DennisNedry Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Can someone explain how and why the Birch fell in love with the club? Born in London. Youth career at Sheffield United. A fairly modest 163 appearances for the club (less than Drinky, Wes, Kasper etc) Any older fans shed any light why he became club ambassador etc?
smr Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 At 32 I wouldn't say I'm an older fan, certainly didn't see him play but I do know he's got a pub in Rothley which isn't mentioned on his wiki page but on there it also states that he ran a pub in Swithland so he obviously settled in Leicestershire, he must have just fell in love with the club cos it's bloody fantastic.
promised land Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 At 32 I wouldn't say I'm an older fan, certainly didn't see him play but I do know he's got a pub in Rothley which isn't mentioned on his wiki page but on there it also states that he ran a pub in Swithland so he obviously settled in Leicestershire, he must have just fell in love with the club cos it's bloody fantastic. You sure he's got a pub in rothley? He had one in Swithland with his wife, they split up and she went to the white horse in quorn but I'm fairly sure he doesn't own the Woodies, besides its more of a rugby pub than football, always has been. He lives in the village and is always around which is great to see. The bloke is great at what he does, raising so much for charity and still doing his run at 70. He does far more for the club behind the scenes than we see.
Alf Bentley Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Looking at his Wiki page, he grew up in Notts, so was fairly local anyway. He then spent 6 years at LCFC, his longest stint at any club and more appearances than he made at any other club. He only left at the end of his career to play in the US & lower divisions. Being cynical, I'm sure it helped him to love the club even more that they gave him a job at the end of his playing career. But it sounds as if he'd become a "local" by then anyway - and he's certainly done his bit since then, the old git!
Guest MattP Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 He was in the Woodies last Wednesday but I'm pretty sure he doesn't own it. If he does I want to know why they took the Aspells off. I think he just fell in love with us and Leicestershire from his time at the club, who can blame him?
smr Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 You sure he's got a pub in rothley? He had one in Swithland with his wife, they split up and she went to the white horse in quorn but I'm fairly sure he doesn't own the Woodies, besides its more of a rugby pub than football, always has been. He lives in the village and is always around which is great to see. The bloke is great at what he does, raising so much for charity and still doing his run at 70. He does far more for the club behind the scenes than we see. I thought he did but I've just had a look on the website and it says it's owned by the Warner family. I must have misread when it says Alan Birchenall's pub, it obviously meant his local pub, not his actual own pub.
SpacedX Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 When he finished playing for the club he was offered a role in the footwear industry and then took on The Griffin in Swithland, again through a friend so always remained in the area. He always worked tirelessly with the supporters club which was very dear to him and from that the role of club ambassador grew. The responsibilities became exponentially greater and initially I think initially he only received expenses and did it out of a love for the club. Eventually the conflicting responsibilities of being a landlord and his travel abroad in the shoe trade proved onerous and a full time role in P/R at the club was created. He modestly claims that he was lucky and this could arbitrarily have been awarded to many ex players as opposed to himself. I've always seen it as an inevitable reward for his devotion to the club. Some players find a niche and alongside his London counterparts Alan settled so well as a player and was very popular. It's interesting that his London accent is not so discernible now being replaced by a Leicester inflection and colloquialisms. Why shouldn't it? - This has been his home for 45 years and throughout that time he has been a credit to this football club. True legend.
kingcarr21 Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Filbert has some dirt on him so blackmailed him to stay with us
smr Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 The man obviously has taste though, Rothley and Swithland are two of the finer places in Leicestershire.
smr Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 When he finished playing for the club he was offered a role in the footwear industry and then took on The Griffin in Swithland, again through a friend so always remained in the area. He always worked tirelessly with the supporters club which was very dear to him and from that the role of club ambassador grew. The responsibilities became exponentially greater and initially I think initially he only received expenses and did it out of a love for the club. Eventually the conflicting responsibilities of being a landlord and his travel abroad in the shoe trade proved onerous and a full time role in P/R at the club was created. He modestly claims that he was lucky and this could arbitrarily have been awarded to many ex players as opposed to himself. I've always seen it as an inevitable reward for his devotion to the club. Some players find a niche and alongside his London counterparts Alan settled so well as a player and was very popular. It's interesting that his London accent is not so discernible now being replaced by a Leicester inflection and colloquialisms. Why shouldn't it? - This has been his home for 45 years and throughout that time he has been a credit to this football club. True legend. He sounds more Leicester than I do! But then again us Kibworth born and breds don't sound proper 'Leicestah'
Babylon Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Can someone explain how and why the Birch fell in love with the club? Born in London. Youth career at Sheffield United. A fairly modest 163 appearances for the club (less than Drinky, Wes, Kasper etc) Any older fans shed any light why he became club ambassador etc? Someone paying you a nice cushy wage for life is enough to fall in love.
Crowfeathers Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Anybody else here remember the time, as a player, when he produced a hacksaw from his tracksuit bottoms and pretended to saw off the opposition goalies leg in the warm up?
Wymsey Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 From a Leicester Mercury article from last year: - As time went on, the demands of the City job continued to grow and Birch also became one of the directors of the footwear company. So why did he take on a pub when he was so busy, especially as he had never wanted to be a pub landlord? Birch said: "A friend of mine, Richard Dimbleby, and his father had the Wigston Stage, the Red Lion in Rothley, the Pear Tree at Woodhouse Eves and the Griffin in Swithland. "Over a drink of happy water one night, he told me he was letting the Griffin go. "I said it was a lovely pub but I wasn't interested. I'd seen ex-players run pubs so many times and I didn't want to fall into that category. "At that time, my son Dean was coming out of college and didn't know what direction to take, so my then wife, the Tank Commander, suggested that we went for it so that Dean could run it. "Dean and I went to Everards training sessions where you learn about tapping, casks, barrels, hygiene and things like that. "It was a two-week course at the Blackbird on Anstey Lane. We passed. "My idea was to put Dean in, and for the Tank Commander to help out. I saw myself rolling up at the end of the evening, sit at the bar, drink with the locals and watch everyone else do the work (picture eight). "The Griffin was a quintessential beautiful pub in a nice part of the county, but underneath it was a nightmare. "With my football and footwear jobs, I was working 24/7. Dean was living in, but he was a young lad enjoying himself. "So there I was, not missing City games but instead of having a swift half with the locals in the evening, was having to work in the pub. "It became hard. We served food, so at seven o'clock on a Sunday morning I'd be at the Co-op getting the veg for the pub's Sunday lunches and then preparing the food. We weren't big enough for a chef.
promised land Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 He should be here for life, the stuff he does for the club and community.
Guest Bob Hazels shorts Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 There a lot of ex players living here. I understand Birch lives in Mountsorrel, new houses Leisure center side. He did have a pub in Swithland and as my ol'fella knew him he would bring out his old photos at the bar. There was a tight knit of players in the 70s that socialized with many of the local business men, similar to Elliot, Walsh, Muzzy etc who have never left Leicester. The guy likes it here. Claudio lives in the city. Why not? be anywhere in the country in no time and airport on his door step
Wymsey Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Claudio lives in Oadby, not far from The Lawns care home. But also lives in London quite a bit, in the house he has had since Chelsea days.
chinna Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Met him yesterday at the gym. Could barely walk. After his running on Saturday. Top bloke.
stretch1965 Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 I reckon he had the foresight to see that one day he would be walking out with the champions trophy so he thought he'd stick around! Seriously tho did you see how proud he looked walking out with it. Perfect choice for the job. Love the bloke
David Hankey Posted 10 May 2016 Posted 10 May 2016 Can someone explain how and why the Birch fell in love with the club? Born in London. Youth career at Sheffield United. A fairly modest 163 appearances for the club (less than Drinky, Wes, Kasper etc) Any older fans shed any light why he became club ambassador etc? Birchy played the majority of his league games at Leicester City and struck up an affinity with Club after Jimmy Bloomfield paid £100K for him back in 1971. That together with teaming up with other ex-London based players Keith Weller & Jon Sammels and the great rapport he had with the supporters it is no surprised he returned to the Club after his playing days were over. He has been a great asset to the Club throughout the barren years as well as now with his charity work being second to none.
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 11 May 2016 Posted 11 May 2016 I can remember "The Birch" arriving at the club, and watching him play , over the years. He was one of our £100,000 players, which was a fortune in those days, and let me tell you, he was worth every penny, and was really entertaining to watch. He was always the joker in the pack too; a real" Mr Nice Guy"
David Lowe Posted 11 May 2016 Posted 11 May 2016 Which year did they say he was going to lose his position? Was it before or after the current owners arrived? They backtracked and gave him the Ambassador role.
Hirsty The Blue 94 Posted 11 May 2016 Posted 11 May 2016 The pride on the blokes face as he walked out to hand the trophy over was a joy. He has seen it all just about here, and for him to be a part of this is a special moment for us and the club.
DB11 Posted 11 May 2016 Posted 11 May 2016 I've been to The Griffin a couple of times, but not for a couple of years now. I always thought it was a lovely pub - expensive mind
Vardinio'sCat Posted 12 May 2016 Posted 12 May 2016 Club legend, what a time for him. He lives and breathes this club, and seeing him emerge from the tunnel with the trophy was a real treat.
Soar Fox Posted 12 May 2016 Posted 12 May 2016 Which year did they say he was going to lose his position? Was it before or after the current owners arrived? They backtracked and gave him the Ambassador role. Found this from 2010 just before the new owners took over. http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/topic/66571-alan-birchenall/page-1
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.