Alan Birchenall

{{Infobox football biography

| image = Alan Birchenall on Leicester City open top bus tour 2024.jpg

| name= Alan Birchenall
{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}

| fullname = Alan John Birchenall

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1945|8|22}}

| birth_place = East Ham, England

| position = Attacking midfielder

| height =

| youthyears1 =

| youthyears2 =

| youthyears3 =

| youthyears4 = 1963–1964

| youthclubs1 = Notts County

| youthclubs2 = Bulwell Forest Villa

| youthclubs3 = Thorneywood Athletic

| youthclubs4 = Sheffield United

| years1 = 1963–1967

| years2 = 1967–1970

| years3 = 1970–1971

| years4 = 1971–1977

| years5 = 1976

| years6 = 1977

| years7 = 1977–1978

| years8 = 1978

| years9 = 1978–1979

| years10 = 1979

| years11 = 1979–1980

| years12 = 1980–1983

| clubs1 = Sheffield United

| clubs2 = Chelsea

| clubs3 = Crystal Palace

| clubs4 = Leicester City

| clubs5 = → Notts County (loan)

| clubs6 = San Jose Earthquakes

| clubs7 = Notts County

| clubs8 = Memphis Rogues

| clubs9 = Blackburn Rovers

| clubs10 = Luton Town

| clubs11 = Hereford United

| clubs12 = Trowbridge Town

| caps1 = 107

| caps2 = 75

| caps3 = 41

| caps4 = 163

| caps5 = 5

| caps6 = 17

| caps7 = 28

| caps8 = 24

| caps9 = 18

| caps10 = 10

| caps11 = 11

| caps12 =

| goals1 = 31

| goals2 = 20

| goals3 = 11

| goals4 = 12

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 3

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 = 0

| goals11 = 0

| goals12 =

| totalcaps = 499

| totalgoals = 77

| nationalyears1 = 1966–1968

| nationalteam1 = England U23

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 1

}}

Alan John Birchenall, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}} (born 22 August 1945) is an English former footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s as a forward. Born in East Ham he made his Football League debut with Sheffield United and went on to have a varied career, spending time at Chelsea and Leicester City as well as playing in the NASL and representing England at Under-23 level.

Club career

=Sheffield United=

Birchenall's parents had moved from East Ham to Nottinghamshire when he was four,{{cite book |author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=53 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}} and he played in the local junior leagues for Thorneywood Boys where he was spotted by Sheffield United. Signed by then manager John Harris, Birchenall was a skilful attacking midfielder who initially played in the Blades youth and reserve team where he became a prolific goal scorer. He made his league debut a year after he was signed playing against Stoke City in September 1964.

Nicknamed The Birch, Birchenall soon cemented himself in the Blades first team, endearing himself to the fans by scoring both goals against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday in a 2–0 victory at Hillsborough in only his second game. Netting nine goals in his first twelve First Division games, he soon formed a formidable partnership with fellow striker Mick Jones whom he had played with as a Nottinghamshire schoolboy. In 1967 however, with United seeking to raise funds, both Birchenall and Jones were sold in quick succession with Birchenall being transferred to Chelsea. He left Bramall Lane having played over 120 games for the club, scoring 37 goals and having the 'distinction' of being the first Blades player ever to be substituted in a League game (against Fulham in September 1965).

=Chelsea and Crystal Palace=

Birchenall was among the first players to command a £100,000 price tag when he moved from Sheffield United to Chelsea in November 1967. He missed Chelsea's win in the 1970 FA Cup Final due to injury.{{cite news|title=Former Player Remembers: Alan Birchenall|url=http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/former-player-remembers-alan-birchenall-2462958.aspx|publisher=lcfc.com|date=15 March 2017}} After three years at Chelsea, he joined Crystal Palace, in June 1970,{{cite book|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989|author=Mike Purkiss & Nigel Sands|year=1990 |page=318|isbn=0907969542}} in another £100,000 deal and was the team's top scorer in his first season at Selhurst Park, with 10 goals from 36 appearances.{{cite book|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989|author=Mike Purkiss & Nigel Sands|year=1990 |page=235|isbn=0907969542}}

=Leicester City and the NASL=

Leicester City paid £80,000 for him in September 1971, and he remained with them until signing for Notts County in 1977. He later played for NASL sides the San Jose Earthquakes and the Memphis Rogues.

=Return to England=

He also spent brief spells with Blackburn Rovers, Luton Town, Hereford United and Trowbridge Town where he was player manager.

International career

Birchenall was capped four times for the England Under-23's with his appearances being spread between his time at Sheffield United and Chelsea.

Personal life and post playing career

Birchenall is currently club ambassador, which includes the role of pre-match and half-time host, at Leicester City. He also ran a footwear company and The Griffin Inn in Swithland in Charnwood, Leicestershire following his retirement from playing.

Birchenall is a patron of PROSTaid, a prostate cancer charity.{{cite web |url=http://www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk/News/tabid/65/EntryId/7/Prostate-cancer-charity-founder-wins-Leicestershire-First-Award.aspx |title=Leicestershire First > News - Prostate cancer charity founder wins Leicestershire First Award |accessdate=11 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118144637/http://www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk/News/tabid/65/EntryId/7/Prostate-cancer-charity-founder-wins-Leicestershire-First-Award.aspx |archivedate=18 November 2015 }}

=Awards=

In the 2003 New Year Honours, Birchenall was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for Charitable Services to the community in Leicestershire."{{London Gazette |issue=56797 |date=31 December 2002 |pages=14 |supp=y}} Leicester City Council announced in February 2009 that he was to be given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester alongside singer Engelbert Humperdinck and author Sue Townsend.{{cite news| title=City honours three of its finest 'ambassadors'| url=http://www.leicester.gov.uk/newssite/index01.asp?pgid=9104| publisher=Leicester City Council| date=25 February 2009| accessdate=26 February 2009| archive-date=11 January 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111073958/http://www.leicester.gov.uk/newssite/index01.asp?pgid=9104| url-status=dead}} Two years later in July 2011 he received an honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Leicester.{{cite web|url=http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2011-archive/july/honorary-graduates-2011-no.5-alan-the-birch-birchenall|title=Honorary Graduates 2011 no.5 – Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall|publisher=Leicester University|date=13 July 2011|accessdate=13 July 2011}}