The Alan Birchenall Appreciation Thread

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Obviously most people on this forum are too young to see the Birch play and may not realise what a good midfielder he was.

Birch came to us as a centreforward (they used that word then). He was good but not great - strong, intelligent, good in the air and full of running. If he was around these days he would have got into a struggling Prem side. Since Leicester had two excellent wingers in Weller and Glover the opportunities were there for a striker who had a better first touch and instrinct for goal. Frankie Wortho was brought in and was good enough that today (like Weller) he would be with one of the top four clubs.

Rather than discard Birchenall Jimmy Bloomfield moved him into midfield where he paired with Jon Sammels. Of the two I preferred Birch who was more combative and did not give the ball away - Sammels was very stylish and very ambitious with his passing too often trying the defence splitting ball that went straight to the opposition. (Having said that what we would have given for a Sammels in the last few years).

Birch arrived in 1971 and immediately established himself as a cheerful chafracter. Little did we think that forty years later he would still be with the club and that his cheerfulness would prevent him showing the slightest sign of grey hair.
 
Birch arrived in 1971 and immediately established himself as a cheerful chafracter. Little did we think that forty years later he would still be with the club and that his cheerfulness would prevent him showing the slightest sign of grey hair.

They ought to bottle up Birchy's 'cheerfulness' and sell it for other men to prevent their hair going grey. Only for men though, mind. They should call it Just For Men.
They could sell it in the MegaStore, or perhaps in your local pharmacy.
 
Obviously most people on this forum are too young to see the Birch play and may not realise what a good midfielder he was.

Birch came to us as a centreforward (they used that word then). He was good but not great - strong, intelligent, good in the air and full of running. If he was around these days he would have got into a struggling Prem side. Since Leicester had two excellent wingers in Weller and Glover the opportunities were there for a striker who had a better first touch and instrinct for goal. Frankie Wortho was brought in and was good enough that today (like Weller) he would be with one of the top four clubs.

Rather than discard Birchenall Jimmy Bloomfield moved him into midfield where he paired with Jon Sammels. Of the two I preferred Birch who was more combative and did not give the ball away - Sammels was very stylish and very ambitious with his passing too often trying the defence splitting ball that went straight to the opposition. (Having said that what we would have given for a Sammels in the last few years).

Birch arrived in 1971 and immediately established himself as a cheerful chafracter. Little did we think that forty years later he would still be with the club and that his cheerfulness would prevent him showing the slightest sign of grey hair.

I started going down to Filbert St in the 69/70 season and remember the Birch playing for us in a team just missing 3 or 4 players from being really good.


Some people may make fun of him, but I don't think there are too many people that love the club more than him and he has always put the effort in to help charities in the community.

When my Father in Law had his ashes scattered in the rememberance garden, the Birch was there through the whole thing and was great with the family. Some people may find some of the things he says/does pretty cringeworthy, but I don't have a bad word to say about him.
 
Not that season he didn't!

I know - Just saying that I started going down in plenty of time to have seen the Birch (as an old fart)!

It was in the time of Frank O'Farrell, before the Bloomfield era that I started to go down and watch the first team
 
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