More bad luck for former QPR man Birch
Tuesday, 15th Jan 2008 12:45

Former QPR midfielder Marc Bircham finally made his first start for Yeovil at the weekend, but was replaced in the first half after suffering a head injury.

After missing the first half of the season with the same hamstring and back injury that dogged his time at QPR, Bircham finally made his full debut for the Glovers at Southend on Saturday.

He lasted barely half an hour though before being replaced, although it was a nasty head wound rather than the old injury flaring up again that caused problems this time as he told his official diary on the Icons website

Bircham said: “I went up for a corner on Saturday against Southend and felt a bang on my head. I didn’t know if it was a head or an elbow but when I hit the ground I could feel the blood running down my face. My first thought was ‘you’ve got to be joking’.

“I had a look up to see if we were anywhere near half time so I would have time to get it patched up and come back on, but I could see there was still about ten minutes left and that was just too long for the lads to hold out for with ten men.”

A second half goal from Lloyd Owusu won Yeovil a point at Roots Hall and Bircham is confident of returning to this side for this weekend’s game with cup giant killers Oldham – although with tights on to protect his hamstring and a bandage round his head he admits he could end up looking like on of the kids from Fame. To read the rest of Birch’s latest diary click here.

With some worrying talk of Birch having to retire through injury circulating earlier in the season it’s good to see him back in action. The same cannot be said however for somebody who was basically the exact opposite of the committed, tough tackling, QPR supporting Bircham – Steve Slade.

After leaving QPR he’s failed to impress as a boxer, with Scunthorpe United, Grimsby Town, Cambridge United, Brentford, Hayes, Maidenhead and a host of other giants of the footballing world. The Non-League Daily reports that he’s now been given a 750th chance by Essex Senior League side Barking. He marked his debut with a brace of goals (no really) against the mighty Eton Manor.

Meanwhile Nick Ward has settled in well after his switch to Melbourne. Initially the midfielder, who endured a difficult 18 months at QPR after showing great initial promise, only signed at Melbourne for six months ahead of a second attempt at European football. Torino have regularly been linked with a move for the midfield playmaker but now it seems he may be keen to prolong his stay in the Aussie A-League.

Ward, fresh from a goal in a 3-0 win against Wellington, said: “I haven't written that (staying at the Victory) off at all. The biggest thing is for me to get back to full fitness and I'm playing regularly now. I'm enjoying my football again. I had a tough time overseas and I just want to get back to loving football.

“It's definitely different playing with Melbourne. It is a lot more professional than when I was at Perth. We didn't have the facilities, the backing or the crowds and the players as well."

Coach Ernie Merrick said: “"If we sell the club to Nick, then he'll stay. I think he's enjoyed himself and the supporters and the quality of the football and he's scoring. If he scores goals every week he won't want to leave."