Alan Birchenall

[10-0 win]

great read this

Remembering How The Birch's Career Began At Sheffield United

Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall, Leicester City's much-loved and admired Club Ambassador in fact began his professional career as a striker for Sheffield United, who visit King Power Stadium on Thursday (6pm BST kick-off).

www.lcfc.com

 

[Cradleyblade]

Great memories of Jones and Birchenall from that era, a force to be reckoned with. I was gutted when they were both sold thus setting me up for a future as a Blades supporter.

 

[Silent Blade]

Our 50th season in the 1st division. Sold Jones and Birchenall, signed Carlin, Addison and TC. Relegation at end of the season. Only three in the below photo played in the promotion clinching 3-0 win against Watford in May 1971

 

[Blade in Cordoba]

great read this

Remembering How The Birch's Career Began At Sheffield United

Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall, Leicester City's much-loved and admired Club Ambassador in fact began his professional career as a striker for Sheffield United, who visit King Power Stadium on Thursday (6pm BST kick-off).

www.lcfc.com

Well before my time, but a cracking read. Thanks for posting. As an aside, why do those players from that era look middle aged?!

 

[oldblade]

Great memories of Jones and Birchenall from that era, a force to be reckoned with. I was gutted when they were both sold thus setting me up for a future as a Blades supporter.

The season before being sold Jones and Birchenall scored 25 league goals between them out of a total of 52. Very nearly half of our goals.

But surprisingly we only scored 3 fewer goals during the following (relegation) season. Myth has it our relegation was totally down to losing those two players (and consequently their goals), when in reality it was probably more down to the fact that we were having greater difficulty at the other end of the pitch! That and the inexplicable collapse after the very creditable win at Anfield.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Before my time but heard how good they were , what type of player were they both , anyone you’d compare them to ?

 

[1066blade]

I remember "Sherman", but where did that nickname come from? He wasn't exactly built like a tank.

 

[Silent Blade]

Before my time but heard how good they were , what type of player were they both , anyone you’d compare them to ?

My dad said Jones was a lot better

 

[Alf Tuppers Shorts]

I remember "Sherman", but where did that nickname come from? He wasn't exactly built like a tank.

Just going to ask the same? . Always remember him been called Sherman. Sure there was a song something like Sherman oooooh Sherman. Probably wrong. Another birthday just ticked by.

 

[Blade_In_Sydney]

My dad said Jones was a lot better

And Dad was right. Great picture, which also goes to show how much smaller the squad was then.

 

[Silent Blade]

And Dad was right. Great picture, which also goes to show how much smaller the squad was then.

Bill Punton was in the squad too but he missed the photo call because he was still living in Norwich and training with NCFC

 

[10-0 win]

more great stories from Birch ........

Former Player Remembers: Alan Birchenall

On Sunday, Club Ambassador Alan Birchenall, (MBE, Honorary Doctor of Law and Freeman of the City of Leicester) will embark on his 35th Annual Charity Run before the match against Queens Park Rangers.

www.lcfc.com

 

[oldblade]

My dad said Jones was a lot better

I think your dad was right. But for a while Birchenall just couldn't stop scoring against Wednesday, which cements his place in our folklore.

 

[Silent Blade]

I think your dad was right. But for a while Birchenall just couldn't stop scoring against Wednesday, which cements his place in our folklore.

6 goals in 4 games against them in 1964-65 and 1965-66

 

[oldblade]

6 goals in 4 games against them in 1964-65 and 1965-66

Out of interest, do you know whether or not any other players for us have had such a good goals per game ratio against them?

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I always wonder what could have been with that early 70s team if they'd have kept Birchenall and Jones and had more luck on the injury front with Powell and McAllister.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Great memories of Jones and Birchenall from that era, a force to be reckoned with. I was gutted when they were both sold thus setting me up for a future as a Blades supporter.

They were only young and selling them one after the other cost us our place at the top table. Relegation followed at the end of the season.
John Harris must have been frustrated we had a good young team in the making ,selling them two left us short of goals.
We brought in a midget from Carlisle! although a good player he wasnt a striker
Ironically TC came into the team in the run in but we couldnt stop the tide .
The team was broken up after relegation, it took us 3 years to re-build and bounce back.

 

[Silent Blade]

Out of interest, do you know whether or not any other players for us have had such a good goals per game ratio against them?

Will check later. Birch didnt score in his next 3 games against them.

 

[oldblade]

They were only young and selling them one after the other cost us our place at the top table. Relegation followed at the end of the season.
John Harris must have been frustrated we had a good young team in the making ,selling them two left us short of goals.
We brought in a midget from Carlisle! although a good player he wasnt a striker
Ironically TC came into the team in the run in but we couldnt stop the tide .
The team was broken up after relegation, it took us 3 years to re-build and bounce back.

We only scored 3 fewer goals than the previous season. Goal scoring wasn't the main problem that relegated us.

 

[Silent Blade]

I always wonder what could have been with that early 70s team if they'd have kept Birchenall and Jones and had more luck on the injury front with Powell and McAllister.

Yes, but Rowley brought in Colquhoun, Hemsley, Powell and Tudor.

 

[itsinyerblood]

My dad said Jones was a lot better

Of the two, Jones was definitely more of a threat. Brave to a fault, would take no prisoners, and always gave everything he had. Thing is, together they were a great team and it was a shame they didn't spend longer together as they were such a good fit. Birchenall had silkier skills, but he was equally brave but perhaps less of what you'd regard as an in your face type of player.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Of the two, Jones was definitely more of a threat. Brave to a fault, would take no prisoners, and always gave everything he had. Thing is, together they were a great team and it was a shame they didn't spend longer together as they were such a good fit. Birchenall had silkier skills, but he was equally brave but perhaps less of what you'd regard as an in your face type of player.

Birch (tank) was more of a poacher Jones learned a hell of a lot from doc Pace who was still around when Jones came through.
Pace only small for a centre forward but hard as nails.He had this knack of coming in late for corner kicks which made him hard to mark, Jones used this tactic well during his career.
Pace was a real gentleman off the pitch but a real warrior on it.
He died young ish really.Met him at the Blades revival inauguration at Nobles place in sheffield.He died suddenly not that long after.
A great guy !!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

The Birch is quite a character, he's certainly got the gift of the gab which suits him well in his club embassador role at LCFC.
A few seasons back, I was at the King Power in a long line queuing up for Leicester v Watford first leg play-off tickets and Birch was chatting, joking around and keeping the fans entertained. He should do stand-up!

 

[XM657]

Regards Jones and Birchenall, what has been said I would not argue with except that football is a team game and players of differing approach are what makes it tick. The differences between the 'Blonde Bombers' was what made them successful goal getters.
As to the relegation, many combined reasons non least that the squad was young and generally inexperienced despite as individuals they were all good players, was a shame we all never saw what might have been.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I liked Birch a lot . He and Mick Jones were a potent attacking force and complimented each other very well . Mick was a very down to earth character and a great centre forward whereas Birch , both on and off the pitch , was the more flamboyant of the two .

This is exemplified by the reference in the article to him having appeared on stage with Joe Cocker and this took place on many occasions and it was at the Penny Farthing disco , which was a fabulous scene in the mid to late 60's .

Joe appeared there on a fairly regular basis on a Thursday night and when he did , I would be there and so would Birch . He was always dressed in a cream suit ( I know , but it was the 60's ) and would always get up on stage and sing the same song which was " Walkin' the Dog " , a song by the R and B artist Rufus Thomas which was covered by the Stones .

On all of these occasions he would still be there when I left around 1:30 and be seriously pissed with a bright red face and rolling eyes . This was around 36 hours before he was due to turn out for us on Saturday .

Yer just can't beat dem good old days .

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I liked Birch a lot . He and Mick Jones were a potent attacking force and complimented each other very well . Mick was a very down to earth character and a great centre forward whereas Birch , both on and off the pitch , was the more flamboyant of the two .

This is exemplified by the reference in the article to him having appeared on stage with Joe Cocker and this took place on many occasions and it was at the Penny Farthing disco , which was a fabulous scene in the mid to late 60's .

Joe appeared there on a fairly regular basis on a Thursday night and when he did , I would be there and so would Birch . He was always dressed in a cream suit ( I know , but it was the 60's ) and would always get up on stage and sing the same song which was " Walkin' the Dog " , a song by the R and B artist Rufus Thomas which was covered by the Stones .

On all of these occasions he would still be there when I left around 1:30 and be seriously pissed with a bright red face and rolling eyes . This was around 36 hours before he was due to turn out for us on Saturday .

Yer just can't beat dem good old days .

Happy days mate, very happy days....

 

[finlaytheblade]

I liked Birch a lot . He and Mick Jones were a potent attacking force and complimented each other very well . Mick was a very down to earth character and a great centre forward whereas Birch , both on and off the pitch , was the more flamboyant of the two .

This is exemplified by the reference in the article to him having appeared on stage with Joe Cocker and this took place on many occasions and it was at the Penny Farthing disco , which was a fabulous scene in the mid to late 60's .

Joe appeared there on a fairly regular basis on a Thursday night and when he did , I would be there and so would Birch . He was always dressed in a cream suit ( I know , but it was the 60's ) and would always get up on stage and sing the same song which was " Walkin' the Dog " , a song by the R and B artist Rufus Thomas which was covered by the Stones .

On all of these occasions he would still be there when I left around 1:30 and be seriously pissed with a bright red face and rolling eyes . This was around 36 hours before he was due to turn out for us on Saturday .

Yer just can't beat dem good old days .

I wonder what John Harris really thought about pro- footballers he was tea total and
booze was a thing amongst players in those days.Having said that the real icons Jimmy Hagan , Stan Matthew's etc were very disciplined in there private lives.

 

[XM657]

I liked Birch a lot . He and Mick Jones were a potent attacking force and complimented each other very well . Mick was a very down to earth character and a great centre forward whereas Birch , both on and off the pitch , was the more flamboyant of the two .

This is exemplified by the reference in the article to him having appeared on stage with Joe Cocker and this took place on many occasions and it was at the Penny Farthing disco , which was a fabulous scene in the mid to late 60's .

Joe appeared there on a fairly regular basis on a Thursday night and when he did , I would be there and so would Birch . He was always dressed in a cream suit ( I know , but it was the 60's ) and would always get up on stage and sing the same song which was " Walkin' the Dog " , a song by the R and B artist Rufus Thomas which was covered by the Stones .

On all of these occasions he would still be there when I left around 1:30 and be seriously pissed with a bright red face and rolling eyes . This was around 36 hours before he was due to turn out for us on Saturday .

Yer just can't beat dem good old days .

Marvellous story, these are what makes this board so interesting.
I had read at sometime he had a decent voice and had sung professionally but whether that is true, I don't know.
ISJS I owe you an apology, my post #18460 page 924 in Old Photos I realise now, although for everyone, was mainly directed at you after remembering your stories of JC's early career. Old fart covering his arse.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Marvellous story, these are what makes this board so interesting.
I had read at sometime he had a decent voice and had sung professionally but whether that is true, I don't know.
ISJS I owe you an apology, my post #18460 page 924 in Old Photos I realise now, although for everyone, was mainly directed at you after remembering your stories of JC's early career. Old fart covering his arse.

OLD BLOKE HAS SLIGHT MEMORY LAPSE SHOCKER !!!

No problems XM and thanks for the great photo and your many other excellent posts .