The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

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The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall shares his memories of former Leicester City midfielder Bobby Kellard, who sadly passed away on Sunday 10 January, 2021.

2021-01-11T16:33:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

11 Jan, 2021

The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall shares his memories of former Leicester City midfielder Bobby Kellard, who sadly passed away on Sunday 10 January, 2021.

Sam Jones

2021-01-11T16:33:00.000Z

The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall shares his memories of former Leicester City midfielder Bobby Kellard, who sadly passed away on Sunday 10 January, 2021.

Sam Jones

2021-01-11T16:33:00.000Z

The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall shares his memories of former Leicester City midfielder Bobby Kellard, who sadly passed away on Sunday 10 January, 2021.

Sam Jones

2021-01-11T16:33:00.000Z

The Birch Pays Tribute To Bobby Kellard

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall shares his memories of former Leicester City midfielder Bobby Kellard, who sadly passed away on Sunday 10 January, 2021.

Sam Jones

2021-01-11T16:33:00.000Z

When Jimmy Bloomfield took over as City manager from Frank O'Farrell in 1971, Birchenall became a key transfer target for the newly-promoted First Division side.

And it was Kellard who helped make the move possible, going in the opposite direction to join Crystal Palace for the second time, after a 13-month spell with the Club, which included winning the Second Division title in 1970/71 and playing 60 times for the Foxes in league and cup.

"Firstly, I want to pass on the Club's and my condolences to the family of Bobby Kellard," Birchenall began.

"I owe a lot to Bobby," he continued, explaining the story behind his connection to the player.

"The reason I signed for Leicester City was because of him, in a way, and it's thanks to him that I've spent the last 50 years here.

"Jimmy Bloomfield had joined the Club and was putting his side together. He bought Jon Sammels, then he bought me and then he was going to buy Keith Weller, making three signings within about two weeks.

"But when Leicester came for me and put in a bid of £80,000, Crystal Palace wanted £100,000, which, at the time, was a lot of money.

"I was desperate to come but £80,000 was the price Leicester were willing to pay. Neither side would move and then Jim offered Bobby as part of the deal, valuing him at £20,000.

"He was worth a lot more than that, but it made it up to £100,000. They spoke to Bobby, he accepted the move to Palace and that was it, that's how I came to Leicester.

"Whether Leicester would have moved to the £100,000, and that transfer would have gone through or not, I don't know, but Palace were sticking it out and that was the compromise that suited both clubs."

Birchenall would come up against Kellard - who also played for the likes of Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Bristol City during his 18-year playing career - on several occasions and fondly remembered him as a tough opponent who he struck up a friendship with after the transfer.

"I believe Bobby was happy with the move and it allowed me to come here all those years ago," he reflected. "If there hadn't have been some juggling, I don't know where I'd have ended up!

"That's my connection to him and we became good friends as well through that transaction.

"It's so sad because he was a lovely bloke and a terrific player as well who would break up play, was busy, always buzzing around and could be creative too.

"Those from my generation know how good a player he was, but he wasn't just another player, he had a big connection to me, enabling me to come to Leicester.

"It's another footballer that we're saying goodbye to so it's a sad time for players of my generation."

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