Conyers Kirby

Conyers Kirby (18 March 1884 – 9 April 1946), also known as Ralph Kirby, was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham.[2] He played as an outside right.

Conyers Kirby
Personal information
Date of birth 18 March 1884[1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 9 April 1946(1946-04-09) (aged 62)
Position(s) Outside right
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Royal Army Medical Corps
1905–1906 Fulham 4 (0)
1906–1907 Birmingham 1 (0)
1907–190? Blackpool 0 (0)
– Worcester City
1908–1911 Kidderminster Harriers
1911–1913 Willenhall Pickwick
1913–191? Fulham 0 (0)
Teams managed
1922–1924 CE Europa
1924–1925 FC Barcelona
1925–1926 Athletic Bilbao
1930–19?? CE Europa
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Kirby was born in the Bordesley Green district of Birmingham. While serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he represented them at football and became a champion sprinter. In 1905 he joined Southern League club Fulham, for whom he played four league games.[3] In the 1906 close season he joined Birmingham,[4] for whom he made his only Football League appearance,[2] on 6 September 1906 in the First Division match at home to Newcastle United which Birmingham lost 4–2.[5] He later joined Blackpool, without appearing in the Football League, and played non-league football for Worcester City, Kidderminster Harriers and Willenhall Pickwick, before returning to Fulham in 1913.[2][4]

Coaching career

Kirby retired from playing in 1918 and moved to Spain, where he became a referee[4] and a football manager. He coached both CE Europa and FC Barcelona during the 1920s. He was appointed Europa manager in August 1922.[6] In 1923 he guided Europa to the Campionat de Catalunya. After finishing level on points with Barcelona, Europa beat them 1–0 in a title play-off. They then represented Catalonia in the Copa del Rey and after defeating Sevilla and Sporting Gijón in earlier rounds, they lost 1–0 to Athletic Bilbao in the final at Les Corts.

Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of Barcelona in December 1924, replacing Jesza Poszony.[7] His first game in charge was a 2–0 win in a friendly against First Vienna on Christmas Day 1925. He remained in charge for 39 games.

He joined Athletic Bilbao in September 1925,[8] and returned to England in May 1926.[9]

Kirby later rejoined Europa and coached them during the 1930–31 La Liga season; however, they finished bottom of the table and were relegated.

Honours

CE Europa

FC Barcelona

References
  1. 1939 England and Wales Register
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. "Conyers Kirby". FulhamWeb. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  4. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. Matthews, p. 153.
  6. "Una conversación con Mr Kirby" [A conversation with Mr Kirby]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 August 1922. p. 2.
  7. "Ultimas informaciones: Mr. Kirby, deja de ser entrenador del 'Europa' ... y pasa a serlo del 'Barcelona'" [Latest news: Mr Kirby has left as coach of Europa ... and is going to be Barcelona's]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 December 1924. p. 2.
  8. "Kirby en Bilbao" [Kirby in Bilbao]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 September 1925. p. 1.
  9. "Fútbol: Mr. Kirby no volverá a entrenar al Athlétic de Bilbao" [Football: Mr. Kirby won't be coaching Athletic Bilbao again]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 May 1926. p. 1.
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