William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.
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 competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRaith Rovers1915–16Scottish Division One135—1351916–1710—101919–20357624191920–2128710297Total7719728421Middlesbrough1920–21First Division142—1421921–22359103691922–233893141101923–24212002121924–25Second Division273102831925–2642182144191926–2741163244181927–28First Division710071Total2255910423563Raith Rovers1926–27Scottish Division One154311851929–30Scottish Division Two20122122131930–3116600166Total12841121414055Career total3531002218375118
Manager TeamFromToRecordRefGWDLWin %Raith Rovers (player-manager)19271930Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticAugust 1930May 1935Queens Park RangersMay 1935April 1939ChelseaApril 1939April 1952Total—
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
External links
Billy Birrell at chelseafc.com