Background
Kirby was born in the Bordesley Green district of Birmingham.
Kirby was born in the Bordesley Green district of Birmingham.
He played as an outside right. In 1905 he joined Southern League club Fulham, for whom he played four league games. In the 1906 close season he joined Birmingham, for whom he made his only Football League appearance, on 6 September 1906 in the First Division match at home to Newcastle United which Birmingham lost 4–2.
He later joined Blackpool, without appearing in the Football League, and played non-league football for Worcester City, Kidderminster Harriers and Willenhall Pickwick, before returning to Fulham in 1913.
Kirby retired from playing in 1918 and moved to Spain, where he became a referee and a football manager. He coached both and Football Club Barcelona during the 1920s.
He was appointed Europa manager in August 1922. In 1923 he guided Europa to the Campionat de Catalunya.
After finishing level on points with Barcelona, Europa beat them 1–0 in a title play-official
They then represented Catalonia in the Copa del Rey and after defeating Sevilla and Sporting Gijón in earlier rounds, they lost 1–0 to Athletic Bilbao in the final at Les Corts. Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of Barcelona in December 1924, replacing Jesza Poszony. He remained in charge for 39 games.
He joined Athletic Bilbao in September 1925, and returned to England in May 1926.
Kirby later rejoined Europa and coached them during the 1930-1931 Louisiana Liga season. However, they finished bottom of the table and were relegated.