Happy Birchday - 80 Today

[fazzyfox]

Alan Birchenal is 80 today 🎂.

Hope he is feeling well enough to enjoy it and celebrate.

 

When I worked at the club I was nervous of mixing with everyone I’d watched from  the stands  for years. Along the main stand corridor he took a moment to stop and say “Good morning son” which made me feel ten feet tall (maybe he did the same for Ormondroyd and Vestergaard!) A small gesture that made no end of difference to my confidence (until Ali Mauchlen called me a f****** spy due to my detectives coat and notepad)!

He’s great around the players and many a young debutant has benefited from his support. And calling out dodgy refs at half time .

 

Best wishes to you Birch 

 

[ALC Fox]

Happy 80th birthday, Birch.

 

A true club legend. A huge personality but also a very extremely humble man. I'm sure the staff will rustle up something decent for his 'ron today.

[Hitesh]

Surprised we're not trying to sell him either.

 

Happy Birthday Birch!

[winteriscoming]

Happy Birthday Birch. 
Is he available to play tomorrow? 
Gotta be better than Soumare and Skipp. 

[urban.spaceman]

Absolute legend. 

[Simonb]

Happy birthday birch

[AKCJ]

There should be two more statues outside the KP.

 

One for Jamie Vardy and one for The Birch.

[Lionator]

Glad to see him with the lads today. He’s obviously aged and been through a lot of issues over the past few years. Given the times I’ve seen him about town, it’s a miracle he’s made to 80 🤣 legend. 

[Hitesh]

Our new first team squad photo.

 

[squidsworth]

Is it me or does Elk look like he's had his face superimposed in that photo?

[dayday]

Even at 80 he would still be quicker than Vestergaard 

[The_77]

A helluva guy 

[smudger63]

45 minutes ago, squidsworth said:

Is it me or does Elk look like he's had his face superimposed in that photo?

Not sure, but Winks is smiling, so I presume his face has been!

[Tommy G]

Congrats Birch, thought he would topple after all those runs he used to do, class act. 

[l444ry]

[oz was my hero]

Happy  birthday The Birch. Around 20 years ago rang the club to ask if he would do a presentation evening . Sure enough he rang back and explained  he couldn't  do it as he was travelling with the team to Southampton for the last game. 

Must have been on the phone for a good 20 mins, asking how we were doing , what league we were playing in etc . Was like talking to one of the lads in the pub. 

Great guy. 

[old koppite]

I was lucky enough to see him play. Class player and one of my favs. We felt like an exciting and trendy team at the time with Weller, Wortho and Glover etc under Jimmy Bloomfield. 
 

Happy Birthday to Birch! 

[MC Prussian]

How is the Birch these days? Heard he'd been struggling with his health in recent years.

 

I wish him a Happy Birthday. Legend.

[CrazyKopCorner]

Has anyone met the Birch? 

 

I met him at the LRI during the players visit in about 2016 or 2017. 

 

He wasn't quite what I was expecting. Probably having a bad day but he was a proper grumpy bugger although of course we all have bad days. 

 

He clearly loves the club and I think over the years it's been reciprocated. 

[Gamble92]

7 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Has anyone met the Birch? 

 

I met him at the LRI during the players visit in about 2016 or 2017. 

 

He wasn't quite what I was expecting. Probably having a bad day but he was a proper grumpy bugger although of course we all have bad days. 

 

He clearly loves the club and I think over the years it's been reciprocated. 

Glowing indictment 

[steveb]

Happy Birthday to "the Birch", may you have many more.

 

I  had the pleasure to meet him in 1976, he was standing by a snooker table with Keith Weller and i think it was Steve Sims (but i was never sure) they were happy to say hello and shake hands and just carried on enjoying their game and drink.

Different world.