Birch's Wembley Dreams

[kushiro]

When you're talking about Leicester City all-time greats, you have to think of people who've made contributions off the pitch as well as on it. And in some cases, both. Take Alan Birchenall, for example. He received the MBE for his charity work. But we shouldn't forget what a fine player he was.

 

On February 16th 1974, we won 4-0 at Luton in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup - a performance that no City fan will ever forget. It certainly made an impression on Malcolm Allison, the most forward-thinking coach of the era. After the game, he went to our dressing room and said he'd never seen a more complete display of attacking football.  

 

Frank Worthington was imperious that day, and Keith Weller scored ITV's Goal of the Season. Both would soon win their first England caps. But who was named Man of the Match? Alan Birchenall. 

 

Two days later we were drawn away at QPR in the quarter-finals and there was a growing feeling that this was our year. After four Wembley defeats, this team would surely bring home the Cup. 

 

It didn't quite work out like that, of course. And what happened to Birchenall was a key part of the story.

 

With the Cup Final coming up this weekend, it's a good time to have a look back at Birch's Wembley Dreams - three occasions when the Leicester legend had his eyes on the Twin Towers.

 

 

1)  World Cup Final, 1966

 

The greatest day in English football?  Nothing to do with Birch, surely?  Well, let's have a look at what happened. 

 

It's December 1965 and the condition of Jimmy Greaves is giving Alf Ramsey cause for concern. For the first time in his career, illness has laid him low. He's been out of action for several weeks with hepatitis, and with no-one sure when he'll return, Ramsey is on the look out for potential replacements.

 

It was then that an envelope landed on the doormat at the home of 20 year old Alan Birchenall. Inside was a Christmas card, with World Cup Willie on the front, and Ramsey's signature inside.

 

 

What a fantastic present.

 

Birchenall's club Sheffield United were the surprise package in that season's title race. His goals had already earned him a call-up to the Under-23 squad, and the card he was holding told him all he needed to know. With the World Cup Finals just months away, he was in the manager's thoughts. 

 

A friendly game against Poland was scheduled for January, and two days before Christmas the squad was announced. Greaves' name wasn't included, and the headlines were all about the uncapped striker called-up for the first time - a man called Geoff Hurst. It would have been entirely understandable if Birchenall's heart had sunk just a little when he heard the news.

 

Hurst didn't play against Poland, but made his debut against West Germany in another friendly in February. Birchenall had to settle for the Under-23s, and in April he made his first start at that level against Turkey at Ewood Park. Alongside him on the left hand side that evening was another uncapped player called Martin Peters, who used this opportunity to convince Ramsey he could be a key member of the senior side. 

 

Birchenall also made an impression on the manager that night - but not in the way he would have wanted. In the first half, a Turkish player did something Birch had never experienced before. He spat in his face. Birch was so incensed that he chased his opponent half way round the pitch, never quite managing to catch up with him. At half-time, as he later recalled, 'Ramsey slaughtered me'.

 

Three months later and those late-comers Hurst and Peters were the goalscorers as we lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley, with Jimmy Greaves on the bench feeling completely left out. How was Birchenall feeling? We got a clue a few years later.

 

When he was at Leicester, he drove down for an awards ceremony in London with several members of our squad. Bobby Charlton was there too, and after Birch had had one too many, there was some kind of incident. In his book, Birch allows Lenny Glover to tell the story:

 

On our way out of the hotel, we saw Bobby holding court with some reporters on the steps. Birch suddenly got the arse, rushed up to him and clipped him smartly over the head! Unfortunately, Birch was a little worse for wear and stumbled down the steps after his assault on the soccer legend. Bobby looked around and couldn't believe it. 

 

The following morning, Birch was quite subdued. We asked him why he'd clipped Bobby but he wouldn't answer. After much persuasion he finally blurted out the truth. 'He cost me my England place. If it hadn't been for him I could have been a World Cup winner with Sir Alf!'    We all cracked up in hysterics. 

 

 

2)   1970 FA Cup FInal

 

Friday April 10th. One of the most famous headlines in the history of the Daily Mirror: Paul Is Quitting The Beatles. After months of speculation, the rumours were confirmed. The group was splitting up. 

 

That morning, from his office in Savile Row, Derek Taylor put out the last ever Beatles press release, short and sweet:

 

'Spring is here, Leeds play Chelsea tomorrow and RIngo and John and George and Paul are full of hope'.

 

That's how big the FA Cup Final used to be.

 

Back in 1967, a year after our World Cup victory, Alan Birchenall had moved to Chelsea for a big fee, and he quickly established himself as a key member of Dave Sexton's side. Here he is scoring on his debut at Roker Park:

 

 

Two years later and Chelsea made it to Wembley for that classic match against Leeds, a team Birch always loved playing against. He'd scored against them in the League Cup the previous October, but that was also the game where he picked up a knee injury that sidelined him four months, ruling him out of the early rounds of the FA Cup.

 

On February 25th, four days after Chelsea had won 4-2 at QPR in the quarter-finals, Birch made his comeback in a League game against Newcastle. He was desperate to stake a claim for a place in the semi-final against Watford, but the fates were against him. Early in the second-half, Alan Hudson put over a high a cross that Birch and Newcastle keeper Ian McFaul challenged for. The keeper's studs made contact with Birch's leg just above the knee, opening a huge gash that saw him carried off the field and taken to hospital.

 

Two weeks later Chelsea won that semi-final 5-1 at White Hart Lane, and Birch faced a race against time to get himself back in contention for a Wembley place.

 

In the run-up to the final, this photo was taken of the Chelsea squad, Birch front left:

 

 

But he was after more than a squad place.

 

On April 4th, a week before the final, he got his chance to impress. He was back in the line up as Chelsea beat Spurs 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

 

It was too late though. Sexton was no doubt aware of his fine record against Leeds, but he stuck with the eleven who'd got them to Wembley. Birch spent Cup Final day as a spectator, and it was the same at the replay three weeks later.

 

 

3)  Liverpool v Leicester City, FA Cup Semi-Final 1974.

 

Two months after Chelsea beat Leeds in that replay at Old Trafford, England started their defence of the World Cup in Mexico with a 1-0 win against Romania. Geoff Hurst was still around, and he scored England's goal. 

 

Alan Birchenall wasn't paying too much attention to the World Cup that night. He was talking to Crystal Palace manager Bert Head about a move from Stamford Bridge to Selhurst Park. The following day, the deal was completed and at the start of the new season, Birch helped the newly-promoted Palace take the First Division by storm. A third of the way through the season they were in the leading pack.  But then it rapidly went downhill, and at the start of the following season Birch joined Leicester City - a move he later called 'the best decision I ever made'. 

 

Two years later came that famous 4-0 win at Luton, with Birchenall now in a midfield role. In this clip City, who are already 3-0 up, decide to rub it in:

 

 

 

A week later, and Birchenall's fine form continued.  In a League game against Sheffield United at Filbert Street, Worthington's goal gave us the lead, but it was Birch who was running the show. The Daily Mirror reporter was purring about his ability, and how he 'judges the distance and direction of passes'. But then the curse struck again. He picked up a thigh injury, 'collapsing on the field and having to be carried off by his teammates'. Without him, we also collapsed. 'The transformation was amazing', the report said, 'and United came back to draw 1-1'. 

 

Birch was ruled out of the quarter-final at Loftus Road, and his replacement Joe Waters is remembered chiefly for his sensational debut that day - his two goals taking us through to the last four.

 

Not quite so well recalled is Waters' performance in the semi-final against Liverpool. Birch still wasn't fit, and the young Irishman stood in for him again. Sadly, the game completely passed him by. Liverpool totally controlled the midfield, and only a world class performance from Peter Shilton kept them out.  Four days later at Villa Park we lost 3-1, though we actually played better than in the first match, with Ray Clemence making a crucial save from Weller at 1-1. 

 

Who knows what might have happened with Birch in the team.

 

Later...

 

There wouldn't be any more Wembley dreams. At least, not as a player. 

 

But Birch is a man for whom 'When You're Smiling' might have been written, and his 40+ years as PR officer, club ambassador and general mood-maker have featured many a fine day out at Wembley, both before and after it was rebuilt. 

 

Let's finish with this photo - taken after the 2000 League Cup Final:

 

 

 

Edited 24 May 2024 by kushiro

[kushiro]

The picture of the Christmas card is from the book 'Bring Back The Birch', which deserves a place on every City fan's shelf. Here's another - an injured Birch at Old Trafford before that 1974 semi-final where we missed his presence so badly:

 

[l444ry]

Another first class post about a proper Leicester Legend. Remember that 1974 Cup run very well as I was lucky enough to have been at every game. Always thought Birch was very under rated due to the likes of Frank, Weller, Shilts, Lenny and the rest.

[kushiro]

One more could be added to the list.

 

In 1969 it was very nearly Leicester City v Birchenall's Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals.

 

In the quarters we won at Mansfield, while Chelsea faced holders West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Early on Birch won a free kick from which Dave Webb headed the home side in front. 

 

But then goals from Tony Brown and Jeff Astle put Albion through to the semis - where they lost to Allan Clarke's goal for us at Hillsborough. 

[kushiro]

18 hours ago, l444ry said:

Another first class post about a proper Leicester Legend. Remember that 1974 Cup run very well as I was lucky enough to have been at every game. Always thought Birch was very under rated due to the likes of Frank, Weller, Shilts, Lenny and the rest.

 

Do you remember much about Old Trafford? Did Liverpool have the Stretford End or did we?

[smudger63]

The Weller goal from the Luton game, not only won the itv goal of the season, it went on to be voted itv goal of the decade a few years later.

[l444ry]

2 hours ago, kushiro said:

 

Do you remember much about Old Trafford? Did Liverpool have the Stretford End or did we?

Don't think we were but don't quote me on that as it was a long time ago. I was half cut along the side somewhere.