Billy Birrell

Billy Birrell
Personal information
Full name	William Birrell
Date of birth	13 March 1897
Place of birth	Cellardyke, Scotland
Date of death	29 November 1968 (aged 71)
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team
1914–1915	Inverkeithing United
1915–1921	Raith Rovers
0000–1920	→ Kirkcaldy United (guest)
1921–1927	Middlesbrough
1927–1930	Raith Rovers
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. He also made over 120 appearances in the Scottish League for Raith Rovers. 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.

On 19 April 1939, he was appointed the new Chelsea manager. The Second World War forced the Football League to be abandoned less than half a year following Birrell's appointment. During wartime, he led Chelsea to two consecutive Football League War Cup South Final at Wembley, winning the cup in 1945.

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. 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.

Personal life

Birrell's brother Bob was also a footballer.

Career statistics

Player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Raith Rovers	1915–16	Scottish Division One	13	5	—		13	5
	1916–17		1	0	—		1	0
	1919–20		35	7	6	2	41	9
	1920–21		28	7	1	0	29	7
	Total		77	19	7	2	84	21
Middlesbrough	1920–21	First Division	14	2	—		14	2
	1921–22		35	9	1	0	36	9
	1922–23		38	9	3	1	41	10
	1923–24		21	2	0	0	21	2
	1924–25	Second Division	27	3	1	0	28	3
	1925–26		42	18	2	1	44	19
	1926–27		41	16	3	2	44	18
	1927–28	First Division	7	1	0	0	7	1
	Total		225	59	10	4	235	63
Raith Rovers	1926–27	Scottish Division One	15	4	3	1	18	5
	1929–30	Scottish Division Two	20	12	2	1	22	13
	1930–31	Scottish Division Two	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
Team	From	To	G	W	D	L	Win %	Ref
Raith Rovers (player-manager)	1927	1930	123	45	24	54	036.59
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	August 1930	May 1935	220	67	56	97	030.45
Queens Park Rangers	May 1935	April 1939	184	85	42	57	046.20
Chelsea	April 1939	April 1952	285	96	74	115	033.68
Total			812	293	196	323	036.08	—

Honours

As a player

Middlesbrough

Football League Second Division: 1926–27

As a manager

Chelsea

Football League South War Cup: 1943–44, 1944–45

References

Matthews, Tony (2005). Who's Who of Chelsea. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-84596-010-6.
Mears, Brian (2004). Chelsea: A 100-year History. Mainstream Sport. ISBN 1-84018-823-5.

External links

Billy Birrell management career statistics at Soccerbase
Billy Birrell at chelseafc.com

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