Joseph Birds

Joseph Birds (29 October 1887 – 28 April 1966) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Despite not being particularly tall for his position, he was described as extremely agile and a good shot-stopper.[3] He started his career in non-league football with Hazel Grove before moving to Football League Second Division side Stockport County in 1910.[2] He moved to Macclesfield in 1913 and made 55 appearances prior to the outbreak of the First World War.[2] During the conflict, Birds played as a wartime guest for Manchester City.[3] After the war, he made a further 23 appearances for Stockport before moving to Third Division North outfit Nelson in the summer of 1922.[3][4]

Joseph Birds
Personal information
Full name Joseph Birds[1]
Date of birth (1887-10-29)29 October 1887
Place of birth Youlgreave, England
Date of death 28 April 1966(1966-04-28) (aged 78)[2]
Place of death Stockport, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1909–1910 Hazel Grove
1910–1913 Stockport County 15 (0)
1913–1915 Macclesfield 47 (0)
1915–1922 Stockport County 22 (0)
1922–1924 Nelson 40 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Birds made his debut for Nelson on 26 August 1922 in the 2–6 defeat away to Bradford Park Avenue. The team conceded only 10 goals at home in the league all season as they achieved promotion to the Second Division in 1922–23.[5] In a higher league, Birds found first team opportunities limited, playing four times at the start of the 1923–24 campaign before being replaced by former Portsmouth goalkeeper Harry Abbott. Birds left Nelson in the summer of 1924 and subsequently retired from professional football.[3]

Personal life

Birds was married and served as an acting corporal in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War.[6][7] His brother Walter was killed in action in France in June 1917.[8]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (16 October 2012). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939 (3rd Revised ed.). Tony Brown. p. 27. ISBN 9781905891610.
  2. "Player Profiles – B". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  3. Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League: A Complete Record 1921–31. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  4. Watts, Ian. "Joseph Birds County Record". gogogocounty.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. Robinson, Michael, ed. (2006). Football League Tables 1888–2006. Soccer Books. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-86223-143-6.
  6. "Joseph Birds | Service Record | Football and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  7. Joseph Birds on Lives of the First World War
  8. "Casualty Details: Walter Birds". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
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