Birkenhead F.C.

Birkenhead F.C.
Full nameBirkenhead Football Club
Nickname(s)the Birks
Founded1879
Dissolved1910
GroundBirkenhead Park
To c. 1905 colours
From c. 1905 colours

Birkenhead Football Club was an English football club from the town of Birkenhead, then in Cheshire.

History

The club was founded in 1879 by Robert Lythgoe of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company.[1] It played in the first Cheshire Senior Cup in 1879–80, losing its one tie to Northwich Victoria. The following season, Birkenhead reached the final, again against Victoria, but after a 1–1 draw, the club failed to turn up for the replay.[2]

The club joined The Combination in 1899, and it remained a member until the 1909–10 season.[3] It won the title once, in 1903–04, a gutsy goalless draw in the face of a gale force wind at Nantwich on Good Friday more or less securing the title,[4] Chester overtaking Nantwich at the last to finish 4 points behind the Birks.[5] However the club did not complete its final season, its part-record being transferred to Brymbo Victoria at the end of 1909, Birkenhead having only registered 1 point in 10 games.[6]

Birkenhead entered the FA Cup from 1899 to 1901, and its last appearance was its best, reaching the third preliminary round;[7] at that stage, at Nantwich, the Birks had a half-time lead and survived a penalty, but went down 2–1.[8]

Colours

Its first colours were red and white,[9] which referred to red jerseys and white knickers;[10] its jerseys were plain red until at least 1902.[11] By 1905 it had changed to green and white jerseys.[12]

Ground

Its first ground was on Chester Street, with the Clarendon Arms being used for facilities.[13] In 1882 the council gave permission to the club to open an enclosure on Birkenhead Park.[14]

Notable players

References

  1. ^ Preston, Thomas (2007). The Origins and Development of Association Football in the Liverpool District, c. 1879 until c. 1915. Preston: University of Central Lancashire. p. 43.
  2. ^ Clayton, Keith (2010). Cheshire Senior Cup, 1880 to 1915. Kenilworth: Clayton Family Press.
  3. ^ "Birkenhead". Football Club Historic Database. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Nantwich v Birkenhead". Manchester Courier: 6. 2 April 1904.
  5. ^ "The Combination - Final Table". Chester Chronicle: 3. 7 May 1904.
  6. ^ "Notes on football". Caernarfon Herald: 7. 24 December 1909.
  7. ^ "Football 31st English Football Association (FA) Cup 1901-1902 Qualification". todor66. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Nantwich v Birkenhead". The Chronicle: 4. 9 November 1901.
  9. ^ Alcock, Charles (1881). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 181.
  10. ^ "1881 The Original Association Football Club". Southport F.C. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Answers to correspondents". Athletic News: 4. 3 November 1902.
  12. ^ "Jottings". Birkenhead News: 3. 7 October 1905.
  13. ^ Alcock, Charles (1881). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 181.
  14. ^ "Birkenhead Football Club (Association Rules)". Birkenhead News: 2. 13 May 1882.
  15. ^ Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. pp. 179–180. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
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