| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 March 1884[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 9 April 1946(1946-04-09) (aged 62) | ||
| Position | Outside right | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | |||
| 1905–1906 | Fulham | 4 | (0) |
| 1906–1907 | Birmingham | 1 | (0) |
| 1907–190? | Blackpool | 0 | (0) |
| – | Worcester City | ||
| 1908–1911 | Kidderminster Harriers | ||
| 1911–1913 | Willenhall Pickwick | ||
| 1913–191? | Fulham | 0 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1922–1924 | CE Europa | ||
| 1924–1925 | FC Barcelona | ||
| 1925–1926 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Conyers Kirby (18 March 1884 – 9 April 1946), also known asRalph Kirby, was an English professionalfootballer who played inthe Football League forBirmingham.[2] He played as anoutside right.
Kirby was born in theBordesley Green district ofBirmingham. While serving in theRoyal Army Medical Corps, he represented them at football and became a champion sprinter. In 1905 he joinedSouthern League clubFulham, for whom he played four league games.[3] In the 1906 close season he joinedBirmingham,[4] for whom he made his onlyFootball League appearance,[2] on 6 September 1906 in theFirst Division match at home toNewcastle United which Birmingham lost 4–2.[5] He later joinedBlackpool, without appearing in the Football League, and playednon-league football forWorcester City,Kidderminster Harriers andWillenhall Pickwick, before returning to Fulham in 1913.[2][4]
Kirby retired from playing in 1918 and moved to Spain, where he became areferee[4] and a football manager. He coached bothCE Europa andFC Barcelona during the 1920s. He was appointed Europa manager in August 1922.[6] In 1923 he guided Europa to theCampionat de Catalunya. After finishing level on points with Barcelona, Europa beat them 1–0 in a title play-off. They then represented Catalonia in theCopa del Rey and after defeatingSevilla andSporting Gijón in earlier rounds, they lost 1–0 toAthletic Bilbao inthe final atLes Corts.
Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of Barcelona in December 1924, replacingJesza Poszony.[7] His first game in charge was a 2–0 win in a friendly againstFirst Vienna on Christmas Day 1925. He remained in charge for 39 games.
He joined Athletic Bilbao in September 1925,[8] and returned to England in May 1926.[9]
CE Europa
FC Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao