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Len Birks

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Len Birks
Birks in a Port Vale squad photo in 1923
Personal information
Full name Leonard Birks[1]
Date of birth (1896-10-06)6 October 1896
Place of birth Fenton, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death 22 March 1975(1975-03-22) (aged 78)[1]
Place of death Shirehampton, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Butt Lane Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1920–1924 Port Vale 101 (0)
1924–1931 Sheffield United 195 (0)
1931–1933 Plymouth Argyle 49 (0)
1933–1934 Bristol City 30 (0)
1934–1935 Yeovil & Petters United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonard Birks (6 October 1896 – 22 March 1975) was an English footballer who played as a defender. Born in Fenton, Staffordshire, he started his career with Port Vale before spending seven years at Sheffield United. After leaving Bramall Lane, he played for Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City and Yeovil & Petters United, as well as having a spell as first-team coach at Bristol City.

Career

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Birks joined Port Vale from Butt Lane Star in May 1920.[1] He made his Second Division debut in 1920–21, but remained a fringe player in 1921–22, despite lifting the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup in 1922.[1] However, he missed just one game of the 1922–23 campaign, and was an ever-present in 1923–24.[1] He retained his first-team place in the highly successful 1924–25 season, but with dependable young left-back Jimmy Oakes waiting in the reserves to take his place, manager Joe Schofield decided to cash in on Birks.[1]

He was sold to Sheffield United for 'a substantial sum' in October 1924 as the Blades sought a replacement for regular left-back Ernest Milton.[3] Birks initially failed to settle at Bramall Lane however, and missed out on a place in the 1925 FA Cup final with the ageing Milton being preferred.[3] Never a fully established first-team player, Birks did give good service to the Blades during his time playing over 200 games in all competitions.[3]

After leaving United in February 1931, Birks joined with Plymouth Argyle. Competing with former England international Fred Titmuss for the left-back position, he made 49 league and cup appearances before departing Home Park for Bristol City in April 1933.[4] He later played non-League football for Yeovil & Petters United, before returning to Bristol to work as first-team coach.[3]

Career statistics

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Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1920–21 Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1921–22 Second Division 6 0 0 0 6 0
1922–23 Second Division 41 0 0 0 41 0
1923–24 Second Division 42 0 1 0 43 0
1924–25 Second Division 11 0 0 0 11 0
Total 101 0 1 0 102 0
Sheffield United 1924–25 First Division 21 0 1 0 22 0
1925–26 First Division 24 0 2 0 26 0
1926–27 First Division 30 0 1 0 31 0
1927–28 First Division 41 0 8 0 49 0
1928–29 First Division 33 0 1 0 34 0
1929–30 First Division 41 0 2 0 43 0
1930–31 First Division 5 0 1 0 6 0
Total 195 0 16 0 211 0
Plymouth Argyle 1930–31 Second Division 12 0 0 0 12 0
1931–32 Second Division 31 0 0 0 31 0
1932–33 Second Division 6 0 1 0 7 0
Total 49 0 1 0 50 0
Bristol City 1933–34 Third Division South 30 0 4 0 34 0
Career total 375 0 22 0 397 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "The lure of promotion. Port Vale". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  3. ^ a b c d Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  4. ^ "Profile". greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ^ Len Birks at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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