DAVE KEMPS CORNER
Michael Birmingham’s appointment as youth team
manager at Wicor Rec comes with the blessing of his
former Moneyfields boss Miles Rutherford who reckoned
the approach from Portchester for his services needed to
be seriously considered.
After serving Money’s for many seasons as a player and
later in a coaching capacity, the 40-year-old former
Pompey midfielder took Rutherford’s advice on board and
grabbed the opportunity to manage the ever strengthening
youth team ranks at Portchester after a positive meeting
with club chairman Paul Kelly and manager Graham Rix.
Birmingham brings the experience of senior non-league
management with him - he was chairman Jack Pearce’s
first team manager at Bognor for several seasons after a
lengthy spell playing along the coast at Nyewood lane.
And having spending formative years perfecting his
footballing ability in Pompey’s youth team, Birmingham’s
appointment at Portchester appears to be one that fills an
important vacancy at the club - in every sense of the word
an easy decision for him to make.
“There was only one answer I could give Graham Rix when
I met him and that was an immediate yes when he asked
me if I would take the youth team managers job on board,
said Birmingham.
I can honestly say Portchester is the only club I would have
left Moneyfields to join, working with Miles was a great
experience and I’m sorry he has also decided to stand
down there after serving them so loyally for many seasons.
But in my case I felt the need to get back into
management, to be my own man again and make the
most of being here with the kids who I hope will have the
same aspirations I had coming through in my time at
Pompey”.
I still keep in touch with him all these years later.
And I had 17 years working with the most eccentric man
in football at Bognor - Jack Pearce is his name - and
loved every minute of it, first as a player, a coach, then
assistant manager and taking over from Jack when he
was recovering from illness - a great time working for a
great footballing cman who loved the club.
So I’ve got much to be thankful for and at 40 years of age,
still believe I have something left to give back to a game
that has been a joy to me”.
As for his professional career at Pompey, Birmingham has
no regrets at being released, indeed, he is a firm believer
of not being quite good enough to make the grade.
“It’s about opinions I suppose but it’s getting on with what
life and football is all about and I ended up playing at
Dorchester, said Birmingham.
But eventually the travelling from home in Portsmouth to
Dorchester became a burden and Jack Pearce came to the
rescue and gave me a chance in his side at Bognor where
it felt right for me, in fact I stayed there 17 years, which
paints it’s own picture”.
These days and after working as a builder for many years,
Birmingham is now a courier driver, allowing him the
time necessary to dedicate his management and coaching
skills to the advantage of Portchester.
“I don’t regret anything that has come my way in football,
I loved my time at Pompey, Bognor and Moneyfields
and can look forward to giving back much of what I have
learned in my new career at Portchester”.
Ian McDonald - 650 Football League appearances in
a career that included Barrow, Workington, Liverpool,
Colchester United, Mansfield Town, York and Aldershot.
Birmingham has fond memories in the colours of his
home town club and considers
Also youth team manager at Pompey and later,
manager at Aldershot.
that his own career was helped in no small way by those
who coached him to make the professional ranks.
Mike Bailey - Nearly 650 Football League appearances
in a career that included Charlton Athletic,
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hereford United.
“My coaches were Ian McDonald and Mike Bailey at
Pompey and they inspired me to improve every area of my
play, added Birmingham.
They were hard but fair, I worked with Ian again at
Aldershot, a really decent man and a quality coach, in fact,
Represented his country - England under 23’s four
appearances and twice at full international level.
Managed Hereford United, Charlton Athletic and
Brighton & Hove Albion. Later, became reserve team
manager at Fratton Park.
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