Ralph Birkett	Middlesbrough FC 1 appearance, 1 debut goal P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 3: A 1 100% successful 1935 captain: none minutes played: 90
Profile
Full name	Ralph James Evans Birkett
Born	9 January 1913 at 5 Belmont Road, Ellacombe, Torquay, Devonshire [registered as Ralph J.E. in Newton Abbot, March 1913]. To James William and Minnie Emma (née Evans)
Birthplace notes	So much confusion surrounds Birkett's birthplace, but the essential details provided are taken from his undisputed birth certificate.
census notes	According to the 1939 register, Ralph is a professional footballer, married to Irene, and living at 535 Marton Road, in the Marton area of Middlesbrough, the home of the Bensley's.
Married	to Irene M. Besley [registered as Ralph J. in Middlesbrough, North Riding, December 1936].
Died	8 July 2002 in Brixham, Devon, aged 89 years 180 days [registered as Ralph James, in Torbay, July 2002].
Height/Weight	5' 9", 11st. 4lbs [1938].
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & FindMyPast.com
Club Career
Club(s)	Began his junior career representing London and captaining the Middlesex County boys. Birkett continued his player career with Dartmouth United FC of the Plymouth & District League. Joined Torquay United FC as an amateur in 1929, and turning professional March 1930. After scoring nineteen goals in 95 league appearances, Birkett joined Arsenal FC on 20 April 1933 for a £1500 transfer fee, but only made nineteen league appearances, in which he scored seven times. He joined Middlesbrough FC on 15 March 1935 for a £5000 fee and made 93 league appearances, with a return of 35 goals. Newcastle United FC signed him on 30 July 1938 for £5900, he managed to score three goals in 24 league appearances before war interrupted his career. During the war, he served as a Physical Training instructor in the Army and made guest appearances for Darlington FC, Fulham FC, Chester FC, back at Middlesbrough FC, Chelsea FC and Reading FC, as well as representing the Army. He retired in 1941. Although he did make one further appearance for Torquay United FC on 12 January 1946, before league football resumed.
Club honours	None
Individual honours	Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions	None
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number	One of three who became the 615th players (617) to appear for England.
Position(s)	Outside-right
Only match	No. 199, 19 October 1935, Ireland 1 England 3, a British Championship match at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged 22 years 283 days.
Major tournaments	British Championship 1935-36;
Team honours	None
Individual honours	England wartime (one appearance)
Distinctions	Just the sixth Devon-born player to represent England. Died a day after Ray Wood.
Beyond England
No additional information, but after leaving. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.34.

Ralph Birkett - Career Statistics
Squads	Apps	comp. apps	Mins.		goals ave.min	comp. goals	Capt.	Disc.
2	1	1	90	1	90 min	1	none	none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

Ralph Birkett - Match History

Age 22
1	199	19 October 1935 - Ireland 1 England 3, Windsor Park, Belfast	BC	AW	Start 63	or
200		4 December 1935 - England 3 Germany 0, White Hart Lane, Tottenham	Fr	HW	withdrew injured

Notes

____________________

CG