Bob Birkett
Encyclopedia
Robert Kirkham "Bob" Birket (born 1874 in Weeton
, Lancashire
) was an English
professional footballer who spent his entire ten-year football league career with Blackpool
after signing from Fleetwood Rangers.
He made his debut for Blackpool on November 14, 1896, in a 3–1 victory over Lincoln City
at Raikes Hall Gardens. He scored the hosts' first goal. That was his only appearance in the 1896–97
campaign.
Birket made fourteen league appearances the following season, 1897–98
, scoring eight goals. In 1898–99
, he was the club's top scorer with fifteen goals in his 24 appearances. His efforts were not enough to keep Blackpool in the Football League, however: they failed to be re-elected, along with Darwen
.
In Blackpool's one season in League exile, 1899–90, Birket became the first Blackpool to score a hat-trick. It came against Darwen
on 16 November 1899. He also scored five in a Boxing Day
victory over Stockport County
and four against Wigan Athletic
on 17 March 1900.
Birket continued his scoring ways for Blackpool's first season
back in the Football League, with ten strikes, again finishing as the club's top scorer.
For the second half of the 1901–02
campaign, Birket was moved to the right-back position. As to be expected his goals dried up and he found the net only twice in his 26 appearances.
He continued in the right-back berth for the remainder of his career, with the majority of his infrequent goals coming from the penalty spot.
Birket played his last game on September 22, 1906, just four games into Blackpool's 1906–07
campaign.
Weeton, Lancashire
Weeton with Preese is a civil parish in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England, beside the Blackpool to Preston railway line and the M55 motorway, just east of Blackpool and north west of Kirkham. It contains the village of Weeton....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who spent his entire ten-year football league career with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
after signing from Fleetwood Rangers.
He made his debut for Blackpool on November 14, 1896, in a 3–1 victory over Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
at Raikes Hall Gardens. He scored the hosts' first goal. That was his only appearance in the 1896–97
Blackpool F.C. season 1896-97
The 1896–97 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eighth....
campaign.
Birket made fourteen league appearances the following season, 1897–98
Blackpool F.C. season 1897-98
The 1897–98 season was Blackpool F.C.s second consecutive season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eleventh....
, scoring eight goals. In 1898–99
Blackpool F.C. season 1898-99
The 1898-99 season was Blackpool F.C.s third consecutive season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing sixteenth...
, he was the club's top scorer with fifteen goals in his 24 appearances. His efforts were not enough to keep Blackpool in the Football League, however: they failed to be re-elected, along with Darwen
Darwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
.
In Blackpool's one season in League exile, 1899–90, Birket became the first Blackpool to score a hat-trick. It came against Darwen
Darwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
on 16 November 1899. He also scored five in a Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
victory over Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and four against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 17 March 1900.
Birket continued his scoring ways for Blackpool's first season
Blackpool F.C. season 1900-01
The 1900-01 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season back in the Football League . They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing twelfth....
back in the Football League, with ten strikes, again finishing as the club's top scorer.
For the second half of the 1901–02
Blackpool F.C. season 1901-02
The 1901-02 season was Blackpool F.C.s fifth season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
campaign, Birket was moved to the right-back position. As to be expected his goals dried up and he found the net only twice in his 26 appearances.
He continued in the right-back berth for the remainder of his career, with the majority of his infrequent goals coming from the penalty spot.
Birket played his last game on September 22, 1906, just four games into Blackpool's 1906–07
Blackpool F.C. season 1906-07
The 1906-07 season was Blackpool F.C.s tenth season in the Football League. They competed in the twenty-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
campaign.
Further reading
- Calley, Roy (1992-10-20). Blackpool: A Complete Record, 1887–1992, Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd, ISBN 978-1-873626-07-8