5'9"  12st.
b. Prescot 28 April 1875
d. Prescot first half 1945 (age 69)
 

Debut 14 February 1903 (27y 292d) Final Game 16 March 1907 (31y 322d)
First Goal 3 September 1904 Final Goal 4 November 1905
CAREER: Prescot Ramblers;Whiston Ramblers;St Helens Recs;Liverpool;Blackpool Aug'00[80-3];Blackburn Rovers Feb'03-'07 (£200);Leyton Oct'07 (trial).
 

FL         39 apps   3 gls
FAC       1 app
Total   40 apps   3 gls
LC         3 apps
 

A Prescot labourer, Birchall proved to be a good footballer but although he played for the reserves at Liverpool he was frustrated with his lack of opportunity and readily agreed to accompany his team-mate, Jack Parkinson, to Blackpool. In three years at the seaside he was rated as one of the club's best players and obtaining his signature for £200 was deemed a shrewd bit of business. Throughout his career he had struggled with injury and at Ewood the situation worsened. Recuperating from a bad injury in 1903 he developed muscular rheumatism, asthma and bronchitis and several weeks later could only walk with two sticks. When he returned to action he suffered a broken leg and these misfortunes destroyed a career where at his best he was rated as a complete, all- round half back.