Ralph Birkett
Encyclopedia
Ralph James Evans Birkett (9 January 1913, Dartmouth
, Devon
– March 2002) was an English
professional football
er who played once for the England national team
.
Birkett was discovered by Torquay United
while playing for Dartmouth United
, moving to Plainmoor
as an amateur in 1930. He made his league debut on the right wing in March 1930, starring in a 7-0 win against Bournemouth
, Torquay's first win of the new year. He signed a professional contract with the Third Division South
club the same month.
In 1933, after 95 league games in which he scored 19 times for Torquay, Birkett moved to Arsenal
for a fee of £1,588, joining the Highbury
side during one of the most impressive periods in their history. His First Division
debut came on 2 September 1933 against Sheffield Wednesday
, at Hillsborough
, and initially he established himself in the team, winning a League Championship medal in his first season at the club (1933-34
). The following season he struggled to make the first team, after an initially bright start; he scored twice in Arsenal's 1934 Charity Shield win, 3-0 over Everton
. However, his first-team opportunities became limited, thanks to the good form of Joe Hulme
(whom Birkett had been signed to replace) and new signing Alf Kirchen
. Birkett left for Middlesbrough
in March 1935, after only 19 league appearances for Arsenal, in which he scored 7 goals.
His Middlesbrough debut came on 16 March 1935 against Preston North End
and later that year, on 19 October, Birkett made his only international appearance for England
, against Northern Ireland
; England won 3-1. He was selected to play a second game, but suffered an injury and withdrew. His replacement was a young Stanley Matthews
, and that effectively saw the premature end of Birkett's England career. In July 1938, he moved to Newcastle United
, but the war intervened and cut short his career — he was only 26 when it began, but was 33 by the time league football resumed. He did play football during the war, including two appearances for Reading
(one goal) in the 1942-43 wartime season.
He later returned to Devon
, living in retirement in Brixham
, until his death in 2002 at the age of 89.
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
– March 2002) 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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played once for the England national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Birkett was discovered by Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
while playing for Dartmouth United
Dartmouth A.F.C.
Dartmouth Association Football Club is a football club based in Dartmouth, Devon, England, playing in the South West Peninsula League. One of their most famous former players is Ralph Birkett, who left Dartmouth to play for Torquay United and went on to play for the England national football...
, moving to Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
as an amateur in 1930. He made his league debut on the right wing in March 1930, starring in a 7-0 win against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, Torquay's first win of the new year. He signed a professional contract with the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
club the same month.
In 1933, after 95 league games in which he scored 19 times for Torquay, Birkett moved to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for a fee of £1,588, joining the Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
side during one of the most impressive periods in their history. His First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
debut came on 2 September 1933 against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, and initially he established himself in the team, winning a League Championship medal in his first season at the club (1933-34
1933-34 in English football
The 1933–34 season was the 59th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
). The following season he struggled to make the first team, after an initially bright start; he scored twice in Arsenal's 1934 Charity Shield win, 3-0 over Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. However, his first-team opportunities became limited, thanks to the good form of Joe Hulme
Joe Hulme
Joseph Harold Anthony "Joe" Hulme was an English footballer and cricketer.-Football career:Born in Stafford, Staffordshire Hulme usually played as a right-winger...
(whom Birkett had been signed to replace) and new signing Alf Kirchen
Alf Kirchen
Alfred John "Alf" Kirchen was an English footballer.Born in Shouldham, Norfolk, Kirchen played for local clubs, and for his county at youth level. He was signed by Tom Parker, the manager of Second Division Norwich City in 1934 and he immediately impressed, scoring seven goals in fourteen League...
. Birkett left for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in March 1935, after only 19 league appearances for Arsenal, in which he scored 7 goals.
His Middlesbrough debut came on 16 March 1935 against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and later that year, on 19 October, Birkett made his only international appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
; England won 3-1. He was selected to play a second game, but suffered an injury and withdrew. His replacement was a young Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
, and that effectively saw the premature end of Birkett's England career. In July 1938, he moved to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, but the war intervened and cut short his career — he was only 26 when it began, but was 33 by the time league football resumed. He did play football during the war, including two appearances for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
(one goal) in the 1942-43 wartime season.
He later returned to Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, living in retirement in Brixham
Brixham
Brixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of...
, until his death in 2002 at the age of 89.