Len Birks

Leonard Birks (6 October 1896 – 22 March 1975) was an English footballer who played as a defender. Born in Fenton, Staffordshire he started his career with Port Vale before spending seven years at Sheffield United. After leaving Bramall Lane he played for Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City and Yeovil & Petters United, as well as having a spell as first-team coach at Bristol City.

Len Birks
Birks in a Port Vale squad photo in 1923
Personal information
Full name Leonard Birks[1]
Date of birth (1896-10-06)6 October 1896
Place of birth Fenton, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death 22 March 1975(1975-03-22) (aged 78)[1]
Place of death Shirehampton, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Butt Lane Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1920–1924 Port Vale 101 (0)
1924–1931 Sheffield United 195 (0)
1931–1933 Plymouth Argyle 49 (0)
1933–1934 Bristol City 30 (0)
1934–1935 Yeovil & Petters United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Birks joined Port Vale from Butt Lane Star in May 1920.[1] He made his Second Division debut in 1920–21, but remained a fringe player in 1921–22, despite lifting the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup in 1922.[1] However, he missed just one game of the 1922–23 campaign, and was an ever-present in 1923–24.[1] He retained his first team place in the highly successful 1924–25 season, but with dependable young left-back Jimmy Oakes waiting in the reserves to take his place, manager Joe Schofield decided to cash in on Birks.[1]

He was sold to Sheffield United for 'a substantial sum' in October 1924 as the Blades sought a replacement for regular left back Ernest Milton.[3] Birks initially failed to settle at Bramall Lane however and missed out on a place in the 1925 FA Cup Final with the ageing Milton being preferred.[3] Never a fully established first team player, Birks did give good service to the Blades during his time playing over 200 games in all competitions.[3]

After leaving United in February 1931, Birks joined up with Plymouth Argyle. Competing with former England international Fred Titmuss for the left-back position, he made 49 league and cup appearances, before departing Home Park for Bristol City in April 1933.[4] He later played non-League football for Yeovil & Petters United, before returning to Bristol to work as first-team coach.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1920–21 Second Division 100010
1921–22 Second Division 600060
1922–23 Second Division 41000410
1923–24 Second Division 42010430
1924–25 Second Division 11000110
Total 1010101020
Sheffield United 1924–25 First Division 21010220
1925–26 First Division 24020260
1926–27 First Division 30010310
1927–28 First Division 41080490
1928–29 First Division 33010340
1929–30 First Division 41020430
1930–31 First Division 501060
Total 19501602110
Plymouth Argyle 1930–31 Second Division 12000120
1931–32 Second Division 31000310
1932–33 Second Division 601070
Total 49010500
Bristol City 1933–34 Third Division South 30040340
Career total 37502203970

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "The lure of promotion. Port Vale". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  3. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  4. "Profile". greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. Len Birks at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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