Alan Birchenall

Alan John Birchenall, (born 22 August 1945) is an English former footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s as a forward. Born in East Ham he made his Football League debut with Sheffield United and went on to have a varied career, spending time at Chelsea and Leicester City as well as playing in the NASL and representing England at Under-23 level.

Club career

Sheffield United Birchenall's parents had moved from East Ham to Nottinghamshire when he was four, and he played in the local junior leagues for Thorneywood Boys where he was spotted by Sheffield United. After three years at Chelsea, he joined Crystal Palace, in June 1970, in another £100,000 deal and was the team's top scorer in his first season at Selhurst Park, with 10 goals from 36 appearances.

Leicester City and the NASL Leicester City paid £80,000 for him in September 1971,

Awards In the 2003 New Year Honours, Birchenall was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for Charitable Services to the community in Leicestershire." Leicester City Council announced in February 2009 that he was to be given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester alongside singer Engelbert Humperdinck and author Sue Townsend. Two years later in July 2011 he received an honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Leicester.