Len Birks
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonard Birks | ||
| Date of birth | 6 October 1896 | ||
| Place of birth | Fenton, Staffordshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 22 March 1975 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Shirehampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Butt Lane Star | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1920–1924 | Port Vale | 101 | (0) |
| 1924–1931 | Sheffield United | 195 | (0) |
| 1931–1933 | Plymouth Argyle | 49 | (0) |
| 1933–1934 | Bristol City | 30 | (0) |
| 1934–1935 | Yeovil & Petters United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Leonard Birks (6 October 1896 – 22 March 1975) was an English footballer who played as a defender. Born in Fenton, Staffordshire he started his career with Port Vale before spending seven years at Sheffield United. After leaving Bramall Lane he played for Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City and Yeovil & Petters United, as well as having a spell as first team coach at Bristol City.
Birks joined Port Vale from Butt Lane Star in May 1920. He made his Second Division debut in 1920–21, but remained a fringe player in 1921–22, despite lifting the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup in 1922. However, he missed just one game of the 1922–23 campaign, and was an ever-present in 1923–24. He retained his first team place in the highly successful 1924–25 season, but with dependable young left-back Jimmy Oakes waiting in the reserves to take his place, manager Joe Schofield decided to cash in on Birks.
He was sold to Sheffield United for 'a substantial sum' in October 1924 as the Blades sought a replacement for regular left back Ernest Milton. Birks initially failed to settle at Bramall Lane however and missed out on a place in the 1925 FA Cup Final with the ageing Milton being preferred. Never a fully established first team player, Birks did give good service to the Blades during his time playing over 200 games in all competitions.
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