Birch F.C. Explained

Birch F.C. was an English rugby and association football club from Rusholme, founded in around 1870 as a club playing originally just the association code.

By 1878, the club mostly played rugby only, but in April 1878 played a friendly against Queen's Park because "it has lately been practising the dribbling as well as the Rugby game",^[1] due to a former Queen's Park player (James Strang) joining the club. The club entered the FA Cup the next season, but scratched when drawn at home to Darwen.^[2]

In 1879 the association part of the club broke away to form Manchester Wanderers^[3] In 1881 Birch was a founder member of the Lancashire County Rugby Football Union.^[4]

The club ceased to exist in the 1890s.^[5]

Notable players

Thomas Slaney, the first Stoke City manager, guested for the team against Queen's Park.

Notes and References

1. Birch 0-6 Queen's Park . The Sportsman . 8 April 1878 . 3.
2. report . Bell's Life . 23 November 1878 . 5.
3. James . Gary . The Emergence of an Association Football Culture in Manchester 1840–1884 . Sport in History . 2014 . 34. 49–74 . 10.1080/17460263.2013.873075 . 145361026 . free .
4. Book: Marshall . Francis . Football: the Rugby Union Game . 1892.
5. Web site: Stewart . Ant . Rusholme Ruffians .