Gary Birch

Gary Stephen Birch (born 8 October 1981) is an English former footballer and Manager who played as a striker. He was most recently the manager at Walsall Wood.

For the Canadian electrical engineer, see Gary Birch (electrical engineer). For the English-born golfer formerly known as Gary Birch Jr, see Lincoln Birch.

Gary Birch
Birch in 2008
Personal information
Full name Gary Stephen Birch[1]
Date of birth (1981-10-08) 8 October 1981
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
000?–1998 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2004 Walsall 48 (7)
2001 → Exeter City (loan) 24 (2)
2001–2002 → Nuneaton Borough (loan) 5 (3)
2004 → Barnsley (loan) 8 (2)
2004–2005 Kidderminster Harriers 14 (3)
2005–2007 Lincoln City 37 (8)
2006 → Tamworth (loan) 1 (0)
2006 → Hucknall Town (loan) 1 (0)
2007–2008 AFC Telford United 22 (6)
2007 → Rushall Olympic (loan) 6 (4)
2008–2012 Chasetown 127 (40)
2012–2014 Solihull Moors 55 (10)
Teams managed
2014 Highgate United
2014–2016 Lichfield City
2017 Hednesford Town
2017–2018 Walsall Wood
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Birch scored on his AFC Telford debut in the 4–3 victory against Mossley at Seel Park. Birch came on as a substitute before scoring the winning goal. Struggling with his weight, in September 2007, he was loaned to Rushall Olympic in an attempt to gain match fitness. Birch left the club at the end of the 2007–08 season to join Chasetown.[2]

Birch netted his 50th Chasetown goal in all competitions in a 1–1 home draw with Chorley on 27 August 2011. He departed from the club in June 2012,[3] and signed for Solihull Moors.

Management career

In October 2014 he was appointed manager of Lichfield City,[4] departing in May 2016 after feeling that he had taken the club as far as he could.[5] In November 2016 he joined Hednesford Town as assistant manager to Paul Casey.[6] In February 2017, Casey resigned his role and Birch and fellow assistant Gavin Hurren were placed in temporary charge of first team affairs.[7] On 15 March 2017, Birch was appointed permanent manager of the club.[8]

Birch quit as Hednesford manager to accept a job offer from Walsall Wood on 6 May 2017.[9]

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 48. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. "Bucks shocked by Birch departure". BBC News. 16 May 2008.
  3. "Birch is next to leave the Scholars". NonLeagueDaily.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. "Former Walsall star takes over the Lichfield City hotseat". Lichfield Mercury. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. "Gary Birch quits Lichfield City but backs cup call". Lichfield Mercury. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. "Hednesford Town replace departing Liam McDonald with Paul Casey". Express and Star. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  7. "Management Update". Hednesford Town F.C. Official Website. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  8. "New Management Team Appointed". Hednesford Town F.C. Official Website. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  9. Walsall Wood Appoint Gary Birch as New Manager‚ bescotbanter.net, 6 May 2017
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