Adam Birchall
Encyclopedia
Adam Stephen Birchall is a footballer who plays as a striker for football league side Gillingham
. Despite being born in England
he has several caps for the Welsh under-21
team, scoring on his debut against the Finland under 21s
.
, but never made it to the first-team. In the 2004–05 season, Birchall had a successful loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers
, scoring four goals in twelve league games. He was released by Arsenal at the end of that season, and joined Mansfield Town
in June 2005 on a two-year contract.
The move to Mansfield was something of a disappointment for Birchall. Big things were expected from the youngster, but despite occasional flashes of brilliance, he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only three goals and spending most of his time at Mansfield on the bench. He did, however, score in Mansfield's nationally televised FA Cup
victory against Grays Athletic
on his 21st birthday.
On 23 November 2006, Birchall was loaned to divisional rivals Barnet
, where he was a hit, scoring the first goal in their 4–1 thrashing of Northampton Town
in the FA Cup. A move was made permanent on 4 January 2007. During his time at Barnet, Birchall is credited with the idea for a now widely-used scheme whereby only the team captain can question referees' decisions, in order to reduce dissent and the yellow cards that follow. Since the beginning of the 2007–08
season, when the rule was introduced, the club's disciplinary record has significantly improved, and the club has earned praise throughout the game. Birchall was released in May 2009 after scoring only two league goals in the 2008–09 season.
Birchall signed for Conference South
side Dover Athletic
in July 2009. Birchall made his league debut for Dover in the first game of the season against Maidenhead United
, before scoring his first league goal for the club in the following fixture against Bishop's Stortford
. Birchall scored both goals against Aldershot Town
to take Dover to the FA Cup 3rd Round
for the first time in their history. Birchall became the club's goalscoring record holder, and the Conference South
record holder, at the end of the 2010–11 season with a total of 45 goals in 49 appearances. Birchall was once again attracting interest from clubs from higher up the football pyramid and in July 2011 Dover Athletic received substantial undisclosed bids from League Two sides Swindon Town, newcomers AFC Wimbledon
, and local rivals Gillingham
, for whom he signed a three year deal on 12 July 2011.
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
. Despite being born in England
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...
he has several caps for the Welsh under-21
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
team, scoring on his debut against the Finland under 21s
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
.
Career
Birchall began his career at ArsenalArsenal 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...
, but never made it to the first-team. In the 2004–05 season, Birchall had a successful loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, scoring four goals in twelve league games. He was released by Arsenal at the end of that season, and joined Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in June 2005 on a two-year contract.
The move to Mansfield was something of a disappointment for Birchall. Big things were expected from the youngster, but despite occasional flashes of brilliance, he failed to live up to expectations, scoring only three goals and spending most of his time at Mansfield on the bench. He did, however, score in Mansfield's nationally televised FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
victory against Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
on his 21st birthday.
On 23 November 2006, Birchall was loaned to divisional rivals Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, where he was a hit, scoring the first goal in their 4–1 thrashing of Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in the FA Cup. A move was made permanent on 4 January 2007. During his time at Barnet, Birchall is credited with the idea for a now widely-used scheme whereby only the team captain can question referees' decisions, in order to reduce dissent and the yellow cards that follow. Since the beginning of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season, when the rule was introduced, the club's disciplinary record has significantly improved, and the club has earned praise throughout the game. Birchall was released in May 2009 after scoring only two league goals in the 2008–09 season.
Birchall signed for Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
in July 2009. Birchall made his league debut for Dover in the first game of the season against Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
, before scoring his first league goal for the club in the following fixture against Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
. Birchall scored both goals against Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
to take Dover to the FA Cup 3rd Round
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
for the first time in their history. Birchall became the club's goalscoring record holder, and the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
record holder, at the end of the 2010–11 season with a total of 45 goals in 49 appearances. Birchall was once again attracting interest from clubs from higher up the football pyramid and in July 2011 Dover Athletic received substantial undisclosed bids from League Two sides Swindon Town, newcomers AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
, and local rivals Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, for whom he signed a three year deal on 12 July 2011.