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Wilf Birkett

Real Name: Wilfred Birkett
Normal Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5' 9 1/2
Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: 26/06/1922 (Haydock)
Died: 24/12/1993 (Haydock)

Wilf BirkettA spectacular and daring goalkeeper, Wilf first played for Southport as a war-time guest, making his debut against Blackburn Rovers on 14 November 1944. At Everton he was kept in the background due to the consistency of Sagar and Burnett. Though dogged by many injuries he often turned out when less than 100% fit and rendered yeoman service even when playing under a handicap. In a war-time match at Liverpool in December he was beaten 12 times despite a brilliant performance and collapsed through sheer exhaustion just before the finish. He was at his best when Southport were really up against it — diving at the forwards' feet and rescuing his side from hopeless situations. His famous stentorian clearance cries — he was rather deaf — made him one of the game's characters. With the arrival of Ray Minshull he was transferred to Shrewsbury Town in 1952 but, though returning for 1953-54, was forced to retire because of a recurrent shoulder injury. He spent four more years at Haig Avenue as assistant trainer and then moved to Wigan Athletic, soon becoming first team trainer. He held this position for 12 years and was employed in the Parks Department of Ashton UDC. When over 40 he came out of retirement in an emergency to help the Latics in an F.A. Cup-tie at Gateshead. An attender at both the 1981 and 1991 club reunions, his health declined over a period of 15 months, but his death came suddenly at home on Christmas Eve, 1993.



Player Match Stats


Statistics include the following competitions
Cambrian Cup, Conference League Cup, English Jubilee Fund, FA Cup , FA Trophy , Football League Cup, Lancashire Floodlit Trophy, Lancashire Junior Cup, Lancashire League Medal Competition, Lancashire Senior Cup, League, Liverpool Challenge Cup, Liverpool Senior Cup, Northern Premier League Cup, Northern Premier League Shield, PLAY OFFS , President's Cup, President's Inter League, Third Division (North) Cup, Welsh Cup,

Season Apps Subs Goals
1944/1945 300
1945/1946 300
1946/1947 3300
1947/1948 2500
1948/1949 3700
1949/1950 4700
1950/1951 2900
1951/1952 1500
1953/1954 1900
Total 211 0 0

Appearances & Goals

Games where player was named on the team sheet

Date Competition Venue Opponents Score
13/02/1954 LeagueA CHESTER (1885) 0 - 1
06/02/1954 LeagueA ROCHDALE 0 - 2
30/01/1954 LeagueH WREXHAM 4 - 0
23/01/1954 LeagueH YORK CITY 1 - 1
16/01/1954 LeagueA SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1 - 1
02/01/1954 LeagueH WORKINGTON 1 - 1
01/01/1954 LeagueH BARNSLEY 5 - 2
28/12/1953 LeagueA BRADFORD PA 1 - 1
25/12/1953 LeagueH BRADFORD PA 1 - 0
19/12/1953 LeagueA GATESHEAD 0 - 1
14/12/1953 FA Cup / 2RA PORT VALE 0 - 2
12/12/1953 FA Cup / 2H PORT VALE 1 - 1
05/12/1953 LeagueA GRIMSBY TOWN 2 - 1
28/11/1953 LeagueH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 5 - 3
21/11/1953 FA Cup / 1H CARLISLE UNITED 1 - 0
14/11/1953 LeagueH HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 0
07/11/1953 LeagueA TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 2
31/10/1953 LeagueH CHESTERFIELD 2 - 1
20/10/1953 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1A ROCHDALE 2 - 0
22/04/1952 LeagueH ROCHDALE 1 - 2
14/04/1952 LeagueA LINCOLN CITY 0 - 4
12/04/1952 LeagueA ROCHDALE 0 - 1
11/04/1952 LeagueH LINCOLN CITY 0 - 3
05/04/1952 LeagueH MANSFIELD TOWN 0 - 1
29/03/1952 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 0
22/03/1952 LeagueH BRADFORD PA 0 - 0
15/03/1952 LeagueA CHESTERFIELD 0 - 2
13/03/1952 Lancashire Senior Cup / 2A BARROW 1 - 3
08/03/1952 LeagueH WREXHAM 2 - 1
01/03/1952 LeagueA GRIMSBY TOWN 1 - 4
08/12/1951 LeagueH CARLISLE UNITED 2 - 1
01/12/1951 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 - 0
27/11/1951 FA Cup / 1RH BANGOR CITY 3 - 0
24/11/1951 FA Cup / 1A BANGOR CITY 2 - 2
21/04/1951 LeagueH HARTLEPOOL 3 - 0
17/04/1951 LeagueH HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 1
14/04/1951 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 0 - 1
10/04/1951 LeagueH MANSFIELD TOWN 0 - 1
07/04/1951 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 2 - 0
04/04/1951 LeagueA CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 - 1
31/03/1951 LeagueA ROCHDALE 1 - 1
26/03/1951 LeagueA SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0 - 0
24/03/1951 LeagueH BRADFORD CITY 0 - 1
23/03/1951 LeagueH SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2 - 2
17/03/1951 LeagueA SHREWSBURY TOWN 5 - 1
10/03/1951 LeagueH CHESTER (1885) 0 - 1
03/03/1951 LeagueA DARLINGTON 1 - 1
24/02/1951 LeagueH LINCOLN CITY 0 - 2
17/02/1951 LeagueH WREXHAM 3 - 1
03/02/1951 LeagueA OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0 - 4
30/01/1951 LeagueA ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 - 1
27/01/1951 LeagueH GATESHEAD 1 - 0
16/01/1951 Lancashire Senior Cup / 2H MANCHESTER CITY 1 - 3
11/11/1950 LeagueH ROCHDALE 1 - 1
23/09/1950 LeagueH OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1 - 4
16/09/1950 LeagueA BRADFORD PA 0 - 2
12/09/1950 LeagueH BARROW 4 - 1
09/09/1950 LeagueH TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 1
07/09/1950 LeagueA BARROW 1 - 3
02/09/1950 LeagueH CREWE ALEXANDRA 2 - 0
26/08/1950 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 - 3
22/08/1950 LeagueA NEW BRIGHTON 0 - 1
19/08/1950 LeagueH CARLISLE UNITED 1 - 0
29/04/1950 LeagueH CARLISLE UNITED 1 - 2
08/04/1950 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 - 4
07/04/1950 LeagueH BRADFORD CITY 1 - 1
01/04/1950 LeagueH CREWE ALEXANDRA 2 - 2
25/03/1950 LeagueA TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 2
18/03/1950 LeagueH YORK CITY 1 - 1
11/03/1950 LeagueA OLDHAM ATHLETIC 5 - 2
04/03/1950 LeagueH LINCOLN CITY 1 - 1
25/02/1950 LeagueA BARROW 0 - 1
18/02/1950 LeagueA NEW BRIGHTON 0 - 1
11/02/1950 LeagueA CARLISLE UNITED 3 - 3
04/02/1950 LeagueH DARLINGTON 1 - 1
28/01/1950 LeagueA LINCOLN CITY 1 - 1
21/01/1950 LeagueA HARTLEPOOL 0 - 1
17/01/1950 Lancashire Senior Cup / 2H MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 0
14/01/1950 LeagueH GATESHEAD 0 - 3
12/01/1950 FA Cup / 3RA HULL CITY 0 - 5
07/01/1950 FA Cup / 3H HULL CITY 0 - 0
31/12/1949 LeagueA DONCASTER ROVERS 1 - 5
27/12/1949 LeagueH ROCHDALE 3 - 2
26/12/1949 LeagueA ROCHDALE 0 - 2
24/12/1949 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 1 - 0
17/12/1949 LeagueA MANSFIELD TOWN 2 - 1
10/12/1949 FA Cup / 2H BRADFORD CITY 2 - 1
03/12/1949 LeagueH ROTHERHAM UNITED 4 - 0
01/12/1949 FA Cup / 1RA BARROW 1 - 0
26/11/1949 FA Cup / 1H BARROW 1 - 1
19/11/1949 LeagueH BARROW 0 - 1
12/11/1949 LeagueA CREWE ALEXANDRA 2 - 1
05/11/1949 LeagueH TRANMERE ROVERS 2 - 1
29/10/1949 LeagueA YORK CITY 1 - 0
22/10/1949 LeagueH OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3 - 2
19/10/1949 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1A EVERTON 3 - 1
15/10/1949 LeagueA WREXHAM 0 - 1
08/10/1949 LeagueH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 - 0
01/10/1949 LeagueH NEW BRIGHTON 0 - 2
29/09/1949 Liverpool Senior CupA TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 2
24/09/1949 LeagueA DARLINGTON 2 - 0
17/09/1949 LeagueH HARTLEPOOL 2 - 1
12/09/1949 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 0 - 0
10/09/1949 LeagueA GATESHEAD 2 - 3
05/09/1949 LeagueH HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 1
03/09/1949 LeagueH DONCASTER ROVERS 3 - 3
31/08/1949 LeagueA CHESTER (1885) 1 - 4
27/08/1949 LeagueA STOCKPORT COUNTY 2 - 3
22/08/1949 LeagueH CHESTER (1885) 1 - 1
20/08/1949 LeagueH MANSFIELD TOWN 1 - 1
07/05/1949 LeagueH WREXHAM 3 - 0
02/05/1949 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 1 - 0
30/04/1949 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 0
26/04/1949 LeagueH HALIFAX TOWN 2 - 3
23/04/1949 LeagueH BRADFORD CITY 2 - 1
18/04/1949 LeagueH CHESTER (1885) 2 - 1
16/04/1949 LeagueA DONCASTER ROVERS 2 - 1
15/04/1949 LeagueA CHESTER (1885) 0 - 2
09/04/1949 LeagueH HULL CITY 0 - 0
02/04/1949 LeagueA ROTHERHAM UNITED 0 - 1
26/03/1949 LeagueH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 3 - 0
19/03/1949 LeagueA OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1 - 2
15/01/1949 LeagueH GATESHEAD 0 - 3
08/01/1949 FA Cup / 3A DERBY COUNTY 1 - 4
01/01/1949 LeagueA CARLISLE UNITED 2 - 4
18/12/1948 FA Cup / 2RA YORK CITY 2 - 0
11/12/1948 FA Cup / 2H YORK CITY 2 - 2
27/11/1948 FA Cup / 1H HORDEN CW 2 - 1
20/11/1948 LeagueH DONCASTER ROVERS 0 - 2
13/11/1948 LeagueA HULL CITY 1 - 5
06/11/1948 LeagueH ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 - 3
30/10/1948 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 - 3
23/10/1948 LeagueH OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0 - 1
16/10/1948 LeagueA TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 1
09/10/1948 LeagueH MANSFIELD TOWN 1 - 1
02/10/1948 LeagueA NEW BRIGHTON 1 - 0
28/09/1948 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1A BURNLEY 0 - 3
25/09/1948 LeagueH ROCHDALE 3 - 1
18/09/1948 LeagueA DARLINGTON 1 - 0
14/09/1948 LeagueH CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 - 0
11/09/1948 LeagueH HARTLEPOOL 1 - 2
06/09/1948 LeagueA CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 - 1
04/09/1948 LeagueA GATESHEAD 2 - 2
30/08/1948 LeagueA YORK CITY 3 - 1
28/08/1948 LeagueH CARLISLE UNITED 2 - 2
23/08/1948 LeagueH YORK CITY 0 - 2
21/08/1948 LeagueA STOCKPORT COUNTY 0 - 0
08/05/1948 Lancashire Senior Cup / FinalH BOLTON WANDERERS 1 - 5
26/04/1948 LeagueA STOCKPORT COUNTY 3 - 0
24/04/1948 LeagueA HARTLEPOOL 0 - 2
19/04/1948 LeagueH HARTLEPOOL 2 - 0
17/04/1948 LeagueH ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 - 2
10/04/1948 LeagueA CARLISLE UNITED 3 - 2
05/04/1948 Liverpool Senior CupA EVERTON 1 - 2
03/04/1948 LeagueH CREWE ALEXANDRA 2 - 0
29/03/1948 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 - 0
27/03/1948 LeagueA CHESTER (1885) 0 - 0
26/03/1948 LeagueH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 - 1
20/03/1948 LeagueH MANSFIELD TOWN 1 - 1
13/03/1948 LeagueA YORK CITY 3 - 3
06/03/1948 LeagueH OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4 - 0
28/02/1948 LeagueA TRANMERE ROVERS 2 - 2
21/02/1948 LeagueA NEW BRIGHTON 2 - 2
14/02/1948 LeagueH ROCHDALE 2 - 2
07/02/1948 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 0 - 0
31/01/1948 LeagueH WREXHAM 1 - 0
24/01/1948 LeagueA GATESHEAD 2 - 3
10/01/1948 Lancashire Senior Cup / SFH OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1 - 0
03/01/1948 LeagueH BRADFORD CITY 1 - 2
01/01/1948 LeagueA DARLINGTON 3 - 1
26/08/1947 LeagueH LINCOLN CITY 1 - 1
23/08/1947 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 0 - 4
17/05/1947 LeagueA LINCOLN CITY 2 - 4
10/05/1947 LeagueA DONCASTER ROVERS 0 - 2
05/05/1947 Liverpool Senior CupA SOUTH LIVERPOOL 1 - 3
03/05/1947 LeagueA BARROW 1 - 2
26/04/1947 LeagueH WREXHAM 1 - 1
19/04/1947 LeagueH DONCASTER ROVERS 0 - 5
12/04/1947 LeagueH ROCHDALE 0 - 2
07/04/1947 LeagueA ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 - 2
05/04/1947 LeagueA NEW BRIGHTON 0 - 1
04/04/1947 LeagueH ROTHERHAM UNITED 2 - 0
29/03/1947 LeagueH HALIFAX TOWN 6 - 1
22/03/1947 LeagueA CARLISLE UNITED 1 - 1
15/03/1947 LeagueH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 - 1
01/03/1947 LeagueH BRADFORD CITY 0 - 1
22/02/1947 LeagueA OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4 - 2
15/02/1947 LeagueH STOCKPORT COUNTY 4 - 1
01/02/1947 LeagueH CREWE ALEXANDRA 2 - 2
25/01/1947 LeagueA HARTLEPOOL 0 - 3
18/01/1947 LeagueH GATESHEAD 2 - 1
14/01/1947 Liverpool Senior Cup / 1 2LH SOUTH LIVERPOOL 1 - 1
11/01/1947 LeagueH NEW BRIGHTON 2 - 0
04/01/1947 LeagueA HULL CITY 0 - 4
28/12/1946 LeagueH DARLINGTON 2 - 2
26/12/1946 LeagueA YORK CITY 1 - 1
25/12/1946 LeagueH YORK CITY 0 - 3
21/12/1946 LeagueA WREXHAM 1 - 1
07/12/1946 LeagueA ROCHDALE 0 - 0
04/12/1946 Liverpool Senior Cup / 1 1LA SOUTH LIVERPOOL 1 - 1
30/11/1946 FA Cup / 1A STOCKPORT COUNTY 0 - 2
23/11/1946 LeagueA HALIFAX TOWN 1 - 1
16/11/1946 LeagueH CARLISLE UNITED 0 - 2
09/11/1946 LeagueA ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 - 1
02/11/1946 LeagueH BARROW 2 - 2
03/04/1946 Liverpool Senior CupA LIVERPOOL 0 - 2
19/09/1945 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1 2LA MANCHESTER CITY 0 - 5
05/09/1945 Lancashire Senior Cup / 1 1LH MANCHESTER CITY 3 - 2
28/04/1945 Lancashire Senior Cup / 2 2LA EVERTON 1 - 1
21/04/1945 Lancashire Senior Cup / 2 1LH EVERTON 0 - 5
26/12/1944 Liverpool Senior Cup / SF 1LA TRANMERE ROVERS 2 - 5

Related News Articles

On This Day: December 8th

by Daniel Hayes -

Today we head back to 1951 where Carlisle United were the visitors to Haig Avenue. Whilst Southport did secure the win, the game was more significant for the weather. The Liverpool Echo reported that a "waterlogged ground made conditions difficult at Haig Avenue but Southport went mudlarking in great style". Injuries however

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