Background
Kirkwood was born in Dalserf, South Lanarkshire.
Kirkwood was born in Dalserf, South Lanarkshire.
He played as an inside right. He turned professional with Airdrieonians in 1923, and in August of the following year moved to Rangers. Unable to dislodge Scotland international Andy Cunningham from the starting eleven, Kirkwood spent two spells on loan at Street Johnstone, and played only once for Rangers in the Scottish League, in a 2–1 defeat of Partick Thistle on 28 August 1926.
In November of that year, he joined Sheffield Wednesday, where he made 18 appearances in as many months before moving on to Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the 1927-1928 season for a £500 fee.
Described as slow but constructive, Kirkwood scored 74 goals from 168 League appearances for the club and was their top scorer in the 1928-1929 season with 21 goals in all competitions. His career was affected by injury, and he was allowed to leave on a free transfer in October 1933, spending a few weeks with Luton Town before finishing the season and his professional career with Swindon Town.
Kirkwood returned to Scotland where he worked as a miner. He died in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire in 1977 at the age of 76.