It was a San Jose Earthquakes reunion on Thursday at the Leicester City grounds.
Not only did new-age San Jose hero Darren Huckerby greet the group after the match, but an old face from the NASL Earthquakes regaled the team with stories from his days with the club. Alan "The Birch" Birchenall is a Club Ambassador for Leicester City and just happened to play at Spartan Stadium with San Jose in 1977. Small world, indeed.
[inline_node:7854]The Birch turned up in the hallways of Leicester City's training facility and took 30 minutes to chat up the younger generation of Earthquakes. Now 65, the upbeat former midfielder spends time working with community endeavors for Leicester City.
"My family came over and we spent about 5-6 months in a beautiful apartment in Los Gatos and really had a great time there," Birchenall said. "It was the era when Pelé, Beckenbauer, George Best, Eusebio and so it was a good time."
During his footballing days, Birchenall spent time with Sheffield United, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, San Jose, Notts County and several other franchises during the late stages of his career. He scored three goals in 17 games with the Quakes in 1977, a year in which the Quakes finished 14-12 and qualified for the NASL Divisional Championship.
At the time of Birchenall's arrival to the Earthquakes, Franz Beckenbauer donned the white and green of the New York Cosmos, George Best was still wearing a Los Angeles Aztecs kit and the legendary Pelé dazzled the American soccer culture with 13 goals and three assists.
Birchenall said he hasn't been back for a reunion yet, but he has a special song ready to go for the next time he receives an invitation.
