5'7"
b. Great Harwood AMJ 1854
d. Lytham St Annes 16 December 1929
 

Debut  11 December 1875 Final Game 13 November 1880
First Goal 11 December 1875 Final Goal 13 November 1880
CAREER: Cob Wall;Turton;Blackburn Rovers '75-Dec'81.
 

FAC   4 apps  1 gl
LC    13 apps  1 gl
 

An original member of the Rovers he played in all the forward positions but was most often found on the right wing, employing the speed that brought him fame on the running track. In March 1880 he scored all five of the club's goals against Nottingham Forest. He started work as a bookkeeper at his father Micah’s mill before becoming its manager. Later he became a yarn agent, working from his home on Whalley Old Road. He elected to stop playing and moved into football administration, attending the first meeting of the Lancashire FA and was a committee member for many years. He also served on the Rovers' committee, taking over as chairman until he relinquished the position in 1905. He served on the FA Council until 1927, when he was made a life member of the FA. His son H.H.Birtwistle succeeded him as a director of the Rovers.