Adam Birchall

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Adam Birchall

| image = AdamBirchall2.jpg

| caption = Birchall with Gillingham in 2011

| fullname = Adam Stephen Birchall{{cite book

| editor-first = Barry J.

| editor-last = Hugman

| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10

| year = 2009

| publisher = Mainstream Publishing

| location = Edinburgh

| isbn = 978-1-84596-474-0

| page = 47 }}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|12|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maidstone, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}

| position = Striker / Attacking midfielder

| currentclub = Arsenal (U18 Head Coach)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1994–2003

| youthclubs1 = Arsenal

| years1 = 2003–2005

| clubs1 = Arsenal

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2004

| clubs2 = → Wycombe Wanderers (loan)

| caps2 = 12

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2005–2007

| clubs3 = Mansfield Town

| caps3 = 36

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2006–2007

| clubs4 = → Barnet (loan)

| caps4 = 7

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2007–2009

| clubs5 = Barnet

| caps5 = 97

| goals5 = 17

| years6 = 2009–2011

| clubs6 = Dover Athletic

| caps6 = 76

| goals6 = 49

| years7 = 2011–2014

| clubs7 = Gillingham

| caps7 = 17

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2012

| clubs8 = → Dartford (loan)

| caps8 = 6

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2013

| clubs9 = → Dartford (loan)

| caps9 = 23

| goals9 = 2

| years10 = 2014–2016

| clubs10 = Bromley

| caps10 = 25

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2015–2016

| clubs11 = → Maidstone United (loan)

| caps11 = 16

| goals11 = 1

| totalcaps = 315

| totalgoals = 79

| nationalyears1 = 2002–2006

| nationalteam1 = Wales U21

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| manageryears1 = 2022–2024

| managerclubs1 = Arsenal U17

| manageryears2 = 2024–

| managerclubs2 = Arsenal U18

| club-update =

| ntupdate =

| alt = Adam Birchall in full Arsenal training gear at London Colney

}}

Adam Stephen Birchall (born 2 December 1984) is a retired footballer who played as a forward and is the current head coach of the Arsenal Under-18s.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/academy/staff/adam-birchall|title=Adam Birchall-Staff-Under 23|date=14 October 2018|access-date=14 October 2018|publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}

Despite being born in England he has several caps for the Welsh under-21 team, scoring on his debut against the Finland under 21s.

Career

Born in Maidstone, Kent, Birchall began his career at Arsenal, but never made it to the first-team. In the 2004–05 season, Birchall had a successful loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers, scoring four goals in twelve league games. He was released by Arsenal at the end of that season, and joined Mansfield Town in June 2005 on a two-year contract.

The move to Mansfield was something of a disappointment for Birchall. Big things were expected from the youngster, but despite occasional flashes of brilliance, he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only three goals and spending most of his time at Mansfield playing on the right of midfield. He did, however, score in Mansfield's nationally televised FA Cup victory against Grays Athletic on his 21st birthday.

On 23 November 2006, Birchall was loaned to divisional rivals Barnet, where he was a hit, scoring the first goal in their 4–1 thrashing of Northampton Town in the FA Cup. A move was made permanent on 4 January 2007. During his time at Barnet, Birchall is credited with the idea for a now widely used scheme whereby only the team captain can question referees' decisions, to reduce dissent and the yellow cards that follow.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/barnet-lead-the-way-in-war-on-abusing-referees-395888.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109235006/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/barnet-lead-the-way-in-war-on-abusing-referees-395888.html |archive-date=2012-11-09 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Barnet lead the way in war on abusing referees|date=4 October 2007|access-date=28 November 2010|work=The Independent}} Since the beginning of the 2007–08 season, when the rule was introduced, the club's disciplinary record has significantly improved, and the club has earned praise throughout the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.barnetfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~1227478,00.html |title=Sir Trevor Praises Bees |date=29 January 2008 |access-date=30 January 2008 |work=Barnet F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201130615/http://www.barnetfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10431~1227478%2C00.html |archive-date=1 February 2008 |url-status=live }} After finishing as the top goalscorer for Barnet in the 2007–08 season with 15 goals, Birchall struggled for form in 2009 and was released in May after scoring only two league goals in the 2008–09 season.

Birchall signed for Conference South side Dover Athletic in July 2009.{{cite web|url=http://doverathletic.com/index.php?p=news&id=1340|title=Birchall signs|date=13 July 2009|access-date=13 July 2009|work=Dover Athletic F.C.}} Birchall made his league debut for Dover in the first game of the season against Maidenhead United, before scoring his first league goal for the club in the following fixture against Bishop's Stortford. Birchall scored both goals against Aldershot Town to take Dover to the FA Cup 3rd Round for the first time in their history. Birchall became the club's goalscoring record holder, and the Conference South record holder, at the end of the 2010–11 season with a total of 45 goals in 49 appearances. He also was the top goal scorer in the FA Cup that year and went on to receive the award at Wembley. Birchall again attracted interest from clubs higher up the football pyramid and in July 2011 Dover Athletic received substantial undisclosed bids from League Two sides Swindon Town, newcomers AFC Wimbledon, and local rivals Gillingham,{{cite web | url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_7030796,00.html | title=Dover accept Birchall bids | publisher=Sky Sports | date=10 July 2011 }} for whom he signed a three-year deal on 12 July 2011.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14124899.stm|title=Dover Athletic's Adam Birchall joins Gillingham|date=12 July 2011|publisher=BBC News|access-date=8 August 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716095654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14124899.stm| archive-date= 16 July 2011 | url-status= live}} He was seriously injured during a pre-season friendly, however, and missed the entire 2011–12 season.

Birchall finally made his competitive debut for Gillingham on 14 August 2012, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 away win against Bristol City in the League Cup.{{cite news|title=Bristol City 1–2 Gillingham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19159754|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 August 2012}} He scored his first goal for the Gills in their 4–0 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe United on 3 November, but after playing only 21 games in 2 seasons he was released by the club at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/gillingham-fc-announce-retained-list-may-15-1553437.aspx|title=Gillingham FC announce retained list|date=15 May 2014|access-date=15 May 2014|publisher=Gillingham F.C.}}

Soon after, Birchall signed for Bromley. He scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Uxbridge in the FA Cup. His first league goal for the club was a 90th-minute winner against Bishop's Stortford on 9 December.

Coaching career

In July 2016 Birchall returned to his former club Arsenal as a youth coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/academy/coaching-staff/adam-birchall|title=Adam Birchall|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|access-date=11 August 2017}} He became under-17s head coach in 2022 having previously been with the age-group below, as well as becoming assistant head coach for the under-18s to newly appointed Jack Wilshere.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/ali-and-wilshere-handed-academy-head-coach-roles|title=Ali and Wilshere handed academy Head Coach roles|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=11 July 2022|accessdate=12 July 2022}} Two years later, he was appointed under-18s head coach after the departure of Wilshere.{{cite web|URL=https://www.arsenal.com/news/adam-birchall-takes-over-under-18s-head-coach|title=Adam Birchall takes over as Under-18s head coach|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|date=23 October 2024|accessdate=23 October 2024}}

Personal life

In July 2011 Birchall became engaged to Lianne, and the couple's first child was due to be born in October that same year.{{citation|title=I'm Forever in Debt to Dover|work=The Non-League Paper|date=17 July 2011|page=4}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Club statistics
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="1"\|Wycombe Wanderers (loan) \|2004–05{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2004\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|12	4	0	0	1	0	2Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy	1	15	5
rowspan="3"\|Mansfield Town \|2005–06{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2005\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|31	2	3	1	2	0	1	0	37	3
2006–07{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2006\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
colspan="2"\|Total !36	2	3	1	2	0	1	0	42	3
rowspan="4"\|Barnet \|2006–07 \|League Two \|23	6	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	26	7
2007–08{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2007\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|42	11	6	2	1	1	1	1	50	15
2008–09{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2008\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|39	2	2	0	1	0	1	2	43	4
colspan="2"\|Total !104	19	11	3	2	1	2	3	119	26
rowspan="3"\|Dover Athletic \|2009–10{{cite web \| title = Fixtures and Results: 2009/2010 \| url = http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php?p=fixturesandresults&startdate=2009-07-01&enddate=2010-06-01 \| publisher = Dover Athletic F.C \| access-date = 3 June 2015}} \|Conference South \|34	15	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	6Four appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, two appearances in Conference South play-offs	2	43	18
2010–11{{Cite web \| title = Fixtures and Results: 2010/2011 \| url = http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php?p=fixturesandresults&startdate=2010-07-01&enddate=2011-06-01 \| publisher = Dover Athletic F.C \| access-date = 3 June 2015}} \|Conference South \|42	34	7	11	colspan="2"\|—	1Appearance(s) in FA Trophy	0	50	45
colspan="2"\|Total !76	49	10	12	colspan="2"\|—	7	2	93	63
rowspan="4"\|Gillingham \|2011–12{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2011\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=12 July 2022}} \|League Two \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012–13{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2012\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League Two \|15	0	2	1	1	0	1	0	19	1
2013–14{{Soccerbase season\|39237\|2013\|name=Adam Birchall\|accessdate=24 September 2013}} \|League One \|2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
colspan="2"\|Total !17	0	2	1	1	0	1	0	21	1
rowspan="3"\|Dartford (loan) \|2012–13{{cite web \| title = A. Birchall \| url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/adam-birchall/50380/ \| publisher = Soccerway \| access-date = 3 June 2015}} \|Conference Premier \|6	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	6	1
2013–14 \|Conference Premier \|23	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	25	2
colspan="2"\|Total !29	3	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	31	3
rowspan="1"\|Bromley \|2014–15 \|Conference South \|25	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	27	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !299	78	26	17	6	1	17	6	348	102