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(1968-11-29) (aged 71)[2]
Height
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years
Team
Apps
(Gls)
1914–1915
1915–1921
77
(19)
0000–1920
→ Kirkcaldy United (guest)
1921–1927
225
(59)
1927–1930
51
(22)
Managerial career
1927–1930
Raith Rovers (player-manager)
1930–1935
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
1935–1939
1939–1952
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.
Birrell made over 220 appearances as a forward in the Football League for Middlesbrough.[1] He also made over 120 appearances in the Scottish League for Raith Rovers.[4] He began his career in management while a player at Raith Rovers and after his retirement, he managed Football League clubs Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Queens Park Rangers.[5][6]
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 FinalatWembley, 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]
Birrell's brother Bob was also a footballer.[5]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club
Season
League
National Cup
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
13
5
—
13
5
1
0
—
1
0
35
7
6
2
41
9
28
7
1
0
29
7
Total
77
19
7
2
84
21
14
2
—
14
2
35
9
1
0
36
9
38
9
3
1
41
10
21
2
0
0
21
2
27
3
1
0
28
3
42
18
2
1
44
19
41
16
3
2
44
18
First Division
7
1
0
0
7
1
Total
225
59
10
4
235
63
Raith Rovers
Scottish Division One
15
4
3
1
18
5
20
12
2
1
22
13
16
6
0
0
16
6
Total
128
41
12
14
140
55
Career total
353
100
22
18
375
118
Team
From
To
Record
Ref
G
W
D
L
Win %
Raith Rovers (player-manager)
1927
1930
123
45
24
54
036.59
August 1930
May 1935
220
67
56
97
030.45
May 1935
April 1939
184
85
42
57
046.20
April 1939
April 1952
285
96
74
115
033.68
Total
812
293
196
323
036.08
—
Middlesbrough
Chelsea
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