Alf Kirchen

Who was Alf Kirchen?

Alfred John "Alf" Kirchen was an English footballer.

Born in Shouldham, Norfolk, Kirchen played for local clubs, and for his county at youth level. He was signed by Tom Parker, the manager of Second Division Norwich City in 1934 and he immediately impressed, scoring seven goals in fourteen League games, and three in four FA Cup games for the Canaries. He soon caught the eye of First Division champions Arsenal, and was signed for £6,000 in March 1935, at the age of only 21.

Kirchen arrived too late at Arsenal to pick up a League winner's medal, but he still made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut against Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 6 March 1935 – the match finished 6-0 to Arsenal, a record in a North London derby. A outside right, Kirchen had to fight for a first team spot with Joe Hulme, but by the start of the 1936-37 season, Kirchen was the Gunners' first-choice outside right.