Billy Birrell
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Birrell[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 March 1897 | ||
| Place of birth | Cellardyke, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 29 November 1968 (aged 71)[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1914–1915 | Inverkeithing United | ||
| 1915–1921 | Raith Rovers | 77 | (19) |
| –1920 | → Kirkcaldy United (guest) | ||
| 1921–1927 | Middlesbrough | 225 | (59) |
| 1927–1930 | Raith Rovers | 51 | (22) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1927–1930 | Raith Rovers (player-manager) | ||
| 1930–1935 |
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | ||
| 1935–1939 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
| 1939–1952 | Chelsea | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.
Career
Birrell made over 220 appearances as a
On 19 April 1939, he was appointed the new Chelsea manager.[6] The Second World War forced the Football League to be abandoned less than half a year following Birrell's appointment.[7] During wartime, he led Chelsea to two consecutive Football League War Cup South Final at Wembley, winning the cup in 1945.[7]
In wartime, Birrell developed the idea of a youth team for Chelsea, and on 25 May 1940, the Chelsea Junior team, a team which included future England manager Ron Greenwood, played their first match against Queens Park Rangers.[8] Birrell's plan was fully implemented after the war, with the sponsorship of The Tudor Rose Boys' Club, allowing them to run four teams in the Harrow and Wembley League.[9]
Personal life
Birrell's brother Bob was also a footballer.[5]
Career statistics
Player
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Raith Rovers | 1915–16[4]
|
Scottish Division One
|
13 | 5 | — | 13 | 5 | |
1916–17[4]
|
1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
1919–20[4]
|
35 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 9 | ||
1920–21[4]
|
28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 7 | ||
| Total | 77 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 84 | 21 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 1920–21[10]
|
First Division | 14 | 2 | — | 14 | 2 | |
1921–22[10]
|
35 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 9 | ||
1922–23[10]
|
38 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 10 | ||
1923–24[10]
|
21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 | ||
1924–25[10]
|
Second Division | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
1925–26[10]
|
42 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 19 | ||
1926–27[10]
|
41 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 18 | ||
1927–28[10]
|
First Division | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 225 | 59 | 10 | 4 | 235 | 63 | ||
| Raith Rovers | 1926–27[4] | Scottish Division One | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| 1929–30[4] | Scottish Division Two
|
20 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 13 | |
| 1930–31[4] | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | ||
| Total | 128 | 41 | 12 | 14 | 140 | 55 | ||
| Career total | 353 | 100 | 22 | 18 | 375 | 118 | ||
Manager
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Raith Rovers (player-manager) | 1927 | 1930 | 123 | 45 | 24 | 54 | 36.59 | [11] |
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
|
August 1930 | May 1935 | 220 | 67 | 56 | 97 | 30.45 | [12] |
| Queens Park Rangers | May 1935 | April 1939 | 184 | 85 | 42 | 57 | 46.20 | [12] |
| Chelsea | April 1939 | April 1952 | 285 | 96 | 74 | 115 | 33.68 | [12] |
| Total | 812 | 293 | 196 | 323 | 36.08 | — | ||
Honours
As a player
Middlesbrough
- 1926–27[5]
As a manager
Chelsea
- Football League South War Cup: 1943–44, 1944–45[7]
References
- Matthews, Tony (2005). Who's Who of Chelsea. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-84596-010-6.
- Mears, Brian (2004). Chelsea: A 100-year History. Mainstream Sport. ISBN 1-84018-823-5.
- ^ ISBN 9781905891610.
- ^ "Billy Birrell | Chelsea Manager". Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ Vulcan (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Middlesbrough". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- ^ a b c "Birrell Billy Middlesbrough 1926". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Billy Birrell". Official Site | Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "Chelsea in the Second World War". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Long Read: Future Blues – a history of the founding of Chelsea Juniors". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Birrell's Babes – a history of the founding of Chelsea Juniors – part two". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Billy Birrell". 11v11.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "Raith Rovers Manager Billy Birrell Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Billy Birrell management career statistics at Soccerbase
External links
- Billy Birrell management career statistics at Soccerbase
- Billy Birrell at chelseafc.com
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