Background
Birchenough was born in Haslington, Cheshire, and played for non-league sides Haslington, Crewe Hornets, Nantwich, Sandbach Street.Mary"s, and Audley, before joining Burslem Portuguese Vale in October 1897.
Birchenough was born in Haslington, Cheshire, and played for non-league sides Haslington, Crewe Hornets, Nantwich, Sandbach Street.Mary"s, and Audley, before joining Burslem Portuguese Vale in October 1897.
He played 167 league games in the Football League for, Glossop, and Manchester United between 1898 and 1903. He was a virtual ever-present at the Athletic Ground. After 24 league and cup appearances in 1899–1900 he was sold to Glossop in January 1900 for £250 to ease Vale"s financial difficulties.
The "Hillmen" finished bottom of the First Division in 1900, and finished fifth and eighth in the Second Division in the 1900-1901 and 1901-1902 seasons respectively.
He later played for Crewe Alexandra in the Birmingham & District League.