13 Facts About Francis Birley

Francis Hornby Birley was an English footballer who played as a half back.

Francis Birley won the FA Cup three times in the 1870s and made two appearances for England in 1874 and 1875.

Francis Birley's uncle was Hugh Birley, who became Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Manchester from 1868 to 1883.

At the age of 13, Francis Birley started at Winchester College where he remained until 1868.

Francis Birley was an all round sportsman who played for the school at both cricket and football.

Francis Birley was a keen athlete and was the school champion at the pole vault and high jump.

Francis Birley was one of the first to study Law separately at Oxford.

Francis Birley was not a great academic, achieving only a third class Bachelor of Arts degree in 1872, although he was more successful as a sportsman.

Francis Birley made a total of 32 appearances for the Wanderers between 1873 and 1877; his last game was the 1877 FA Cup final.

Francis Birley did however play for Lancashire, making his first appearance in a first-class match against Hampshire on 21 July 1870 when he took three wickets, helping Lancashire to win by ten wickets.

Francis Birley played twice more for Lancashire in the summer of 1870, and once in 1872.

Francis Birley later worked on the Northern Circuit and became a Justice of the Peace in Surrey.

Francis Birley had seven children, two of whom died as infants.