Billy Birrell

Not to be confused with Willie Birrell.

William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.

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)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1914–1915	Inverkeithing United
1915–1921	Raith Rovers	77	(19)
0000–1920	→ 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

Career

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 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

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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	036.59	[11]
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	August 1930	May 1935	220	67	56	97	030.45	[12]
Queens Park Rangers	May 1935	April 1939	184	85	42	57	046.20	[12]
Chelsea	April 1939	April 1952	285	96	74	115	033.68	[12]
Total			812	293	196	323	036.08	—

Honours

As a player

Middlesbrough

• Football League Second Division: 1926–27^[5]

As a manager

Chelsea

• Football League South War Cup: 1943–44, 1944–45^[7]