Joe Birch
Joseph Birch (6 July 1904 – 4 December 1980) was an English professional footballer who made more than 200 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Fulham.[1] He played as a full back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Birch | ||
| Date of birth | 6 July 1904 | ||
| Place of birth | Hednesford, England | ||
| Date of death | 4 December 1980 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Colchester, England | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1920–1926 | Cannock Town | ||
| 1926–1928 | Hednesford Town | ||
| 1928–1929 | Birmingham | 1 | (0) |
| 1929–1931 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 26 | (0) |
| 1931–1938 | Fulham | 185 | (0) |
| 1938–19?? | Colchester United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Birch was born in Hednesford, Staffordshire. He played non-league football for Cannock Town and Hednesford Town before joining Birmingham in 1928.[2] Birch played his only game for Birmingham in the First Division on Boxing Day 1928 in a 6–2 defeat at Bolton Wanderers, just before the club paid £4,000 for the services of Huddersfield Town full back Ned Barkas.[3] He played for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the Third Division South before moving on to Fulham. In his first season Birch contributed to their winning the Third Division South title and consequent promotion,[2] and in seven seasons with the club he played 185 league games.[1] They awarded him a benefit match against fellow west London club Queens Park Rangers in 1937.[4] He finished off his career with Colchester United, with whom he won the championship of the Southern League in the 1938–39 season.[2]
Birch died in Colchester, Essex, in 1980 at the age of 76.[2]
Honours
with Fulham
- Third Division South champions: 1931–32
with Colchester United
- Southern League champions: 1938–39
References
- Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- Matthews, pp. 24, 171.
- "Football Programmes & Memorabilia". Lockdales. 18 November 2007. Lot 2175. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008.