Brian Bithell

Brian Bithell
Personal information
Full name Brian Bithell[1]
Date of birth (1956-10-05) 5 October 1956 (age 68)[1]
Place of birth Watford, England[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1977 Stoke City 17 (0)
1977 → Port Vale (loan) 2 (0)
1977–1978 Wimbledon 6 (0)
1978–1979 Macclesfield Town 14 (2)
Stafford Rangers
Congleton Town
Rhyl
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brian Bithell (born 5 October 1956) is an English former footballer who played as a defender for Stoke City, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Macclesfield Town, Stafford Rangers, Congleton Town and Rhyl.

Career

Bithell started his career with Stoke City.[1] He started 16 First Division games in the 1976–77 season, as both Tony Waddington and George Eastham proved unable to lead the "Potters" away from the relegation zone.[1] 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 Port Vale in the Third Division.[1] He only played two games at Vale Park, before returning to the Victoria Ground the following month.[1] He joined Dario Gradi's Wimbledon in December 1977, featuring in six Fourth Division games towards the end of the 1977–78 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.[1] After retiring, he worked as a manager at a Tesco in Middlewich.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[4][5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1976–77 First Division 17 0 1 0 0 0 18 0
Port Vale (loan) 1977–78 Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Wimbledon 1977–78 Fourth Division 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Macclesfield Town 1978–79 Northern Premier League 14 2 0 0 2 0 16 2
Career total 39 2 1 0 2 0 42 2

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack; Dunk, Peter (1976). Rothmans football yearbook. 1976-77. London : Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-362-00259-1. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Brian Bithell". historicaldons.com. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. ^ Brian Bithell at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.