Around 38 years ago, Alan Birchenall had his first club picture taken at Leicester City’s Belvoir Drive training ground after signing from Crystal Palace. Nobody, least of all ‘The Birch’ himself, could’ve predicted the impact he would have on the club, nearly four decades later…

Well known for his role as Club Ambassador and his charity work, it shouldn’t be forgotten that ‘The Birch’ could play a bit too. In his six years wearing the blue shirt, Birchenall made 156 appearances, scoring 12 goals and played a vital role in arguably the most entertaining team the club has produced.

Soar caught up with ‘Mr Leicester City’ to talk about his playing career, the club’s ups and downs and being awarded the Freedom of the City…

“After the last four or five seasons, it’s been like a breath of fresh air. Just over a year ago we were in the depths of despair, but now the atmosphere is fantastic.”

“It was a big ask, but we bounced back. The chairman stood by the club and gave Nigel the backing. It was a magnificent achievement when you consider Nottingham Forest took three years to get promoted.”

Alan has been impressed with the manager and his influence on the club.

“Nigel’s done a fantastic job. People come up to me and ask, “Is he as dour as that?” I tell you, Nigel Pearson behind the scenes is a character. He has that presence about him. I’ve seen 17 managers here and he’s in the top three in terms of his presence.”

Trying to put into words exactly what the club means to Birchenall reveals the man’s passion for Leicester City.

“It’s become my life. I can’t imagine not being involved with this club and I will be until I take my dying breath. I love it. I’ve been coming down here for four decades. I’ve seen promotion, relegation, administration and players and managers come and go. The club means everything to me. I just wake up and think Leicester City.”

Alan’s recognition both in the city and at Buckingham Palace have been largely due to his charity work, but he remains modest about his involvement.

“I was awarded the MBE on the back of this club and it’s the same with the Freedom of the City. It’s a great honour. I’ve always said I was adopted in 1971 when I came here. To get the Freedom of the City, alongside the list of other recipients was mind boggling. I was so proud.”

“They all take the mickey about the award in the local. The barmaids curtsey and if they don’t get my pint straight away, I say I’ll get them put in the stocks!”

Looking back at his playing days, Alan finds it hard to pick out the highlights.

“I can honestly say I never came off the pitch in my 18 years without having a laugh. I came out with an umbrella once in the rain against Arsenal, wore a bobble hat and gave pies out when someone went down injured!”

Giving the fans memories and something to take away from the game was always a priority for Birch.

“For me, football’s about entertainment. I know times have changed and there’s a lot at stake now. Although we didn’t win anything under Jimmy Bloomfield, we did entertain. Martin O’Neill used to give me stick when he was here, he said, “I’m fed up of hearing about the ‘Bloomfield boys’ Birchy, you never won anything.”

“Martin’s teams went into Europe and won League Cups and I couldn’t argue with him over that. But we were flamboyant, we played with a smile on our faces and City fans that are old enough to remember those days always say what a great side that was.”

“People would come to Filbert Street and even if we lost they’d walk away saying, ‘Did you see that bit of skill from Worthington?’, ‘Did you see Glover, Stringfellow and Sammels?’ They were great days.”

As well as playing with some top class talent, Birch also faced some of the game’s all-time greats.

“The best players I played against were Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. I was playing for the chairman’s club, San Jose Earthquakes, against the New York Cosmos at the Giants Stadium and there were 66,000 people there. The coach at the time told me to mark Pele and I thought, ‘Oh fantastic!’ After about ten minutes they had a corner. When it came into the box, I’m at the far post, Pele just rises above me and plonks this header straight back into the far corner. I came in at half-time and the coach gave me a rollicking, he said: “I gave you a job to mark Pele, and you didn’t do it. You’re off Pele!” I thought, ‘Thank Christ for that’. He said, “Second half you can mark Beckenbauer!”

“There was also Georgie Best, Charlton and Law, Tony Currie and Osgood at Chelsea, there were some great players around. The late 60’s and early 70’s was a great era to play in. It was a dream and I lived it.”

After coming to the club as a striker, Alan spent just one season up front before converting to a midfield role.

“The first nine years of my career I was a striker. I came here and had a terrible first season. I said to Jimmy Bloomfield that I’d like to play midfield after ten years of getting kicked. Tackling from behind was obligatory in my day and when you’ve got Jackie Charlton, Norman Hunter and ‘Chopper’ Harris all having a pop at you, you get bruised!”

“I played in front of the back four and let Weller and Sammels go. I just sat there and controlled midfield. I was probably a bit like Neil Lennon under Martin O’Neill a few years ago.”

As well as relishing City’s success, Alan has a passion for developing sport throughout Leicestershire.

“It’s a great sporting county which is something to be proud of. Let’s become the capital of sport, not just for Britain but for the whole of Europe. We’ve got some of the best sporting teams, let’s have the facilities to go with it and give the youth in the city something to

focus on.”

“We’re hosting the Special Olympics this year. I’m an ambassador and it’s brought it home to me that sport brings everybody together. I’ve got all these things in the back of my mind for when I become Mayor! After my gong and the Freedom of the City award, anything is possible!”

Even though Birch was joking about being Mayor, he certainly has the passion for the job and this was highlighted in his latest run at the Walkers Stadium, which was his 29th.

“I’ve been retiring every year but always end up doing it again. We’ve raised nearly £750,000 for Leicester charities over the years.”

“The £75,000 we raised for Keith Weller really touched me. Keith, for me, was one of the top five greatest Leicester City players ever. We couldn’t prevent his terminal illness but we prolonged his life so he could see his grandson and that was Leicester City supporters. I want to thank the fans and the Leicester people in general for their support over the years.”

The Birch is also relishing the 125 year anniversary of the club next season.

“People say it’s all about now, but it’s also about 125 years of this football club. Arthur Rowley, Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks, Gary Lineker, Frank Worthington, Keith Weller, Steve Walsh and Muzzy Izzet. For me to be part of this club for the last 38 years has been a privilege and an honour.”

One name missing from that list is that of Alan Birchenall MBE, Mr Leicester City.