers 2–0 Morecambe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41703561 |website=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018}} He made 43 appearances in all competitions during the club's first season in League Two, scoring three times.{{soccerbase season|46013|2017|access-date =6 September 2017}}

Having made just one appearance for Forest Green during the first half of the 2018–19 season,{{Soccerbase season|78617|2018|name=Scott Laird|access-date=21 January 2019}} Laird rejoined League One club Walsall on loan on 17 January 2019.{{cite news

| title = Scott Laird: Walsall re-sign defender on loan from Forest Green Rovers

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46908408

| website = BBC Sport

| date = 17 January 2019

| access-date = 25 January 2019}} He made his second debut two days later as an 80th-minute substitute in a 3–0 away victory at Gillingham.{{cite news

| title = Gillingham 0–3 Walsall

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46847454

| website = BBC Sport

| date = 19 January 2019

| access-date = 25 January 2019}} Laird made seven appearances during the loan spell. He was released by Forest Green Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48283356|title=Forest Green Rovers retained list: Reuben Reid transfer-listed as eight are released|date=15 May 2019|access-date=20 May 2019|website=BBC Sport}}

=Weston-super-Mare=

Following his departure from Forest Green, Laird joined Southern League Premier Division South club Weston-super-Mare in a player-assistant manager role on 15 June 2019.{{cite news

| title = Scott Laird appointed as player-assistant manager

| url = https://www.westonsmareafc.co.uk/scott-laird-appointed-as-player-assistant-manager/