Former Wolves and Aston Villa footballer Paul Birch is seriously ill in hospital suffering from bone cancer, it emerged this afternoon.
The West Bromwich-born ex-midfielder, aged 45, has undergone radiation treatment and started chemotherapy today.
His old team-mates from both Wolves and Villa have visited him in hospital.
In a statement Wolves said: “Paul was a very popular guy here and the news came as a big shock to us all.
“Our thoughts are with Paul and his family at this time and we wish him all the best.”
At Wolves Birch played alongside Geoff Thomas, who successfully fought leukaemia.
Neil Rioch, chairman of the Villa Former Players’ Association, said: “He is like he played – a very gutsy character who always gives 100 per cent and everyone is behind him in his efforts to beat it.”
Birch, who is separated from his wife and has a 10-year-old daughter, made more than 200 appearances for Villa between 1980 and 1991 before being signed by his former Villa boss Graham Turner for Wolves for £400,000 in January 1991. The midfielder played 142 times for Wolves, netting 14 goals, and left Molineux in 1996.
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81 Comments
good luck Birchy.
Will never forget how good that goal at Southend made me feel
I am sure i speak for many wolves fans when i say :
Keep battling Birchy our thoughts are with you.
One of the players I used to want play like on the school yard when about 10-11. All the best to him and his family.
Shocked by the news…….I wish him all the best
Good Luck Paul with your treatment
See you soon
Stay strong Birchy, I know you will beat it.
paul birch is still mentioned week in ,week out by villa fans in the villa version of ‘my old man…..’ get well soon paul.
Good luck paul, hope to hear of a successful recovery
good luck see you soon …
Hope your treatment works Paul Good Luck
All the best in your fight against this horrible disease Birchy.
Good little player,get better soon Paul.
Very sad - I met Paul quite a few times around sutton when he was at Villa - a nice bloke and its tragic to hear he is in such poor health.
He is a true midlands footballer and i wish him and his family all the very best.
Good luck Paul you can fight this!!!!!
Wish him all the best.
Paul, if guts and determination can beat this, you have always had both in bucketloads. Wishing you all the very best.
All our hopes are with you, Paul.
GOOD LUCK BIRCHY. YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS IN LIFE. HOPE ALL GOES WELL WITH YOUR TREATMENT.
can we have anymore bad news what have we done to have all this mark the other day the team the way it is going up a million miles away all the best paul
Best of luck Paul. Geoff Thomas is your inspiration, you can do it too!
Good luck with the treatment Paul
i knew Paul in my youth here in west brom, on reading this i was so shocked. i wish him all the very best with his treament.
Birchy you a real local hero all the best mate, never forgot where you came from. Just battle like you did on the pitch and you will beat it!
God Bless
could do with him playing for us now,good player. all the best see ya soon
Good luck Paul all the best wishes to you and your family ,local legend.
all the best paul….you were a battler on the pitch….you can win this battle also my friend
Good Luck Birchy Our thoughts are with you…
Last year I had the great pleasure of playing football in a West Bromwich school gym with Birchy, he turned up every Thursday just for a game of 4 a side football, an absolute top bloke who just loves to play the game. All the very best mate, as many people have said a true local legend.
All the best Birchy. As somebody else said we know you’re a battler anyway but use Geoff Thomas as an example
You will get through this birchy, I had cancer when I was just 2 years old, so if I can overcome I know you can can, we loved down thew wolves and I can remember playing football at school and impersonating you as a classy jinky winger, my thoughts are with you and your family
Get well soon birchy
All the best birchy. Lets hope we see you on a bike soon like Thomas. Keep that fighting spirit. Hope to see you on the pitch at Molineux soon.
Get Well soon Birchy!
My best memory of you, when i was kid, was at the Wolves vs. Man Utd friendly. When Wolves lost 2-1, Birchy had one of the best long range shots ive ever seen down the Molineux, a 30 yarder that had to get tipped over the bar by the one and only Schmeichal.
All the best Paul.
Kind of puts things into perspective, all the best.
good luck paul my thoughts are with you
A true battler is Paul, we are all behind you pal.
Birchy….everyone knows that you NEVER give up at anything.Don’t change that now.
have known he hasnt been well for a while. my dad works with him all the best mate
I am sure all football fans will join with me in sending the very best of good luck wishes to a smashing bloke
Just to echo the sentiments of all those who posted before me,All the very best Paul.
You were a “Good Un”.My ex used to have the hots for you!
My thoughts and prayers go out to you Paul, good luck and stay positive
All good wishes Birchy. Thinking about you and im sure i can say on behalf of all Wolves and Villa fans get well soon
Sad news Paul - Wishing you all the best .. A true pro who will give 100% to get better as he did at any club he played for. Take care and good luck
Good Luck Paul! You were a hero and an inspiration at the Wolves. Keep your head up mate and don’t give in.
A fighter - you’ll beat it. Be positive - you’ll see Villa in Europe and Wolves in Prem !!
get well soon birchy
great player saw you play many a time
good luck mate
Knew Birchy in my youth….although he went to menzies and i went to georges,he was still a decent mate when we got a bit older…
get well soon mate..
no true a word was spoken,bout this black country boy.
he’d get the ball run 20 yards and shoot thru a needles eye.sure u,l come through this mate,all the bestxxx
I remember Paul at school, Good Luck and our thoughts are with you. A west brom lady and her family.
Good luck birchy-get well and win this battle mate, every fan is thinking of you and willing you on.
good luck paul,wish you well.
sad news and our very best wishes go out to you and your family.
from all at molineux..ALL THE BEST PAUL, AND KEEP FIGHTING MATE.
Get well soon mate… hope your treatment goes well!!
All the best x
All the best paul mate. I will echo what everyone else has said really.
Good luck!
Paul also played for my team - Halesowen Town - for a couple of seasons at the end of his career. A great player, always gave his best, even in Non-League football, and fondly remembered by Yeltz fans.
Good luck Birchy,get well soon - I’m sure all at HTFC are rooting for you.
Good luck Paul, still remember the night you marked Lothar Matthaeus out of the game against Inter Milan. Best wishes.
Good luck Birchy, battle on like you did on the pitch.
We may live & breath Football, but without that precious commondity, life, Football is nothing. My best wishes go to you, Paul & your family.
A tough road lies ahead Paul,but stick to it, I know you will beat it. All the best.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Have a complete recovery soon
Puts all the stupid squabbles on here into perspective.
You made things happen on the pitch, now do it for yourself and get well.
Good luck, Birchy matey
Best wishes from Brummie Rd. Fight the fight. Be strong,hope your treatment works
Keep fighting Paul. You can do it…
Paul-praying you get through this.I am sure all football fans have you in their thoughts.We hope to see you fully recovered very soon.
a battler through and through,you can beat this paul,,,good luck….
Sad news get well soon Birchy mate.
Remember his wolves debut,he scored a cracker against west ham at the molineux.
Best wishes for a full recovery.
Sorry to hear about your illness. All the very best of luck with your treatment.
Heres wishing you all the luck and strength in the world !! Beat it Paul !!
Birchy - loved your attitude on the pitch for us mate - one of our own - I pray that attitude pulls you through this, keep fighting pal, we wish you all the best.
Dig in Paul - you can do it. You’re made of strong stuff.
Good luck Birchy! Hope you beat this and look forward to seeing you at Molineux when you are fully recovered!!
Keep up the fight Paul remain positive and i am sure you will make it.
Good luck Paul, my mum is fighting a similar battle, may god be with you
All the best Birchy, always a winner so go on win again mate.
Get well Paul.
all the best birchy keep figthing kid
Get well soon Birchy, stay strong!
all the best paul, you can fight this!
All the best mate… be strong!!!
hi paul hope u get well soon
your nephu liam
Paul you will get well and you have so many people thinking about you.
Sandra and Steve.