Old friends ready to help Alan Birchenall's push to a million pounds

News

22 Feb 2012

By Leicester Mercury | Posted Wednesday 22 February, 2012

When Ben Marshall made his full Leicester City debut at Norwich last Saturday, he became the 400th player to represent the club since the day Alan Birchenall first signed more than 40 years ago.

The 66-year-old Birchenall first joined City in September 1971, and he has been associated with the club, in some capacity, ever since, whether as a player or an ambassador.

On Saturday, City are hosting a special dinner to honour the Birch and his massive contribution, not only to the club but to around 70 charities across the county over the last 32 years.

Former team-mates and City stars who have graced the shirt during the last five decades will be turning out at the King Power Stadium to not only honour the Birch, but help raise money for the Foxes Foundation One in a Million campaign.

The campaign was set up this season to try to raise the final £150,000 to push the total raised by the Birch over the magical £1million mark.

The Birch has raised around £850,000 for local charities in the last 32 years, mostly through his annual end-of-season run around the pitch, first at Filbert Street and now the King Power Stadium.

The Birch, who is an Honorary Freeman of the City and was awarded an MBE in 2003 for his charity work, said reaching £1m would be one of his greatest achievements. "I am so grateful to this club and the fans for allowing me to do this job and giving me the platform to help so many charities," he said. "Even when I appear at a funeral of a City fan, which are incredibly sad moments, I feel immensely proud to be there, representing the club.

"The 40 years have been fantastic and I have such amazing memories, both as a player and as the match-day announcer or PR man.

"The next home game against Coventry City will also be my 785th appearance on the microphone.

"I have only missed two games in 32 years, and I was gutted about that. I went to Goa as an ambassador for the club.

"I have been joined on a lap of my annual run by the players of Manchester United, including David Beckham, Arsenal, Chelsea and so many others, and I am now preparing for my 32nd run.

"I should be sat in my back garden taking it easy at my time of life, but this place keeps me feeling young and I love the banter with the players, all 400 of them who have walked through these doors since I first joined the club.

"There have been so many characters at the club and the banter has been amazing."

Mark Wallington, Len Glover, Mike Stringfellow, Paul Ramsey, Steve Kember, Jon Sammels, Ally Mauchlen, Simon Grayson, David Nish, Steve Walsh, Matt Elliott, Steve Guppy and Gerry Taggart will be among the special guests who the Birch will be having fun with throughout the evening, and manager Nigel Pearson and his staff will also be there.

There will be an auction, with a special behind-the-scenes day out at the Match of the Day studios, and a rare tour of Coronation Street up for grabs.

All proceeds will go to One in a Million, which is benefiting 10 charities: Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland, Leicester Children's Hospital, LOROS, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, PROSTaid, Rainbows, Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Fund (Lord Mayor's Appeal), the Harley Staples Cancer Trust, VISTA, and Wishes 4 Kids.

"It is going to be great to catch up with the guys, but the most important thing about the whole night is raising money for One in a Million," said the Birch.

"I don't think there will be many people who haven't benefited from these charities at some point. It would be unbelievable if we could break through that £1m barrier.

"I would like to thank King Power, the chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn, Top Raksriaksorn, chief executive Susan Whelan, and everyone who has helped arrange this evening for recognition for my time at the club. I am really chuffed.

"When I signed for City in 1971 and had my photo taken by the Mercury, leaning against the railings next to the training pitch, I would never have thought that 40 years on I would still be here. "Here's to the next 40 years!"

Tickets are £55 per person or £500 for a table of 10. Book online at www.lcfcdirect.com, visit the City Fanstore, call the City Sales Centre on 0844 815 5000, or email:sales@lcfc.co.ukBy Leicester Mercury | Posted Wednesday 22 February, 2012

When Ben Marshall made his full Leicester City debut at Norwich last Saturday, he became the 400th player to represent the club since the day Alan Birchenall first signed more than 40 years ago. The 66-year-old Birchenall first joined City in September 1971, and he has been associated with the club, in some capacity, ever since, whether as a player or an ambassador.

On Saturday, City are hosting a special dinner to honour the Birch and his massive contribution, not only to the club but to around 70 charities across the county over the last 32 years.

Former team-mates and City stars who have graced the shirt during the last five decades will be turning out at the King Power Stadium to not only honour the Birch, but help raise money for the Foxes Foundation One in a Million campaign.

The campaign was set up this season to try to raise the final £150,000 to push the total raised by the Birch over the magical £1million mark.

The Birch has raised around £850,000 for local charities in the last 32 years, mostly through his annual end-of-season run around the pitch, first at Filbert Street and now the King Power Stadium.

The Birch, who is an Honorary Freeman of the City and was awarded an MBE in 2003 for his charity work, said reaching £1m would be one of his greatest achievements. "I am so grateful to this club and the fans for allowing me to do this job and giving me the platform to help so many charities," he said. "Even when I appear at a funeral of a City fan, which are incredibly sad moments, I feel immensely proud to be there, representing the club.

"The 40 years have been fantastic and I have such amazing memories, both as a player and as the match-day announcer or PR man.

"The next home game against Coventry City will also be my 785th appearance on the microphone.

"I have only missed two games in 32 years, and I was gutted about that. I went to Goa as an ambassador for the club.

"I have been joined on a lap of my annual run by the players of Manchester United, including David Beckham, Arsenal, Chelsea and so many others, and I am now preparing for my 32nd run.

"I should be sat in my back garden taking it easy at my time of life, but this place keeps me feeling young and I love the banter with the players, all 400 of them who have walked through these doors since I first joined the club.

"There have been so many characters at the club and the banter has been amazing."

Mark Wallington, Len Glover, Mike Stringfellow, Paul Ramsey, Steve Kember, Jon Sammels, Ally Mauchlen, Simon Grayson, David Nish, Steve Walsh, Matt Elliott, Steve Guppy and Gerry Taggart will be among the special guests who the Birch will be having fun with throughout the evening, and manager Nigel Pearson and his staff will also be there.

There will be an auction, with a special behind-the-scenes day out at the Match of the Day studios, and a rare tour of Coronation Street up for grabs.

All proceeds will go to One in a Million, which is benefiting 10 charities: Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland, Leicester Children's Hospital, LOROS, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, PROSTaid, Rainbows, Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Fund (Lord Mayor's Appeal), the Harley Staples Cancer Trust, VISTA, and Wishes 4 Kids.

"It is going to be great to catch up with the guys, but the most important thing about the whole night is raising money for One in a Million," said the Birch.

"I don't think there will be many people who haven't benefited from these charities at some point. It would be unbelievable if we could break through that £1m barrier.

"I would like to thank King Power, the chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn, Top Raksriaksorn, chief executive Susan Whelan, and everyone who has helped arrange this evening for recognition for my time at the club. I am really chuffed.

"When I signed for City in 1971 and had my photo taken by the Mercury, leaning against the railings next to the training pitch, I would never have thought that 40 years on I would still be here. "Here's to the next 40 years!"

Tickets are £55 per person or £500 for a table of 10. Book online at www.lcfcdirect.com, visit the City Fanstore, call the City Sales Centre on 0844 815 5000, or email:sales@lcfc.co.uk

More articles

See all news

News

12th February

Who’s your local hero? Nominate them for a LOROS award

LOROS Hospice is inviting people to nominate their local heroes and see them honoured with an engraved leaf on a beautiful new tree sculpture.

New LOROS charity shop in Beaumont Leys shopping centre

News

24th January

LOROS Hospice opens new charity shop in Beaumont Leys

LOROS Hospice proudly opened a new charity shop located in Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre on Tuesday 23rd January.

News

19th January

LOROS welcomes new charity of the year partnership with retail display specialist Three Point

LOROS has warmly welcomed the news that Three Point have announced the hospice as their charity of the year for 2024.

{{ partial:general/slider :subtitle="shared_content:story_subtitle" :title="shared_content:story_title" :copy="shared_content:story_copy" :buttons="shared_content:story_buttons" :images="shared_content:story_images" }}
LOROS, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QE
Fundraising Regulator