Dave Birch

The Dave Birch Page

Dave joined the club in 1994 at the time of the creation of the Reserve side. After impressing in the pre-season trial he immediately stepped into the first team. Nice skills and good balance as well as a good work rate were his main attributes either in midfield or up-front.

Dave played around 40 games for the club scoring 15 times over the 94/95 and 95/96 seasons, sadly in the summer of 96 he moved away and the club lost a good bloke as well as a good player.

September 2002 and Dave has found this site and sent a message:

When I left the Air Force in 1996 I moved back to Staffordshire and worked for a recruitment company for 4 years. Anybody who saw a TV programme and thought they saw me - yes you are right it was me. Got stitched up big time for that one. Now work for a Training Company as a Contract Compliance Manager.

Decided to re-join the first team I ever played for (as a 17 year old) half way through the 96/97 season. Came out as leading goalscorer and Player of the year. Following season 97/98 was leading goalscorer again (54 goals) and player of the year again. Okay, okay - I'd taken a step down in level of football to Sunday morning pub leagues but what the hell - I was a hero!!!!!!!)

I was obviously so good a goalscorer that after promotion to the Premier League the manager thought that if I could score 54 goals any idiot could so moved me to Centre Half!! That proved to be my last season due to injuries, divorce, age etc.

Still look back on my 2 years at Great Paxton with very fond memories. I had replied to the advert for players in a bid to meet new people and get out of the Air Force life for a bit. The welcome from the team and everyone associated with it was brillliant and I will never forget it. The enthusiasm and effort put in by people made the club what it was and I am really pleased to see the success you have gone on to achieve. The bruised kidneys against NuCabs will stay with me forever. Don't think I have ever played in a game like that. Being punched repeatedly throughout the game and told "Go down and I will kill you" by a 6ft 3 inch black fella certainly sharpens your senses.

I am really quite proud to make one of the only 10 or so "old boys" worthy of a mention. Pleased to see that Mattie Plumb is still playing. I remember him as one of the best players I ever had the pleasure of playing with - even if he tried to play every position, take every free kick, corner, throw in, penalty etc during a game. I'm sure he would have refereed the game as well given half the chance. Danny made me laugh. Used to wonder what was going on in his head sometimes but he always made me laugh. I'm sure he didn't mean to most of the time but hell he did anyway!! After seeing his picture on the site without long hair and beard I can only imagine he must still be single and understand why he grew is hair!!!!!! (Sorry Dan)