| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Conyers Kirby | ||
| Date of birth | 1884 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 9 April 1946 (aged 61–62) | ||
| Place of death | England, Middlesex | ||
| Playing position | Outside right | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| – | Royal Army Medical Corps | ? | (?) |
| 1905–1906 | Fulham | 4 | (0) |
| 1906–1907 | Birmingham | 1 | (0) |
| 1907–190x | Blackpool | 0 | (0) |
| – | Worcester City | ? | (?) |
| 1908–1911 | Kidderminster Harriers | ? | (?) |
| 1911–1913 | Willenhall Pickwick | ? | (?) |
| 1913–191x | Fulham | 0 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1922-1924 | CE Europa | ||
| 1924-1925 | FC Barcelona | ||
| 1925-1926 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| 1930-19xx | CE Europa | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Conyers Kirby (1884 – 9 April 1946), also known as Ralph Kirby, was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham.[1] He played as an outside right.
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Kirby was born in the Bordesley Green district of Birmingham. While serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he represented them at football and became a champion sprinter. In 1905 he joined Southern League club Fulham, for whom he played four league games.[2] In the 1906 close season he joined Birmingham,[3] for whom he made his only Football League appearance,[1] on 6 September 1906 in the First Division match at home to Newcastle United which Birmingham lost 4–2.[4] 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.[1][3]
Kirby retired from playing in 1918 and moved to Spain, where he became a referee[3][5] and a football manager. He coached both CE Europa and FC Barcelona during the 1920s. He was appointed CE Europa manager in August 1922[6] In 1923 he guided Europa to the Campionat de Catalunya. After finishing level on points with FC Barcelona, Europa then beat them 1-0 in a title play-off. They then represented Catalonia in the Copa del Rey and after defeating Sevilla FC and Sporting Gijon in earlier rounds, they lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao in the final at the Les Corts.
Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of FC Barcelona in December 1924 and replaced Jesza Poszony.[7] His first game in charge was a 2-0 win in a friendly against First Vienna FC on Christmas Day 1925. He remained in charge for 39 games.
He joined Athletic Bilbao in September 1925[8] and came back to England in May 1926.[9]
Kirby later rejoined CE Europa and coached them in La Liga during the 1930-31 season. However they finished bottom of the table and were relegated.
He died in Spain on 9 April 1946.[1]
CE Europa
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