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.[2] He played as a full back.

Joe Birch
Personal information
Full name Joseph Birch
Date of birth (1904-07-06)6 July 1904
Place of birth Hednesford, England
Date of death 4 December 1980(1980-12-04) (aged 76)
Place of death Colchester, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
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
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Birch was born in Hednesford, Staffordshire. He played non-league football for Cannock Town and Hednesford Town before joining Birmingham in 1928.[3] 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.[4] 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,[3] and in seven seasons with the club he played 185 league games.[2] They awarded him a benefit match against fellow west London club Queens Park Rangers in 1937.[5] He finished off his career with Colchester United, with whom he won the championship of the Southern League in the 1938–39 season.[3]

Birch died in Colchester, Essex, in 1980 at the age of 76.[3]

Honours

Fulham

Colchester United

References
  1. "Hopes of a brighter Birmingham". Birmingham Gazette. 16 August 1928. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. Matthews, pp. 24, 171.
  5. "Football Programmes & Memorabilia". Lockdales. 18 November 2007. Lot 2175. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008.


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