Career
Bithell started his career with Stoke City. He started 16 First Division games in the 1976-1977 season, as both Tony Waddington and George Eastham proved unable to lead the "Potters" away from the relegation zone. He never featured in the Second Division, and instead crossed the Potteries divide in September 1977 to spend time on loan with Roy Sproson"s Portuguese Vale in the Third Division.
He only played two games at Vale Park, before returning to the Victoria Ground the following month.
He joined Dario Gradi"s Wimbledon in December 1977, featuring in six Fourth Division games towards the end of the 1977-1978 season. After leaving Plough Lane he left the Football League, and later played for Macclesfield Town (Northern Premier League), Stafford Rangers (Northern Premier League), Congleton Town and Rhyl.
After retiring he worked as a manager at a Tesco in Middlewich.