# Billy Birrell

William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.

## Career

Birrell made over 220 appearances as a forward in the Football League for Middlesbrough. He also made over 120 appearances in the Scottish League for Raith Rovers. He began his career in management while a player at Raith Rovers and after his retirement, he managed Football League clubs Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Queens Park Rangers.
On 19 April 1939, he was appointed the new Chelsea manager. The Second World War forced the Football League to be abandoned less than half a year following Birrell's appointment. During wartime, he led Chelsea to two consecutive Football League War Cup South Final at Wembley, winning the cup in 1945.
In wartime, Birrell developed the idea of a youth team for Chelsea, and on 25 May 1940, the Chelsea Junior team, a team which included future England manager Ron Greenwood, played their first match against Queens Park Rangers. Birrell's plan was fully implemented after the war, with the sponsorship of The Tudor Rose Boys' Club, allowing them to run four teams in the Harrow and Wembley League.

## Personal life

Birrell's brother Bob was also a footballer.

## Career statistics
### Player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Raith Rovers | 1915–16 | Scottish Division One | 13 | 5 | — | — | 13 | 5 |
| Raith Rovers | 1916–17 | Scottish Division One | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 1919–20 | Scottish Division One | 35 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 9 |
| Raith Rovers | 1920–21 | Scottish Division One | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
| Raith Rovers | Total | Total | 77 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 84 | 21 |
| Middlesbrough | 1920–21 | First Division | 14 | 2 | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| Middlesbrough | 1921–22 | First Division | 35 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 9 |
| Middlesbrough | 1922–23 | First Division | 38 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 10 |
| Middlesbrough | 1923–24 | First Division | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| Middlesbrough | 1924–25 | Second Division | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| Middlesbrough | 1925–26 | Second Division | 42 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 19 |
| Middlesbrough | 1926–27 | Second Division | 41 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 18 |
| Middlesbrough | 1927–28 | First Division | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Middlesbrough | Total | Total | 225 | 59 | 10 | 4 | 235 | 63 |
| Raith Rovers | 1926–27 | Scottish Division One | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| Raith Rovers | 1929–30 | Scottish Division Two | 20 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 13 |
| Raith Rovers | 1930–31 | Scottish Division Two | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| Raith Rovers | Total | Total | 128 | 41 | 12 | 14 | 140 | 55 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 353 | 100 | 22 | 18 | 375 | 118 |

### Manager

| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Ref |
| Team | From | To | G | W | D | L | Win % | Ref |
| Raith Rovers (player-manager) | 1927 | 1930 | 123 | 45 | 24 | 54 | 036.59 | |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | August 1930 | May 1935 | 220 | 67 | 56 | 97 | 030.45 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | May 1935 | April 1939 | 184 | 85 | 42 | 57 | 046.20 | |
| Chelsea | April 1939 | April 1952 | 285 | 96 | 74 | 115 | 033.68 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 812 | 293 | 196 | 323 | 036.08 | — |

## Honours
### As a player

Middlesbrough
* Football League Second Division: 1926–27

### As a manager

Chelsea
* Football League South War Cup: 1943–44, 1944–45